Soddy Daisy.

[Pukka Bundook]

Gents,
I have heard the term "Soddy Daisy".
What's the definition?
Tried a search and it comes up blank.

Best,
Richard.

Edited to say when I left "definition" out of the search, I got some hits.
I am learning!

[smylee grouch]

Would it be the area or towns they were made in??

[Pukka Bundook]

Seems to be Smylee.

Just found that out!
Two close towns that became one as they grew.

[MuskratMike]

While not an expert on these fine rifles I did have one painstakingly recreated by Don Bruton. These rifles should be actually called the Soddy school of gun making as the two towns of Soddy and Daisy did not combine into one town until 1969 and families who have been there for generations still refer to themselves as either a "Soddy" or a "Daisy". Many of the rifles built here were for chunk gun shoots and were very long and heavy guns. Soddy-Daisy sits a few miles northwest of Chattanooga Tennessee. In 2022 I went to see the CLA show in Lexington Kentucky. While there I was lucky enough to be invited by the Soddy-Daisy Historical Society to visit their town and see first hand some originals and visit a gentleman who has a large collection of originals including one that is 8 feet long (cut down from its original 9 feet). Hopefully Jack Duprey will jump in as he is probably the most knowledgeable person on these fine rifles and has built many of them. I was lucky that my builder has drawings of these rifles to work from along with having seen some originals. To describe one is fairly easy. They all should have a distinctive very deep crescent butt with a hand hammered iron butt plate held in place with 2 screws and 2 copper or brass rivets, no patch box, and a rib on each side of the stock going all the or almost all the way to the butt plate creating an almost diamond shape. They have a long 3 screw tang traveling almost to the start of the comb and a fairly long toe plate. They would be made of plain Black Walnut with little to no adornments. The one I had created was made to look as if it was very old with all the dents, dings and patina of an original. Both the historical society and the private collector said it is one of or maybe they finest "recreations" they have seen. Mine is in 36 caliber, her name is Maggie Mae. She is 63 3/4 -inches long with a 13 3/4-inch LOP and weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces.
Hope this is of help. I have attached some photos of some originals and of mine. For further reading the books: Kentucky Rifles of the Great Smoky Mountains by Randal Pierce and Gunmakers of Buffalo Valley & Greasy Cove in Unicoi County, Tennessee by Dave Byrd have articles and photos.

[Pukka Bundook]

Mike,
Thank you for taking the time to write your post and add the pictures.  It is worth a lot to someone like me.
Thank you for the construction details. all very valuable.
Re your finish,
I can see this as very realistic.
For some reason when we see the rather rough conditions many folk at that time lived under, I can't imagine a gun having a high gloss finish on it.  I think you did it like it would have looked.

Thank you again!
Richard.

[rich pierce]

We have a couple of them here in our “museum”. https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13078.0

[oldtravler61]

  Pukka Bundook Jack Duprey doesn't do the internet. So I doubt very much he will chime in on here. But if you send me a p.m. I have his permission to give out his info.  We've been friends for over 40 years.
 He is no doubt the expert on these guns. IMHO

[reddogge]

Rich, the color of that second rifle's walnut stock is phenomenal. Just what I want to see in walnut. Nice open grain too, not slurry filled pores.

[JTR]

If I was going to build a Soddy-Daisy, I'd copy the second one in the museum link!

[rich pierce]

If I was going to build a Soddy-Daisy, I'd copy the second one in the museum link!

It’s a racy looking gun for sure.

[Pukka Bundook]

Thanks all for sharing what you know and the links to what you know! 
I am miles further ahead than I was just a day or so ago.

Very best,
R.

[Dennis Glazener]

If I was going to build a Soddy-Daisy, I'd copy the second one in the museum link!

So would I, usually not a fan of the Soddy rifles but I like that one.
Dennis

[Pukka Bundook]

Dennis,
I was looking to broaden my horizons  so looking at options, but rather than a Soddy, I have become rather struck with the Gillespie rifles, so just ordered your book, plus Randall Pierce' book.
I have a freshed out old barrel on its way from Rich P.

Very best,
R.

[RobertS]

This link is a recently made Soddy that one of our members carefully built and documented, I think is a great resource for anyone interested in these distinctive rifles:  https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=69202.0

[Pukka Bundook]

Thank you Robert, will have a dekko at it!

[Craig Wilcox]

I can envision sitting in a tree stand, trying to turn to aim at a buck at your 4:00 o'clock position!

These are some mighty interesting regional variations of target rifles, custom engineered to put the lead ball closest to target center.

[Daryl]

That is a might harder with a longbow. At least with a long rifle, you can just shoot left handed.

[TDM]

Mike, my thanks too for your information and photos. Learned a lot myself.

[DrLaw45]

   a video on the Soddy-Daisy.

The Doc is out now. 

[Daniel Coats]

I own the rifle in that video.

[Pukka Bundook]

Thank you for the video Doc,

It looks a whole heap better than some I have seen!

Daniel,
At some time I would appreciate a picture of wherethe ramrod enters the stock.
Attractive looking rifle!
Much nicer than some with the odd lock panel.

[Bob Roller]

That butt plate! WHY would anyone want such a curve? Good looking lock but why such an extreme barrel length?
Bob Roller

[okieboy]

 One thing that I am confused about, someone straighten me out. I was under the impression that most Soddy-Daisy rifles were chunk guns and was surprised at there being Soddy squirrel rifles. Maybe that is from reading Cline. Could someone knowledgeable address this.
 Thanks in advance.
l

[MuskratMike]

Many of the rifles built in the Soddy-Daisy area were "chunk guns" due to this area was a haven for that discipline of shooting. They also made standard rifles in all the popular calibers for hunting and personal protection. If you ever get to that part of the country make arrangements to visit the Soddy-Daisy Historical museum or call them and they might be able to send you some pictures of the ones they have on display. I was there 2 years ago and it was well worth the trip.

[Daniel Coats]

Thank you for the video Doc,

Daniel,
At some time I would appreciate a picture of wherethe ramrod enters the stock.

Here you go!