Tennessee Rifle

[frogwalking]

I haven't made a Tennessee rifle since the late '60s.  Then it was only a Tennessee because Dixie sold the stocks cheap.  Now it is more serious.  I imagine a walnut stock would be more typical, but plan to use curly maple anyway.  I will use a Rice southern classic barrel in .40 cal, with a long tang bp.  Thinking of using wedges to hold barrel in place, installing them before inletting the breechplug.  With barrel in place, locate flash hole and inlet lock.  locate and inlet double set triggers, then I can see how long to cut the tang so I can have both tang bolts thread into the trigger plate.  One in the front and one in the back.  I think most Tennessee trigger guards are held on by wood screws, but I want to pin it on as I think it is neater.  I have already sent an email to Dunlap and plan to contact Rice monday. 
Comments on this plan are encouraged, and thanks in advance. 

[PPatch]

I'm just returned from the Tennessee/Kentucky longrifle show where I must have viewed and handled almost a hundred mountain rifles. By and large maple stocks predominated with some fine walnut mixed in. To my eye the walnut stocks were beautiful. Just about every barrel was pinned, wedged barrels not too common. Pinning the trigger guard is fine, they are done both ways. As far as the trigger plate and guard the neater rifles (in my opinion) showed the trigger guard inlet over the forward and rear of the plate with the trigger plate sometimes "stepped" to accommodate the guard. More often you saw the trigger plate inlet to a depth that would allow the guard to be inlet over it; doing it that way results in a sort of channel in the wood that the plate sits in, looks fine. The rest of your plan sounds good. Have fun!

ADD:Late Ketland locks are in short supply right now - Chambers is having some fabricated which should be available in May or June.

dp

[frogwalking]

I bought a new Late Ketland lock at the Williamsburg show a few weeks ago, so that   part is covered. 

[galamb]

I will give you a positive vote on the barrel.

I'm building a rifle with a Southern Classic (in 45 cal) right now. The barrel "feels" light for the length and the swamp is not severe - you can see it if you look long enough, but it's not super apparent at first glance - "subtle" would be the description.

Jason pegs the weight of the 50 cal at 3lbs 13oz. I threw the 45 on the scale when I got it and she came in at 4lbs 3oz so the 40 should be just a hair over the 4 1/2lb mark - nice in a 42" barrel.

I will also vote for the barrel "pins" - unless you are building something where keys are appropriate to the original(s) you are emulating, I just like the look better - no "blob" of a key head on the side of a very slim forearm (but that's just personal taste) - plus, pins rarely fall out and get lost in the field.

[omark]

i may be wrong on the sequence of building, but i try to inlet the breech plug before installing the pins or wedges. i feel it is easier to keep inletting tight.   jmho     mark

[kaintuck]

Limmie ask everyone.....When making and or wanting a southern mountain rifle, which do you prefer: a flint or a cap lock?

Marc in tenn....

[omark]

Ive been wanting to go to flint on most everything.   just seems more authentic and fun.   mark

[galamb]

I lean the other way - any original flinter could have been/was converted - so build it as a conversion if the inspirational rifle was pre-cap, and just build a cap if it's from the post cap era.

I really don't like the look of rifles from the percussion era that are built as flints when an original did not exist or has never been found - just looks wrong to me.

[Acer Saccharum]

Percussion caps were hard to come by up in the hollers.

[smylee grouch]

Caps can still be hard to come by. 

[Old Ford2]

Times have not changed
Fred

[Pete G.]

Flint is just more fun.
If I were shooting for a living I might be more inclined to a capgun.

[Birddog6]

I suggest you get the barrel inlet & tang inlet Before you do the underlugs & pinning, or wedge pins.

You need all of that in & stable before drilling for pins.

However, each of us build a lil differently.

Keith Lisle

[Curt Larsen]

I'm building one now.  It is curly maple, 42 inch .40 cal Green Mountain 13/16"barrel.  The barrel is pinned with 4 pins.  The trigger guard will be pinned.  the Davis double set trigger plate holds the tang bolt forward and a wood screw aft.  It will have an oval patchbox.  All is iron mounted.  One of these days I hope to finish it.
Curt L.

[Birddog6]

I have been working on one Forever......  This one has a  13/16"  43 1/2" Douglas barrel, .40 cal, curly cherry stock, all hand made trim & etc. Wish I could just stay on it & get it done. Just about to the sanding stage.

Keith Lisle

[mountainman70]

Percussion caps were hard to come by up in the hollers.
[
/quote]

Acer,they still are these days.Flint is easier even here in West Virginny,'specially if your best friend is a flintknapper.Dave

[Bible Totin Gun Slinger]

Limmie ask everyone.....When making and or wanting a southern mountain rifle, which do you prefer: a flint or a cap lock?

Marc in tenn....

That's a mood thing, I was a flintlock guy for years, then ,,,I dunno just like caps now,

[jamesthomas]

 Flintlock all the way for me, rifles were kept a long time up in the hollers in their original state. Not only were caps not easy to find but they were just another expense that the hill people couldn't afford.

[JCKelly]

You might want to check with Bob Roller  get one of his off-set DST sets. Triggers offset, rather than just on the centerline of the plate, were a Southern thing. At least in a couple that I have had. Guess it has to do with design & placement of the spring.
Seems a number of people are unaware of this, so it is one more bit of authenticity to make you look wise.
Jim Kelly
(and a Yankee, too!)