ALR Museum Gunsmith: George Grandstaff...Edinburg, VA ( Shenandoah Valley)

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

Master gunsmith George Grandstaff of Edinburg, VA. A typical fine Shennandoah Valley gun. Note the similarity to Henry Spitzer and related guns. Grandstaff lived and worked 10 miles from New Market,VA... the home of Henry Spitzer. Little is known or written of their possible relationship.

Here is the URL:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13824.0

Pleas reply with your comments here as a "reply"

The Museum Committee

[G-Man]

Very interesting piece.  I have not had the opportunity to study many Grandstaff toeplates - this one is interesting to me because the style (portions of the toeplate narrower than the width of the toe of the stock) also crops up down through southwest Virginia and over into Tennessee - Jacob Young for instance.  Dennis Glazener posted photos of a neat early iron mounted gun that came out of the Roanoke area, with a similar toeplate.

Thanks for posting - always neat to see signed Virginia work.

Guy

[Majorjoel]

I too find this rifle to be most interesting. I am curious about the patchbox release. Is it by any chance opened with pressure placed in the "bridge" of the toe plate? I like the slight step in the lower wrist very much. The insized carving is very unique and has been rubbed flat from many years of handling. I have seen this wear on other rifles and it now appears like the carving and checkering was almost painted on. Many thanks to the owner and the museum folks for this fine display!

[flintriflesmith]

Toe plates with a necked in section like this are often the presure release for the pathbox. On this rifle that appears to be the case.

Gary