I have wintered in Florida for nine years now, and have seen very few interesting rifles or horns down here. During those years, I have looked for a Florida signed rifle, but without success. Florida was settled later than most eastern states, and did not seem to have the local demand for firearms that northern states did, once it had a few established and growing towns. But this past week I FINALLY found a Florida rifle, unmistakably signed, by one of the few known gunsmiths down here. A little research into the gunsmith, Calvin Oak of Jacksonville, FL, came up with an interesting story.
Calvin Oak was born in 1806 in Vermont and grew up there. He was trained as a gunsmith in nearby New York, then worked at Grafton in Windham County, Vermont, as a gunsmith until 1851. That year he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and told he had six months to live...but a warmer climate might prolong his life. So he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, then a port town on the St. Johns River on Florida's northeastern Atlantic coast. The small town was growing, its primary business exporting Florida lumber [pine and southern oak...used in northern shipbuilding] and some cotton. The climate suited Oak, and he worked 30 more years before he died in 1881...becoming a leading businessman, city alderman, tax assessor, and one of the wealthiest citizens in Jacksonville...but not from gunsmithing. He worked as a gunsmith from 1851 until 1856, then opened the first mortuary in Jacksonville and in a side (but related) business sold imported marble. His business dates help place this rifle at 1851-1856...and that timeframe appears appropriate for the gun.
In one of his advertisements for the gunsmithing business, Oak boasted that his rifles were finer than those made by any other [Florida] gunsmith. His oldest son, Edward, worked with him while he was a gunsmith, and his rifle is stamped "C. Oak & Son, Jacksonville Fla." When he went into the mortuary business in 1856, he did so with another son, Byron...presumably leaving his older son to continue the gunsmithing business, at least for a while.
I realize none of you are going to get excited about a Florida rifle, especially an 1850s half-stocked gun. But it's a rare piece down here, first marked rifle I've seen in nine years, so at least you will get to see a somewhat scarce commodity. In doing internet searches for Florida gunsmiths, it readily becomes apparent they are few and far between. The rifle is well stocked in good quality walnut, has a fine checkered wrist, cap-box, and eagle inlay in cheek, and fancy trigger guard with elaborate front extension or finial. The only engraving is scroll work on the patent breech's tang. The muzzle is turned for a ball starter, and a somewhat later adjustable rear sight has been installed. It has a single forestock key, long two-screw tang with hole about midpoint for (probably) a rear peep sight. Barrel is 35" with .50 cal. bore. For Florida, it's a neat rifle...for up north, well...
So now you have seen an actual Florida rifle, and can go back to discussing those southern mountain rifles!
Shelby Gallien
