Appalachian Squirrel Rifle

[Jefferson58]

Hi Folks:

After Randy's success putting his rifle out here, I thought I would pick your brains about this one. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

This rifle is about .34 caliber, miked 1/2" or so down the barrel. The barrel is 34.5" long and straight, no taper or swamp. The barrel is pinned with wood pins and then two metal bands have been fastened around it and pinned to the stock. The barrel and stock appear to be original with each other. The maple stock is in good shape, no cracks or breaks. The inlays are extremely "unique" to say the least, but give the gun a lot of character. There are no markings on the gun anywhere that I have found.

The lock appears to have been replaced, judging from the gap around it. It may have been flint and converted, I am not sure. All of the hardware is iron and the trigger guard appears to be hand-forged. The patch box has the original drill holes on the inside bottom, all lined up. The butt plate and toe plate are brass.When I took these photos, I had the double set triggers out for some repair. Sorry about that.

I got this gun from a local shop here in central Virginia. The owner calls me sometimes when he gets old, interesting (to me) guns that he doesn't care anything about. If it isn't some new, high-tech auto pistol or rifle, he isn't interested. He thought this was a pile of junk and was "good for some parts." I agreed and we parted company quite amicably. This thing shoots like a million too.

See what you folks think. I think east Tennessee or western NC possibly. Otherwise, I have no clue.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Randy1944]

 Jeff,  That is a nice gun.  The stock looks great and to say the least, the    inlays are intriguing.  I really like the "mystery" each of these old rifles seem to have.  It just lets us open our minds up to all sorts of tales.  None of my rifles have mixed hardware.  I'm not sure how common that is found to be.  How long is the top tang?  I really could not tell for sure.  I would love to have a (parts) rifle that looked like that.  I really love the pictures and that is just one of my pitfalls.     Regards    Randy1944

[Dennis Glazener]

This thing shoots like a million too.

Jeff,
I assume if you were shooting it, there was a trigger in it! What did the trigger/trigger plate look like? That guard looks like it might be a Gillespie and the stock except for the cheek piece could maybe pass for one also.

 I believe someone had a few parts and scrounged up more to make a complete gun. Kinda neat how they put it in shooting condition.

I would go with western NC.
Dennis

[T.C.Albert]

Jeff....neat gun...I would guess it has been shortened quite a bit...maybe even a foot...looks like at least 1 ram rod pipe has been removed and one moved back alot? If thats the case the barrel may well have been a bit flared at one time? However, it doesnt seem to be overly pitted around the drum like one would expect if it was cap fired enough to repeatedly shoot out the barrel at the muzzle.... so you may well be right to think conversion.... unless the barrel was shortened by reducing the back end and refitting the plug because pitting at the drum was severe or the breach or drum was shot out etc... ( is there an extra filled dove tail along the top flat to indicate the sights may have been moved?)...about the tang and plug, I cant tell for sure from the one picture looking at it from the side, but it looks strange, almost hooked?
Nice old southern gun...
TCA

[Jefferson58]

Hi Folks:

Mr. Albert is a sharp fellow, I must say. The rear sight has been moved forward 6" from the old dovetail which is now pretty close to the breech. That does explain the odd placement of the ramrod ferrules.

Also, attached are two photos: one of the tang and one of the trigger set. I ended up replacing the triggers with a new set by Davis. These are pretty shot and the small Davis set dropped right in after trimming 1/4" off the front of the base.

Thanks again,

Jeff