Solomon H. Ward, Jamestown, NC

[Sequatchie Rifle]

40 1/2 inch long barrel. .36 caliber.

[Tanselman]

All Jamestown rifles are interesting to see, especially when signed, inlaid, and in nice shape... but I have to say, that's not the best wrist checkering I've ever seen! Probably a later addition to tone down a wrist break repair.  Shelby Gallien

[Sequatchie Rifle]

It’s AWFUL, isn’t it.

[Hlbly]

We take ‘em like we find ‘em.

[Tanselman]

Are you sure the saying isn't "we find 'em, we like 'em, so we take 'em."  Shelby Gallien

[Hungry Horse]

 I Notice that the cap box on this gun is mounted backwards compared to similar boxes on guns from the same period. I have seen this on some late guns from Ohio, and quite a few very late guns from California. Is there a specific region, or school, that started this trend?

  Hungry Horse

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I've seen the backwards patchbox on a number of Southern rifles.

[Hungry Horse]

 This is the first one I could absolutely be sure that  it was Southern. Some others looked Southern, but were either unsigned, or looked Southern, but were marked as being made somewhere else. Now I’m wondering if this originated in the Southern states, and slowly migrated West, or if it developed somewhere and branched out in all directions. Anybody have opinion?

  Hungry Horse

[mbriggs]

That is a very common cap box on late period Jamestown rifles.

Michael

[Hungry Horse]

 Another puzzling point regarding these beautiful Southern rifles is the lack of current builders building modern copies in this style. After all, the trigger guard, and buttplate, on these two rifles are easily purchased from several sources. But all anybody wants to build, or buy, seems to be iron mounted Southern mountain rifles.
 I am a little surprised to see a flintlock on the first rifle. It’s beaver tail cheekpiece, and half stock, tend to be percussion era features.

  Hungry Horse

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I particularly like the simple style in which it was engraved.