Old Holston

[Virginiaboy]

I have heard mention of what is called an old holston rifle? Does anyone have pictures of it?

[timM]

Wallace Gussler had written an article in Muzzle Blasts a number of years ago likely touching on the rifle you are inquiring about.  I will look for that M-B issue when I've a moment, unless someone else can turn it on the quick.

There are references to East Tennessee rifle makers in proximity to the Holston river whose rifles have features coined Holston.  Dave Byrd in his book "Gunmakers of Buffalo Valley & Greasy Cove" has at least one reference to a Holston cheek piece. 

Trying to remember my Battle of Kings Mountain reading there are references to the Holston region and possibly mention of rifle(s) of that area?? 

 

[G-Man]

The rifle was shown in one of Wallace's Muzzle Blasts articles - maybe more  The more detailed one was called "Attributing the Old Holston Rifle" and I can't recall the other articles that might have shown one or two photos of it. 

Attached is a link to the Cont. Blog Spot feature on a rifle that Ian Pratt made that was inspired by the Old Holston gun and is very close to it.

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/02/ian-pratt-rifle.html

There were gunmakers working in the Holston and Watauga regions by the 1770s - Jacob Brown for one - What they exactly made is unknown as we unfortunately haven't had any signed work by them turn up yet that we are aware of.  But I keep holding out hope.  The Old Holston gun is certainly a plausible example of what some of their products might have looked like.  It is known that there was a demand among the Cherokee and Creeks for rifles in the back country for the hide trade even long before the 1770s.

Guy

[Virginiaboy]

Thanks, I think I was told the Muzzle Blasts article was in 2003?! I was a senior in HS then and could've cared less about these rifles and their histories so I am playing catch up to the guys in here.

[G-Man]

I think that is the issue - Sept. 2003.  If you look at the link to Ian's copy, and read the captions, he talks about the article.

[rich pierce]

Ian's rifle is a great one and better executed than the original.  These old early rifles are fascinating.  Hard to date precisely of course but the lock, barrel dimensions, width of the buttplate and style of the guard are all compatible with the Revolutionary War era or earlier.  I think Wallace estimated it as a 1770s rifle and some of that might be based on when the area was settled; don't know for sure.

[AndyThomas]

Sept '03 and March '04 are the ones you want. My next rifle will be based on the two rifles shown in the '04 article. Hope to start on it in a few weeks. An iron/walnut rifle, I can hardly wait!

Andy

[rich pierce]

Andy, we can hardly wait!

[AndyThomas]