Henry Wright?

[Wayne]

   I recently purchased my first Black powder percussion rifle and I almost didn't buy it because I knew nothing about the value. I have been doing a good bit of research to identify the maker. I found photos of a signed rifle made by Henry Wright and they are almost identical. I took it to a show at Joe Wheeler resort and learned it is a Jamestown rifle. The barrel may have been shortened also.The barrel is 40 inches and the overall length is 55 inches. The builder used a flintlock side plate but it was never drilled for a spring. This lead some to suggest it is an  very early percussion. Henry Wright  used the same side plate on his percussion rifles I have seen in photos. The same cheek piece is also on some of his rifles.
 Any help would be appreciated. Would it be okay to clean the silver and brass or should I leave it alone.

[mr. no gold]

Nice rifle! Looks like an NC gun with some nice silver decoration. If the gun were mine, I would not touch it. No cleaning or anything. On some of my pieces, I have applied a thin coat of wax to protect the surface, but not always. Thank you for bringing it over here to us to look at.
Dick

[Tanselman]

You have a nice looking rifle with typical inlay work from the Jamestown school in North Carolina. I agree with Dick's comments on not cleaning, or polishing, anything on the rifle. The Jamestown inlays were usually German silver, which oxidizes to more of a yellowish color, not the blue-black of sterling or coin silver often used in other areas. I can see some color differentiation on the various inlays on your rifle, particularly on the two lozenges on either side of the wrist. While it might be tempting to "even up" the color, if those are replacement inlays they may never match the others closely.

Usually the rear sight sits about over the rear ramrod/entry pipe, and when a barrel is shortened at the breech, the rear sight moves farther backwards as the barrel is slid back and re-breeched. The rifle may have lost its maker's signature when the barrel was shortened. Your rear sight sits pretty far back, so it looks like the barrel was shortened significantly at the breech end... but the 40 inches of barrel remaining looks good for a half-stocked rifle. The lock is a standard hardware store percussion lock ca. 1840-ish, so not quite sure of the comment about a "flint plate" being used... always a percussion plate. Overall, the rifle has nice lines, and exhibits clear details of the Jamestown School in its guard, inlay work, and stocking, so a good rifle, and good choice, to start collecting with. Shelby Gallien

[mbriggs]

Hi Wayne,
I believe you called me and we spoke over the phone right after you purchased this rifle.  I don't know who told you it was a Salem rifle but that is not correct.  As both Dick and Shelby have told you in the above post, your rifle was made in Jamestown. I am pretty sure it has always been percussion and made as a half-stock.  I also agree the rifle looks good in its current condition.

I would slow down on claiming it was made by Henry Wright because you have seen a rifle by him that looks similar. The Jamestown longrifle school (1800 - 1902) had at least eighty-five gunsmiths I can name. After 1840, they mostly all made the same style rifle, used the same stock architecture, sideplate, and inlays. If the rifle no longer signed, you will never know which gunsmith made it.

I have been collecting them for over 40 years and have owned over 200 Jamestown rifles. Please let me know if you would like to purchase my book on the Jamestown gunsmiths. The book contains 212 pages and features color photos of over thirty-eight Jamestown rifles and pistols.  If you are interested in adding additional Jamestown rifles to your collection I can help you with that too.

 


Thanks,

Michael

[mr. no gold]

Wayne, I would further suggest that you take the opportunity to get the full set of Michael Briggs's books on all of the Schools in NC. There is a volume on NC powder horns as well. The book on Jamestown makers is nothing short of phenomenal. If you get these books and read them well, you can't help but want to collect NC guns. Thanks again for posting the photos of your new find.
Dick

[Wayne]

I actually have a couple of his books and Im going to get a couple more.  I think Im also going to concentrate on North Al made guns though or maybe one of the L. Wood rifles. I have a lot of learning to do on these rifles.

[Rajin cajun]

Good luck on those North Alabama rifles.....!








Bob

[Ky-Flinter]

A section of wood has been replaced above the lock, just behind the drum, and based on the vertical cut, it appears there may have been a similar repair above the nose of the lock.  Any thoughts on this?  Could this indicate a lock replacement?

What is that round shape just touching the nose of the lock at about 2 o'clock.  The end of a screw or just an anomaly in the wood?

-Ron

[mr. no gold]

Upper front end of the lock appears to be a case of unfinished, wood replacement. The area above the lock plate has been replaced. Given the good, over all condition off the rifle, I wonder why that was considered to be necessary. The appearance would be improved some by finishing the job. Still, a real nice gun.
Dick