J.E.Brown rifle

[altankhan]

I have just purchased a rifle that has a name in script on the barrel:  J.E. Brown.

I was told that this is a Jackie Brown rifle  -- yet, I have also heard of J. "Eddie" Brown.  Are they one and the same builder?  The rifle seems to have a lot of Virginia characteristics, though also in general pattern of early Dickert -- iron mounted with lots of carving, moldings, and engraved iron  patchbox with a german silver four-petal flower as the patchbox finial -- any ideas on the signature? (it is a nicely made late transitional piece, supposedly made around 1992)

thanks

[T*O*F]

iron mounted with lots of carving, moldings, and engraved iron  patchbox with a german silver four-petal flower as the patchbox finial

If it's got all that stuff on it, I could almost guarantee it's not a Jackie Brown gun.

[altankhan]

thanks -- I know he made a number of fowlers and some smoothrifles -- but not familiar with any of his fancier work

[smokinbuck]

I recently sold a Jackie Brown rifle such as you are describing. It is a beautiful rifle with flame grain throughout the stock, relief carving and an engraved patchbox with a "silver four petal daisey" finial. The hardware is all iron and browned. It is one of the most handsome rifles I have owned. Jackie definitley did do this kind of work. It sounds as though you have one of the nicer Jackie Brown rifles out there.
Mark

[altankhan]

Thank you Mark -- I can assure you that the new owner is more than satisfied with his purchase -- but I am still wondering about the signature "J.E. Brown" and if there is also a J.E. Brown that goes by J. "Eddie" Brown -- or if Jackie and Eddie are one and the same (I saw a rifle with that J.E. Brown on he barrrel attributed to J. Eddie on Track recently)

 

[T*O*F]

I am still wondering about the signature "J.E. Brown" and if there is also a J.E. Brown that goes by J. "Eddie" Brown -- or if Jackie and Eddie are one and the same

I live 40 miles from Jackie and he is a friend.  He does not sign his guns J.E. Brown.  He also told me once that he can only engrave good enough to be able to sign his name on his barrels.  He also don't do fancy.  If someone wants a gun with carving or engraving, he farms it out.  He has neither gravers nor gouges/chisels in his shop beyond what is required to build a gun.

[altankhan]

Thanks again -- very helpful -- just located a J.E. Brown "Isaac Berlin" style rifle on a Track posting-- some similarities in carving with the piece I have ...

[altankhan]

Here are a couple shots of my J.E. Brown rifle (Dickert-esque?/Virginia?):

[G-Man]

J.E. "Eddie" Brown and Jackie Brown are two different builders.  JE Brown has guns on TOW pretty frequently - I am not sure where he works but I always got the impression he lives up in that part of the country.  From what I have seen his work is great - there was one of his guns on TOW just recently.

Yoru rifle sounds like a nice gun.  Enjoy it.

Guy

[altankhan]

Thanks Guy -- very helpful. 

[Madcaster]

 There is a Eddie Brown that lives in or near Deep Gap,NC and is handicapped but I cannot seem to find a phone number for him.
 I got to know his Father(now deceased),and he was telling me about Eddie building guns for Track,but Track will not release contact information.
 He seems to do GREAT work!I would love to visit with him.
 

[Madcaster]

 By the way,Deep Gap is near Jefferson,NC,Ashe County.

[altankhan]

Thanks -- this is useful.

 Also, there is a kind of stylized cross (almost a "snowflake" composed of 16 lines -- four major ones and 12 lines radiating out) located on the top flat of the breech of my gun -- which I have seen on pictures at least one other J.E. Brown gun -- this may be some sort of maker's mark.  Hard to say what it "means" as the cross pattern is super-ancient (four cardinal and other minor directions, etc.) and was used in many contexts throughout history.

[Madcaster]

 IF I remember correctly,his father said J.E. was in a wheelchair-but this is NOT a concrete and reliable piece information,as I am NOT sure...

[Buffaload]

I have tried to get Track to give me his contact info and they wont.  They said they would pass on my interest  and contact info him but I wonder if that ever happened.
Ed

[altankhan]

thanks for the effort -- I'd really like to know where he learned his craft -- I may try to post a clear picture of the patch box engraving in the next few days

[Madcaster]

 HaHa,they told me the same thing,they just want to be the middleman and make a commission.

[Madcaster]

 Sir,
 Just sent you an email!
 Jeff

[famouseagle]

There's a nice J.E. Brown "Isaac Berlin" rifle for sale at TOW.  Look under their "flint rifles" category.