Pictures of Robert "Bob" Watts rifles

[elkhorne]

D Buck/Timberdog,
Do either of you have a photo of that ball starter you are describing. It Is neat to see the innovations that some of our past master builders came up with. Thanks.
elkhorne

[Rifleman1776]

My wife has a .40 percussion he built for her in the late 70s. Wimmens always being a puzzlement, she decided to give up muzzle loading shortly after getting the rifle. It has had about 20 rounds shot from it and otherwise has been a safe queen. I'll take some pics and post tomorrow.

[Rifleman1776]

Here is a pic of a rifle built for my wife by Bob Watts. He built it in the mid-70s. It is a .40 cal. with Douglas barrel. I forget who made the lock, probably a Siler. It is 46" overall with a 12 1/2" LOP and weighs 6 1/2 lbs. The barrel probably should be swamped but it holds well. The stock is fully curled maple stained dark and the rifle has a beautiful finish. My wife was a highly successful competitive shooter but lost interest about the time we took delivery of this rifle. It has less than 20 rounds shot through it. Safe queen all these years but she does not want to sell.

[Rifleman1776]

I just posted a pic on an old, very similar, thread.

[Daryl]

Looks like a winner to me.

[sqrldog]

Bob Watts rifle from the early 70's

[sqrldog]

[Timberdog]

Thanks Sqrldog. Thanks!

That’s a beauty

[Timberdog]

Elkhorne, very simple, but the hammer part is filled Partially with lead. Heavy. Lay patch, place ball, quick smack with hammer (leather face), cut patch flush with muzzle, use short starter, drive home with ramrod.  Simple genius.  Shoot a lot, much easier and quicker that slapping ball end of short starter...I’ve used so long only way I’ve done it. So used to it I have shorter version in my hunting bag. That’s a little overkill, but I’m a creature of habit.

[Timberdog]

Rifleman 1776 Thank you for sending me to this thread from my thread. That rifle has very pretty wood...my goodness. Is It just me, but his sights on his rifles are second to none. I wonder if I’m exaggerating, but his site always seem very clear and distinct and “fine”.  I can see a little bit of that wide rear sight in the picture!

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Mine is similar, except it has a (real) short brass starter in the middle of the "wood barrel" to get the patched ball started in the muzzle. Usually, I used the leather-faced ends to act as a "plastic mallet" to tap on something without marring the wood or metal.

[Ronnie Hill]

I know this is an old thread but thought I'd share my story.

My dad had Robert build a matching set of rifles back in the early u0's.  Perhaps as early as 71 or 72.  My dad along with HB Aderhold started Muscogee County Long Rifles.

The two guns were made from side by side blanks of curly maple...one a flintlock and one a caplock.

I remember as a very young child playing in Roberts shop looking thru boxes and boxes of old handguns.

I can remember many nights spent at their house playing with his two kids.  We used to shoot at Carrollton at the Cherokee County Bark Buster's, a range in Montgomery, Briarfield and River Bend.

Occasionally we went to Tennessee for a match there but don't recall the name of it be we always camped out.

Robert also built a small left handed rifle for my mother.

Some years later dad had to sell the flintlock which he enlisted Robert to do for him thru his shop.

The matching caplock is still in the family along with a rifle my dad Ben Hill built and gave me


Me and my brother occasionally go to Muscogee for their annual turkey shoot although we haven't been in years.

Just thought I'd share.

[Ronnie Hill]

Did some pondering about the Tennessee shoot.  It was at Mr. Charlie Haffners place.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Ronnie,... that would be at Mr. Charlie's "Owl Hollow" range,... also had the state shoots at the "Elk River Long Rifles" range between Tullahoma and Lynchburg TN, with John Anderson in charge and near Gallatin TN at the "Tennessee Longhunters" range at Camp Boxwell,.... Those surely were the days my friend,.... Regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler,...