John Painter Rifle from Botetourt County, VA

[Tanselman]

A couple of months ago I picked up at auction a John Painter rifle that came with all its accouterments including bag, horn, blowing horn, powder measure, bullet mold, can of caps, etc. I posted the accouterments on the Antique Accouterments Board, but a viewer asked to see the rifle, so I am posting it here. It's a later rifle with back-action lock marked "Smith & Roberts Warranted," three pipes, and unfortunately has been refinished. Barrel is [today] 41 inches with a .36 caliber bore, 7 groove rifling. Barrel has been shortened 2-7/8 inches. Original muzzle has a nice pattern of three rings, two outer ones closer together, and an inner ring around the bore, with small circles stamped in between the rings at the seven points of the rifling. The importance of this assembly is not the rifle, but the fact all its accouterments are still with the rifle after 150+ years. It might not be the greatest VA rifle you've ever seen, but it's the best I can do on Christmas! Shelby Gallien

[MGillman]

My distant Uncle. Thanks for sharing.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Very nice Christmas 🎄 Day surprise! Thanks for sharing!

[Tim Crosby]

 That is quite the Toe Plate.

    Thanks For The Pix, Tim

[Dennis Glazener]

A couple of months ago I picked up at auction a John Painter rifle that came with all its accouterments including bag, horn, blowing horn, powder measure, bullet mold, can of caps, etc. I posted the accouterments on the Antique Accouterments Board, but a viewer asked to see the rifle, so I am posting it here. It's a later rifle with back-action lock marked "Smith & Roberts Warranted," three pipes, and unfortunately has been refinished. Barrel is [today] 41 inches with a .36 caliber bore, 7 groove rifling. Barrel has been shortened 2-7/8 inches. Original muzzle has a nice pattern of three rings, two outer ones closer together, and an inner ring around the bore, with small circles stamped in between the rings at the seven points of the rifling. The importance of this assembly is not the rifle, but the fact all its accouterments are still with the rifle after 150+ years. It might not be the greatest VA rifle you've ever seen, but it's the best I can do on Christmas! Shelby Gallien

Shelby,
I know nothing about Botetourt County VA rifles so this may be a dumb ques tion to some.

 Is this rifle signed? If not how do you ID it as a Jon Painter rifle.
Dennis

[Tanselman]

The butt stock with the short, ultra high comb and long wrist is a strong indicator this is a Painter rifle...almost any Virginia collector would recognize the rifle from its "different" stock architecture. But the barrel is also signed in large, flowing script with his initials, "J P." And it didn't hurt that the rifle has always been in Virginia.  Shelby Gallien

[Dennis Glazener]

Thanks good info for this Virginian
Dennis

[VABornVABred]

John Painter was my Great, Great Grandfather. What a great find, thank you for posting!