"A. G. * J. B. M." Signed Flintlock Tennessee Rifle

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Original flint. Signed "A. G. * J. B. M.". I believe the barrel is approximately 48 inches. Photos show the details. These are the only photos I was able to acquire. All the right features! Enjoy.

[WESTbury]

Superb rifle. Just the condition we all hope to find them in.

I'm assuming that it is, or was, rifled. Is the barrel full length octagonal?

[Ken G]

Beautiful rifle in good shape.  Thanks for sharing the pics!

Ken

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Westbury- full octagon rifled barrel.

Thanks Ken.

[Dennis Glazener]

Alfred Gross ?.. and ?
Just a guess
Dennis

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Dennis, that's what I think.  That's how he signed his rifles. I haven't been able to figure out the "J. B. M." My 1st thought was that it was a collaborative effort.  The 2nd initials could be the customer, but that just doesn't feel right. There aren't a lot of "M's" where Alfred Gross was working. Maybe a McInturff, but have no reason for that attribution. I bet Gerald knows.....

[rich pierce]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ..... Wow,... that's what I like to see in an original flint  Tennessee rifle,... I do think Alfred gross is the maker, who made this for "J.B.M., .....

[Tanselman]

When I first saw this rifle posted a month or two ago, I thought the two sets of initials may indicate two gunmakers working together. If so, the last three letters on the barrel may well represent John Benjamin Maggard, a gunmaker in southeastern Kentucky near the TN line who was known for using his middle initial and worked in the Tennessee style. I have a signed Maggard rifle, but it's not available at this time for comparisons. I do have a picture of its signature, and Maggard formed his block letters similar to those on this rifle. Fortunately, I think this current rifle went back to Indiana when sold, to a good friend who loves iron mounted rifles and particularly from TN, so I should be able to lay the two guns side by side in another month to see if the Maggard hand is in this one.

If someone has access to census records or indexes for Tennessee [Alfred Gross's stomping ground] and could check the 1840 and 1850 indexes for anyone with J.B.M. initials in Gross's general area, that might prove helpful as well.  Shelby Gallien

[AZshot]

Boy, that's a very nice one.  Makes my trip to TN in June more and more exciting.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Yes, Shelby, that's the rifle that went to Indiana. I was checking the census records this morning.

[Casey]

Hey Everyone,

John B. Maggard is my (I think) 4th great grandfather. I'd have to check with my mom to confirm.

In any case I've been searching the web off and on trying to find one of his rifles, as we've read they still exist, but until now hadn't seen any proof. Ultimately i'd like to purchase a J.B.M. rifle to give to my father - None of his possessions or rifles have made it down through the generations. If nothing else, it would be great to see more pictures of the other known rifle - I have not been able to locate any. Please reach out if you have any other information or know of one for sale.

[Collector]

Photos taken at the 2021 KY-TN Rifle Show of what I believe is the same rifle as the OP is presenting.  CCF looked at this rifle with me.  The rifle's owner had a table immediately next to Dennis's table.
 
I didn't ask to remove the rifle from the rack and didn't see it removed during the show.  I failed to obtain photos of the dual signatures (I believe the photo displayed is reversed/inverted, though I may be mistaken), nor did I take any photos of the side panel/plate, or cheek piece.

The owner felt that the second set of initials definitely belonged to another gun maker, although he didn't speculate

It's a very handsome and well proportioned piece in well cared for condition.  Definitely eye-catching.  For some reason, I didn't think the barrel approached 48 inches, though again, I took no measurements.  At the time, I was more interested in the iron work details, which are very well executed and finished.  I really liked the softly 'rounded' points in the terminating features of the iron work, which just carry your eye from the toe plate to the trigger guard.       

[mr. no gold]

Thanks for posting the great detail photos of this screaming good gun. And thanks to Bill and everyone else who for photos and pertinent comments on this rifle. Guns like this only show up in my dreams.
Dick

[Sequatchie Rifle]

That’s a Jacob Gross triggerguard.

[Collector]

That’s a Jacob Gross triggerguard.

It may be, but it's on a longrifle with a barrel stamped AG * JBM. 

There may be, in fact, two (2) rifles with those dual initials out there.  Now wouldn't that be something...

I'll pursue getting more information and possibly a few photos, including a photo of the dual initials on the one I looked at and photographed, at my first opportunity.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... that style of T/G is pretty much a GROSS family trademark,... all ALMOST always used an open loop at the bottom of the grip-rail,.. (a couple other builders in the area sometimes did too,..),... this style as opposed to the closed loop as used by the BEANS, LAWINGS, McINTURFFS, BEALS families, etc,... there are little "markers" that are pretty good indicators of the builder,... I especially like the brass and sometimes silver overlay on the iron parts that was used almost exclusively   by the GROSS family, esp. A. F. GROSS,.... regards,.. CCF

[Tanselman]

I had the opportunity to inspect this fine rifle in great condition this past week-end. Since the original posting had a somewhat difficult-to-see photo of the barrel signature, I am posting a clear picture of the joint signatures. Still wondering if the "J B M" might stand for John Benjamin Maggard of Letcher Co., KY, in the southeastern part of the state.

Shelby Gallien

[AZshot]

Those sure are easy to read now, very deeply carved, no mistaking the letters because of the block vs script.  As I study southern rifles, I see so many with just initials.  It makes it so much harder to identify, unless you have several others to compare with.  But even then, a block letter made by one engraver looks like a block letter by another.  I recently got a southern long rifle with a script, entire last name.  I can see why those are much more in demand.   Will show when it arrives in another thread. Good luck ID'ing this one, I will try to look too.

I agree with Cades Cove (and the others), this looks like a Gross to me, by the triggerguard mostly.

[Bob Roller]

I had the opportunity to inspect this fine rifle in great condition this past week-end. Since the original posting had a somewhat difficult-to-see photo of the barrel signature, I am posting a clear picture of the joint signatures. Still wondering if the "J B M" might stand for John Benjamin Maggard of Letcher Co., KY, in the southeastern part of the state.

Shelby Gallien

That is a great example of a rifle built without a ton of tools and it has survived in great condition.Letcher county Ky was the home of a modern maker of long rifles and musical instruments.His name was Arthur Dixon also known a JUDGE Arthur Dixon. After the murder of
JFK,Lyndon Johnson became president and Judge Dixon built a presentation long rifle for hi. Bill Large made the barrel and I made the
lock and triggers and I think it was silver trim and striped maple.Judge Dixon wanted me to deliver the lock and triggers so I did and went
to his home in Whitesburg and was treated like visiting royalty by him and the people we saw.I remember a fine lunch at a bowling alley and a tour of the area.He told me he lost his only son in WW2,shot down over Germany on a bombing mission.there is more to tell but I will stop at this point but will say I was proud to meet Judge Arthur Dixon and those others I met that day. I left the next day after a fine breakfast at his home.
Bob Roller
 

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  .. I have handled and examined this rifle and am sure it was built by Alfred Farrington Gross of Sullivan Co. TN,... Louie Parker could give a positive ID..... he knows rifles by the Gross family,... hard to believe that someone from Letcher Co., would come down to Sullivan Co to have a rifle built for themself,..more likely someone from the Sullivan, Washington, Carter Co, area... BTW, Bob,.. Arthur Dixon also built great mountain dulcimers in the Kentucky style of J.E. Thomas,.. he was quite talented,.. here are a couple photos,... regards,.. Cades Cove Fiddler