Lester Smith

[44-henry]

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and he mentioned having recently seen a rifle signed by Lester Smith. I remember reading about him in one of the Foxfire books years ago, but not much else. He sounded like an interesting person and I am curious if there has been anything written about him. Someone said that he died at a young age, just curious if anyone here knows anything about him.

[Fullstock longrifle]

Here are some pictures of his work (and a link from the FoxFire Book).  From what I can see, he was an interesting gunsmith for his time.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=16284.0

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2012/01/lester-smith-rifle.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=8wFcFxCkoFsC&pg=PA270&lpg=PA270&dq=%22lester+smith%22+gunsmith&source=bl&ots=BOG_WZbE_P&sig=qsgDlGi5be1bgDTatcP0toi_0B4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KvUEUraVOra24AP4iYDwBw&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22lester%20smith%22%20gunsmith&f=false

Frank

[Shreckmeister]

That pierced wearplate had to be the most complex inlay of all time.

[Acer Saccharum]

Look closely, are the patchbox, wearplate, etc, inlaid, or on top of the wood? They appear very thin.

Kuntz used thin metal, very complex in design, heavily nailed down.

[Shreckmeister]

Tom,  I was just told they were inlaid, but I've not had them in my hand.

[Habu]

The one I've handled was inlaid, though not as heavily pierced as the one on comtemporarymakers.

[JV Puleo]

I have handled one as well... not quite as elaborate as that one but by far the most elaborate "modern" rifle I've ever handled. Everything was inlaid with an astonishing level of precision. I suppose because it was all that was available at the time, the lock was very mediocre.