Several months ago I got a call about a restocked rifle with an earlier signed barrel by Daniel Bryan of Lexington, Kentucky. I was offered, and purchased, the gun and now have one of only two known, signed Daniel Bryan barrels. Bryan was one of the most important gunsmiths in early Kentucky, and is thought to be the primary architect of the Lexington School patchbox, with its iconic cast brass two-piece design so well known to Kentucky collectors.
The slender barrel is signed on a silver plate "D. Bryan J. Atchison." John Atchison was a wealthy early citizen of Lexington. The remaining barrel is 45-1/2" long with an approximate .44 caliber bore, 7 groove rifling, and a light swamp at the muzzle. The barrel was shortened 2-1/8" at the breech when restocked and the original tang lost. The restocked rifle used the original pipes off the earlier Bryan rifle, as well as the original butt plate, but the original guard, side plate, and patchbox [if one was on the rifle] were discarded. The original pipes are worn down to razor sharp front ends from long usage, and the front pipe has actually been turned around with its duller, less worn end forward. The butt plate was ruined by indifferent re-filing to fit a thinner, less tall butt stock. But the original flintlock was reused as a percussion lock; it is stamped "C. Bird & Co." Those locks seemed to replace the earlier "T. Ketland" locks often used on Lexington guns up to about 1820.
To many, an old barrel is less than exciting, but to a collector of early Kentucky guns, it's a gem. The barrel no longer resides in its last stock... but sits next to two original Bryan rifles, each signed by one of Daniel Bryan's gunsmithing sons, William Bryan and Lewis Bryan. And don't ask to see the restock the barrel was found in... it's too ugly to show. Shelby Gallien
