South Carolina Rifles - How Are They Identified?

[RobertS]

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=66702.msg669996;topicseen#msg669996

This is a link to a John Murphy rifle discussed on this forum a while back, probably the same one mentioned above, and it was one of my all-time favorite threads.  I read and reread it numerous times.  I'm glad to see the interest in SC rifles, as my family has deep roots there, and I suspect most southern families do. 

[AZshot]

I just got a D. T. Peden (see other post) and it also has an oblong tang like the Briggs/MESDA rifle.  I'm wondering if that is a SC feature?

[cshirsch]

.65 caliber

[AZshot]

Thanks for showing that one.  I wonder what that little hatch in the buttstock toe was for?

[Tanselman]

Those little compartments usually hold percussion caps.

Shelby Gallien

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Pheosalas Bell was a gunsmith in Polk County, Tennessee. Polk County is in the Southeast corner of Tennessee. I recall reading somewhere that Pheosalas Bell was from South Carolina. Of the two P. Bell rifles I have, the earlier of the 2 has distinct East Tennessee features, the 2nd is a late gun and is very generic.  He seems to have used used the same stock template/pattern; and his "student" JGW (Wallace) also used the same template, as all of their guns have an almost exact same stock outline. Is anyone familiar with P. Bell's work or knowledge of his SC origins?