SMR upper forend shape

[scottmc]

Hi gents, I posted a message to a certain expert on SMR' s but figured I'd ask others , too.  Do original mountain rifles typically have a rounded upper forend or more "v" like a Lehigh or Allentown forend? I have two originals and they are both more round then v shaped but was wondering what is "typical".  I'm shaping a SMR now and will wait to see what folks think before moving forward.  Thanks again!

[Ken G]

Far from an expert but I believe I have seen far more rounded than vee shaped.  In my book, a typical Southern Mountain rifle would round. 

[Mike Brooks]

SMR=Siler Mountain Rifle?

[Ken G]

Thanks Mike.  I've been away too long.  I didn't know there were rifles other than Southern Mountain rifles.  LOL.  I'll drift back into cyber space now. 

Cheers,
Ken

[Mike Brooks]

Thanks Mike.  I've been away too long.  I didn't know there were rifles other than Southern Mountain rifles.  LOL.  I'll drift back into cyber space now. 

Cheers,
Ken

I was just looking for a definition. I'm always at a loss when it comes to all these abbreviations.

[scottmc]

SMR=Siler Mountain Rifle?

I never thought of it like that but makes sense.  Although you'll never see me use a silver on a SMR😎

[Stoner creek]

Thanks Mike.  I've been away too long.  I didn't know there were rifles other than Southern Mountain rifles.  LOL.  I'll drift back into cyber space now. 

Cheers,
Ken

I was just looking for a definition. I'm always at a loss when it comes to all these abbreviations.

MBG=Mike Brooks Guns. I use that a lot when showing off MGC= My Gun Collection  .

[B.Barker]

It depends on if you are doing a generic rifle or trying to copy a specific builder or area. If I'm trying to make a Bean rifle I copy that forearm style if I'm doing a Lawing than I use his style. Kind of like what kind of trigger guard do I use.

[David Rase]

I saw some SMR's (shiny mountain rifles) at the CLA a couple of weeks ago.  I can't recall the upper forestock shape but I could see my reflection in the barrel. 
David

[smallpatch]

David,
I'll bet that WAS a scary sight...... I mean that really shinybarrel!

[scottmc]

It depends on if you are doing a generic rifle or trying to copy a specific builder or area. If I'm trying to make a Bean rifle I copy that forearm style if I'm doing a Lawing than I use his style. Kind of like what kind of trigger guard do I use.

I'm using various attributes that I like from rifles that were on display at the smokey mtn heritage center and out of Dave Byrds books.  Are the Beans or Lawings rounded or more "v" like?  I had a Beals in my hand last year but forget what the shape was.  I think I was in shock of its beauty and forgot to look closely🤪

[Mike Brooks]

It depends on if you are doing a generic rifle or trying to copy a specific builder or area. If I'm trying to make a Bean rifle I copy that forearm style if I'm doing a Lawing than I use his style. Kind of like what kind of trigger guard do I use.

I'm using various attributes that I like from rifles that were on display at the smokey mtn heritage center and out of Dave Byrds books.  Are the Beans or Lawings rounded or more "v" like?  I had a Beals in my hand last year but forget what the shape was.  I think I was in shock of its beauty and forgot to look closely🤪

That's a real problem, can't tell much from pictures , then when you get to handle several originals you forget to look at the details. There have been several guns I wish I could have in hand again with my brain turned on this time.

[Elnathan]

I think that the Gillespies usually used a V-cross section. Ask Dennis...

I got some raking shots of the rifles at the Cade's Cove exhibit last year. I have to go to work now and won't be back until 8 or 9 tonight, but I'll try to remember to look through them and see if they tell me anything.

[Dennis Glazener]

I think that the Gillespies usually used a V-cross section. Ask Dennis...

I got some raking shots of the rifles at the Cade's Cove exhibit last year. I have to go to work now and won't be back until 8 or 9 tonight, but I'll try to remember to look through them and see if they tell me anything.

Philip Gillespie used both vee shaped and round bottom forearms. I seem to remember seeing one or two other Gillespie rifles with vee shaped forearms but most were rounded.
Dennis

[scottmc]

Well, thanks for the responses.  I'm going to go rounder on this one based on what I'm hearing and seeing on my own.  I'm going to make her "Twiggy" since it's awful slim from the lock area forward.  The barrel is a rice SM classic and left hand Cochran lock stamped 1980...the year I graduated high school.

[scottmc]

...meant to say "name her"

[shortbarrel]

I have a SMR with a V fore end. I am making a rifle that will have this V fore end. This is the last rifle I will ever build. As I am 83 years old. All the parts for this rifle, lock,stock and barrel and all other parts are made by me. Think about it, you young builders. You could it.

[Elnathan]

I looked through my pictures and as far as I can tell it looks like the Beans and the Bull rifles were all rounded, as is the Bogle and the two Matt Gillespies. There is one NC rifle that seems to have had a V-shaped forend, but I can't tell which one exactly. The John Bull pistol has some deep moldings which end up making the forend kinda V-shaped, too, I think.

Hard to tell from my fuzzy pictures, but that's what I've got.

[WadePatton]

It depends on if you are doing a generic rifle or trying to copy a specific builder or area. If I'm trying to make a Bean rifle I copy that forearm style if I'm doing a Lawing than I use his style. Kind of like what kind of trigger guard do I use.

I'm using various attributes that I like from rifles that were on display at the smokey mtn heritage center and out of Dave Byrds books.  Are the Beans or Lawings rounded or more "v" like?  I had a Beals in my hand last year but forget what the shape was.  I think I was in shock of its beauty and forgot to look closely🤪

Beans and Lawings and such are Tennessee rifles.  "Tennessee" is a specific school with some  variations of course, but still better defined than SMR.  "SMR" is a generic term that varies by whomever is selling you their package of ideas.

As I focus on TN rifles, I prefer rounded and have plenty of original examples to back that notion up.  Of course with TN--there will be exceptions.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Scott,... I'm old & slow,... !!! ...here is a sketch I have done to kinda give ye an idea of the cross-section of the forestock of a couple styles of TENNESSEE rifle,.. not to scale and might be a bit exaggerated ... any,  you might get the idea,... also a few typical lock-bolt plates you might see.... some also just used a round washer, or nothing at all,... hope this helps,.. post pictures of your progress,... Regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler....

[scottmc]

Thanks fiddler!  I'll post some pics as it progresses.