Author Topic: Jim Hash East Tennessee Rifle (Read 17212 times)

G-Man · « **on:** January 03, 2011, 03:53:11 PM »

Nice example of Jim's work on the Blog Spot today.

Jim is a builder from Appomattox Virginia and Like Steve Davis was an early follower of Hershel's influence. The piece shown is just an elegant, classic east Tennessee gun and he also made a variety of the later southwestern Virginia styles and wide-butted early "Woodbury" style guns. From what I recall seeing of his work at Friendship, I remember his iron work being just superb.

Like Steve Davis, we rarely get the chance to see examples of his work these days so thanks Art and Jan for putting up the photos. He has built some of finest iron mounted contemporary southern longrifles out there and I think a lot of people would enjoy seeing his work.

Guy

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2011, 04:38:06 PM »

Nice looking rifle from a very interesting man. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim last year. James Rogers introduced me to him. He doesn't build rifles anymore, wish he would, but he showed me his 30/31 Ford chopped/channeled sedan hot rod. Full blown flat head engine with all the goodies, including a blower! He had engraved the breather cover for the blower, great work!
Dennis

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2011, 04:47:22 PM »

Racy looking gun. Cheekpiece is really forward. Man, there are a lot of great makers out there I've never heard of.

G-Man · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2011, 07:03:32 PM »

You are right Rich, there are a lot of them. Thanks to Art and Jan, more of us are getting to see their work. This sort of goes hand in hand with the post showing the photos of Wallace's nice rifle that he built in the late 60s or early 70s - there was a lot of really fine work going on 30-40 years ago that we just don't get many chances to see these days. These guys were some real pioneers with regard to contemporary longrifles and seeing their work again really brings back some great memories for me of why I originally got into this hobby.

I love the 5th thimble - I wonder how long that barrel is?

Guy

bgf · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:27:07 PM »

I think he needs yet another RR pipe, there's still a little rod hanging out

. Beautiful, sleek rifle -- he had a real vision of what they were about it looks to me.

smylee grouch · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2011, 08:33:26 PM »

Sleek and racey is right, I would add very nice and crisp lines to the list also. Great looking gun. Gary

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2011, 09:39:03 PM »

What elegant lines! I, too, would like to know how long that barrel is! Love those many thimbles!

bgf · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2011, 10:04:33 PM »

I may be completely wrong, but it looks like a 42" barrel, at least not much longer. The thimbles are pretty short, as is -- I believe -- the forend (compare from trigger to entry pipe distance to LOP).

G-Man · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2011, 11:11:17 PM »

Hard to tell - both of the full length photos are skewed slightly away from the camera, so can't really scale it accurately. It does look like the forearm section is cut back to accentuate the visual length of the barrel.

James Rogers · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2011, 12:01:35 AM »

Just talked to Mr. Hash this morning and I called him back this afternoon after seeing this thread.
He sends his hello's to all.

The gun was copied straight off of an original Bean belonging to a collector in the valley of VA.
Jim made the gun about 1980 and the parts are hand forged.

The barrel is a 48" Bill Large, 1" and 36 caliber.
The barrel was originally stocked in a blank in the 1960's by Jim's uncle Albert Hash.
When the barrel and blank were brought to Jim he burnt the stock for firewood.

Jim said he never shot the gun because he did not make the barrel but it was reported to him that it is a tack driving machine.

James

bgf · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2011, 12:14:32 AM »

I was just getting ready to recant on my length estimate -- there was more skew than I realized at first, although I still think the way it is designed makes it look even longer than it is (that's why I was messing around with it in the first place -- trying to figure out what was going on).

Ken G · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2011, 02:11:40 AM »

Great example of a E. TN rifle. Good architecture and overall appeal. She's a beauty!

Guy,
Thanks for the background on Jim. I share your sentiments on Art and Jan's Blog. They do a great service to the entire BP community.

Ken

B Shipman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2011, 08:15:20 AM »

Last time I talked to Jim Hash , he was having serious eyesight problems and that may be the reason for the curtailed building.

Don Getz · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2011, 04:41:37 PM »

Have known Jim for a long, long time. Most unusual character. Always enjoyed my conversations with him. He was also
a follower of the Modified racing going on here in Pa., would come up this way just to go to the races. I have seen some
great guns that came out of his shop, very talented guy.............Don

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2011, 09:03:29 PM »

I thought the barrel looked long, but 48"! Wow, and with a 1 inch barrel. I'd love to see the rifle in person, especially knowing now that it was copied directly from an original Bean!

Thanks for sharing the photos and the additiona; commentary with the group!

art riser · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2011, 08:03:31 PM »

Jim's rifle sold at last years CLA Show.

California Kid · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2011, 09:42:05 PM »

Glad to see Jim's work on the blog finally. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and he was working at profiling a fowler barrel for an up and coming new builder. As Dennis said he spends a lot of time on hot rod oriented projects.
Don Getz, Jim has been trying to get in touch with you. Give him a call. He doesn't have a computer, but I've been trying to talk him into one. He's afraid if he gets one, he won't get anything else done!!! Has a point there.

nosrettap1958 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2011, 10:04:44 PM »

With its distinct profile I think the Tennessee mountain rifle is in a class all of its own. I love this rifle like I love all Tennessee mountain rifles, especially the Soddy-Daisey area(?) and or style(?) rifle but that banana patch box I just can’t get my head wrapped around as the size of it in proportion to that slender butt stock. Sorry guys. The rest of the rifle I love it.

G-Man · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2011, 10:11:57 PM »

That's a pretty typical east Tennessee style box, both sizewise and shape - actually a little narrower and shorter than some I've seen.

One other thing I love on this gun is the compact wrist/ long comb. One of the things that gives some of these guys a very distinctive look.

Guy

Kermit · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2011, 09:08:17 PM »

I went looking, but didn't find it. Can anyone steer me right?

G-Man · « **Reply #20 on:** January 22, 2011, 01:32:34 AM »

I just tried and could not find it again either. Art might be able to help.

Guy

James Rogers · « **Reply #21 on:** January 22, 2011, 01:47:03 AM »

I just made a search for Hash at the top left of the blog page and the Tenn. gun came up under the fowling piece.

G-Man · « **Reply #22 on:** January 22, 2011, 02:03:51 AM »

Yes - I think what folks are having trouble getting to are the older posts. I was looking for some of the older posts of Hershel's and Steve Davis's work the other day and had the same problem.

Guy

art riser · « **Reply #23 on:** January 22, 2011, 02:29:29 AM »

type in the full name... after the first entry appears click on the artist name at the end of that post (small and part of the credits) that should take you to all previous posts...

Kermit · « **Reply #24 on:** January 22, 2011, 03:05:20 AM »

Thanks, Art, that worked after a couple of tries. Sure an odd way to find archived items!

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Author Topic: Jim Hash East Tennessee Rifle (Read 17212 times)

California Kid

nosrettap1958