West Virginia Guns

[mlbrant]

     Since my Grandfathers relatives are from the mountains of West Virginia (Beckley area), I am wondering what the mountain rifles from this area looked like (sideplate,triggerguards, iron or brass,tallow hole or patch box, architect.)Can anyone direct me to some pics of WV Southrn Mountain rifles.
      May build a half- stock pistol using these features-pistol with a broke fore end that may have been cut back.

[galamb]

You can start by having a read here - http://www.flintriflesmith.com/WritingandResearch/WebArticles/VirginiaRifle.htm

Then to get the flavour you can take a look here. They are "contemporary" but will give you some indication of what was coming from the general area back in the day - http://www.lowellhaarer.com/brass.html

And finally, if I "googled" right, the Beckley area would be in Raleigh County. If I got that correct here is a list of gunsmiths that were working in that county/when.

You can try searching for work from them. Of course, a rifle in that area could have come from anywhere, but if you are after a Virginia rifle or more specifically one that would have come from what is (now) W.VA these links should give you somewhere to start.

Read: County, who, born-died, worked in the area when

[David R. Pennington]

The book, Gunsmiths of WV might interest you. I really like the style of the Honaker rifles of that area. They incorporated some interesting features. They usually used a stepped wrist (like a Jaeger) and a somewhat distinctive trigger guard. I would like to build one of that flavor someday. They seemed to hold onto some of the earlier features long after they were probably out of style, including sliding wood patch boxes.

[mlbrant]

Were their any West Virginia mountain guns with the charateristics of the Southern MOuntain rifles--lollipop tangs. simple sideplates, banana patchboxes, poorboy styling?

[Bob Roller]

I once saw a 25 caliber fullstock rifle made by Levi Rakes in a place called "Big Ugly" WV.
I think it's in Logan County.This rifle was a nice one and showed skill and craftsmanship
in the making.Levi Rakes,in addition to making nice muzzleloaders was reputed to be a counterfeiter of silver coins.

Bob Roller

[galamb]

Many of the Virginia rifles built in what (later) became West Virginia were quite ornate, complete with wire inlays and you could argue that they were "fancier" than many Pennsylvania/Maryland rifles built during the same time period.

I can't find the pic but I recall one Shenandoah area rifle that had a long "straight" tang, but have not seen a lollipop style (and have been gathering/reading a lot on W.Va rifles for an anticipated build in the future).

If you are looking for a very plain/simple rifle you may have to look to a (typical) style a little further south.

Of course, a plain rifle could have been and probably was built everywhere and anywhere. But if you are looking to build/have built a "somewhat representative" rifle that would have come from W.Va you would typically looking at a brass mounted rifle, fancy brass patchbox and perhaps some silver or brass wire work.

That would be more representative of what has "survived" from the region.

[Gene Carrell]

I've a late period Benson 30cal halfstock caplock from WV that is anything but simple. It has aluminum inlays all over it and is a well made little rifle. Still capable of taking squirrels.

[Leatherbark]

I live in Beckley and  shoot with a fellow here that goes by the name of "Carper". He is the Grandson or Great Grandson of the Carpers.  He found their old rifling machine in a barn on their farm IIRC.  He used it to make him a replica and started making rifles like his GG dad.  They are southern mountain style hog rifles sort of.  He has a collection of Carper rifles.  

I've helped use his rifling machine and I'll swear his rifles are hard to beat in an offhand match.  As a matter of fact him and a friend of mine and me are getting us some 15/16Th's 38 inch barrel stock without rifling to have a rifling party to make us some offhand half stock shooters like his GG dad did some back in the day.

Hopefully he will chime in soon.  He is a wealth of information of a lot of WV gun makers.

Bob

[Carper]

Thanks for the nice words, Bob.  I look forward to us getting together and cutting some rifles. I have made a wooden pattern of the old half stock trigger guard that the Carper's cast and plan on getting some made up. You cant buy one like it.   To Mlbrant: send me your address and I will send you a little book that I made up showing some south West Virginia (Virginia) rifles from the latter 1800's. Mostly made by my folks.  You will see enough southern squirrel rifles to be "sick" of them. Bob is right about one thing, those old boys made a great offhand rifle. Long heavy barrel, heavy triggerguard with lots of spurs and a fine silver front sight makes a good offhand gun. The Carpers and the Honakers were in head to head competition for sales  in Raleigh county and their rifles look a lot alike.   Some very workman like and some really fancy.   My email is firecracker62@suddenlink.net  Johnny Walker