Rowan School Longrifle by Thomas Nash

[mbriggs]

I was contacted by a retired Army Colonel who lived in Cape Girardeau, Missouri back in 2019. He had found locally a Rowan School Christmas-tree patchbox rifle that had been exposed to weather over a long period in a barn and recently purchased.  The hidden hinge on the Christmas-Tree patchbox gave me a strong indication the rifle was probably made by Thomas Nash.  He grew up in Halifax, Virginia and moved to Rowan County in 1821. I believe he trained as a gunsmith with George Eagle.  I was able to buy the rifle from the Colonel.

While I have owned and sold several Rowan Longrifles by Thomas Nash, only two are known with a Christmas-tree patchbox.  I am lucky to have owned both.

It took a long time to get the old rifle restored but I am very happy with the result. The Rowan School longrifles are my favorite made in North Carolina. 

I hope you enjoy the photos and share your thoughts.
   











Rowan School Christmas-tree patchbox



Lock and Rowan triggers




Scooped out cheek-rest with pick holder



Rowan School sideplate




Rowan School wedding band nosecap



Thomas Nash barrel signature



Thanks,

Michael Briggs

[mr. no gold]

Great one Michael!!! Good thing you brought it 'home' where it belongs. It was probably pretty lonely way out west on the River. Great looking Rowan gun and quite well restored; you said that it had been exposed to the weather. Weather, fire and kids; the bane of a good rifle. Thank you for bringing her in and showing her off. A pretty, pretty rifle.
Dick

[smallpatch]

Very nice rifle. Can’t believe the drop of the heel on the buttplate. Seems like you’d have to put it on top of your shoulder.

[JTR]

That's a fine looking rifle, Michael, and that's for posting it here!
It's always a pleasure to see a good looking rifle like this one.
John

[Dennis Glazener]

Michael,
Just out of curiousity what is the drop at the heel on that rifle?
It might rival the one I owned at one time! If I remember right mine had a 6" drop!
Very nice looking rifle.
Dennis

[VP]

Michael,

Great save again, beautiful rifle, thanks for posting it.

VP

[jdm]

Michael, Your lucky to get it . That came out of Louie Parkers back yard.. That is a neat rifle . The patch box is very different . I bet it looks grand hanging on the wall. Thanks for the pictures.   Jim

[AZshot]

Very nice looking rifle.

[mbriggs]

Thanks for all the comments.  Dennis, this has a 6 1/2 inch drop.

Michael 

[Mike Brooks]

Looks like a Nash to me! I'm just getting ready to make one.  I drew out my pattern and ended up with 4 1/2" of drop, looks like a hockey stick. I was worried it might look too goofy with that much drop...maybe not!
 I'm guessing that's a cast box?

[mbriggs]

Hi Mike,
You still have a sharp eye.  Yes, the box is cast.  Both Thomas Nash signed Christmas-tree patchbox rifles have cast boxes with hidden hinges.

I look forward to seeing photos of your Thomas Nash longrifle.

Thanks,

Michael