"Fresh" Alfred Bearden Style Half-Stocked Tennessee Rifle

[Tanselman]

For those who like Tennessee rifles with curly maple stocks and great architecture, a fresh rifle probably made by Alfred Bearden just appeared in central Tennessee. The gun is rather dark and dirty but otherwise all there. Despite being half-stocked, the gun was originally flint. The "Fall & Cunningham/Nashville TN" lock plate was originally flint, there is a vent pick hole in the toe, and a clearance cut for a flint hammer above the lock plate. Typical four ramrod pipes, barrel is 43-1/4 inches long with a worn .38 caliber bore... probably smaller when new since rifling is almost gone. The gun is not signed, but the distinctive guard, triggers with small tabs at bottom, strong butt/comb architecture, small diamond lock bolt washer, and superior curly maple stock wood all scream Alfred Bearden's work. This rifle also has a horn nose cap which looks original; I've never seen a horn nose cap on a Bearden rifle before. The cheek also differs a little from Bearden's "standard" short, pronounced cheek with single line across bottom. Only loss is the last/outer ramrod pipe. All pipes are iron on this gun. Photos have been lightened slightly to show detail a little better, since the gun is rather dark.

ADDED NOTE 12-16-23: One reason for posting this rifle is that, despite looking very much like the work of Alfred Bearden, the different cheekpiece and horn nose cap raise a question in my mind. Can it be someone else's work, and if so, who else was working at that time and using many of Alfred's details? The only candidate I can come up with is Alfred's older brother, Pleasant Bearden, but I've never seen his work to know how close it is to Alfred's work.


Shelby Gallien

[Daryl]

Cool - wooden under-rib?

[Tanselman]

No, standard iron under-rib so he could solder the iron pipes to it.

Shelby Gallien

[Daryl]

Could not see soldered pipes.  With wooden under ribs, the pipes are attached to the rib with pins, same as they are in full stocks.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

How does the drop compare to your other Bearden rifle?

[Tanselman]

I've had perhaps a half dozen Alfred Bearden rifles over the years, mostly full-stocked guns with great wood and his distinctive guard and triggers, plus one original flint half-stocked rifle a couple years ago. But all those rifles have since moved on. They all had metal nose caps, and the drop was less severe than on this rifle.

In particular, the drop on the original flint half-stock, probably the closest to the same late flint vintage as the posted rifle, was less severe with a less pronounced nose on the comb where it drops down to meet the wrist. However, that gun also had a different later style oval "beaver tail" type cheekpiece not common to Alfred's work.

I'm adding a picture of the tang, since I'm not sure this is the normal Alfred Bearden tang shape.

Shelby Gallien

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  .. I would contact Tom Kilgo and and Jim Parker .... rifle in question may have connection to the Kennedy and Key and Stutts families of gunsmiths just South of Lincoln Co. Tennessee in Northern Alabama... also Jesse Bean was operating on the East side of Lincoln Co. and Berryman Compton was on the west of the Beardens at the same time all were building rifles in that area of Southern Middle Tennessee... this rifle does not have the typical ...  elongated lock panel associated with the Beardens... interesting rifle... I will be following this discussion... regards,... CCF

[Tanselman]

CCC,

Do you know if any of the gunsmiths you listed used the Bearden style guard and triggers on their rifles? I only have Jerry Noble's soft bound books for reference pictures, along with what I've seen at shows, but I have not seen any of those makers who used the Bearden style guard and triggers on their rifles, or in combination with Bearden's small diamond lock bolt washer and odd rear sight placement several inches closer to the breech.

I'm a lot better versed on Kentucky guns than Tennessee guns, but I can't find images of any other makers' guns that had all those Bearden features, particularly his distinctive guard/triggers. That's why I tend to think it was made in/near Bearden's shop, or in a shop by someone who trained under or worked with him... and there's not many candidates we know of who match those criteria. I'm hoping Jim Parker sees this posting and will share his thoughts.

Shelby Gallien