PO Boy rifle

[dogbest]

A while back there was an extensive conversation about po boy or southern mountain rifles so I thought I would share
pictures of my PO boy rifle that I bought off gunbroker.com several years ago.

The seller knew nothing of the gun's history so could share no information with me.
The overall length of the gun is 52 inches.
Barrel length is 37 inches.
Barrel OD is 7/8" and ID is 3/8".
The gun is really crude but I like it anyway.

I shared pictures with a gentleman sometime ago and he said it looks like rifles
made in his home area of south central Kentucky.

As shown in pictures, it is a full stock.

I'm interested in your reaction as to where it might have come from etc.

Thanks for your comments.

[Jacob_S_P]

Nice old rifle to have!

[Mike Lyons]

What are the markings on the barrel?  It looks like the 7th picture has some sort of engraved lines.

[hanshi]

It definitely has lots of gray hair.  Ever try shooting it?

[dogbest]

Afghanvet,

You have good eyes!
The markings you spotted are HR i.i 44.
The middle markings are hard to read. They
could be i.i or l.l. The markings look
like they're scratched with something rather than
a nice stamp.

[dogbest]

No, I've never tried shooting it.

I'm guessing the 44 that  is scribed on the barrel means "made in 1844"
but that is purely a guess.

I have liked old guns since I was a small boy.
I imagine many people on this forum are the same way.

[Mike Brooks]

Just some comments. It isn't at all crude for a MT. rifle, pretty average quality, which isn't a bad thing. I'm going to guess at least 10" was cut off that barrel at some time. I'm surprised one of our resident experts hasn't ID'd where it's from. I'd guess probably western NC, but I'm no expert on this type of gun.

[Dennis Glazener]

Not a expert on anything but I will guess East TN. I base that on the rounded forward return on TG, the way the front trigger is made and the side plate remind me of East TN rifles.

Also the rear thimble entry to me is more a TN style than western NC. But the shape of the buttplate is probably more NC than TN's deep crescent plates.

Not sure but isn't the way the cheek piece transitions into the wrist also a TN style.?

OK someone else's turn.
Dennis

[mbriggs]

I have no comment on where it is from, but I am curious why you call it a "Po Boy"?  In N.C. we have used that term for rifles with no butt plate or nose cap. Your rifle looks to have both.

Thanks

Michael

[dogbest]

I may be wrong with the term "Po Boy". I use that term because of it's crudeness.
The trigger guard is probably what I consider most crude as it is crooked. The pic doesn't show that very well.
The rest of the gun is really not as crude.

At any rate, I like the gun and enjoy owning it.

Thanks for your comments.

[Mike Brooks]

I may be wrong with the term "Po Boy". I use that term because of it's crudeness.
The trigger guard is probably what I consider most crude as it is crooked. The pic doesn't show that very well.
The rest of the gun is really not as crude.

At any rate, I like the gun and enjoy owning it.

Thanks for your comments.

I have seen other Mt. rifles with crooked guards like that one. I guess it wasn't a big deal back then.

[dogbest]

Mike,
Thanks for your comments.
This is the first time I've seen a crooked trigger guard so I thought it unusual.
Dan

[Craig Wilcox]

It is a very nice rifle, and one I wouldn't mind using.
Brooks, they get the crooked trigger guards from passing the Mason jar a few too many times before they head home.  And those mountain paths aren't easy to walk when alert.

[dogbest]

Craig,

Thank you.

Dan