Southern/Mountain Trigger guards

[KNeilson]

I`m enjoying all the discussions lately on mountain rifles as that is what I wanting to attempt next. Ive searched around this site and elsewhere and what I am looking for eludes me. There was a fellow that was coming to club shoots here (coast of BC) a couple years back and he had an interesting feature on his rifle. It could be described as a Southern or mountain rifle in style, I believe .32 caliber. All hand made iron furniture/parts. It had a trigger guard I recognized as different from most. The grip rail and rear extension were forged/shaped similar to whats available and used, but at the trigger bows front a waisted stud connected the trigger bow to the front extension. Does anyone here recognize this description, or maybe being a trade mark of a certain contempary builder? At the time he told me it was built in the Eastern States, dont remember a Builders name atm...   regards            Kerry     

[WadePatton]

i don't quite follow your words, maybe a sketch would help us?

[Mark Elliott]

Do you mean that the front of the bow is squished flat like you might be planning to put a swivel through it?   If so,  the Woodbury guys like to do that.   It copies brass guards.   I have never seen an original iron guard like that, but plenty of fantasy contemporary iron mounted guns with that characteristic.     

[Mark Elliott]

Does this look like what you are talking about?

[KNeilson]

Hi guys, thx for the responses. An odd question I know. IMO, I think more than likely a one off or fantasy of someone...Nice looking rifle tho which made me take notice. Hey, if you dont ask youll never know.. Wade, thx for taking the brunt of the information search for me, I notice a lot of your posts as I search the subject material. I think I`m looking to try what you just did, (nice job by the way). So I made a sketch from memory. It was quite square in profile, the rivet head on bottom may have been a bit more flush than I drew, and now that I`m dwelling on it a bit, The stud may have been a bit wider than shown the drawing. Thx for the info    Kerry

[kaintuck]

Now you've done it!......marks gonna start making these.... .....
Just kidding......actually forging a iron guard is a feat....this fellow's guard was a shortcut I suspect....that post came probably after he got a break in the metal, OR....not ENUFF flat metal to make the guard out the front end!!!

Marc n tomtom

[gunmaker]

Those show up on European guns sometimes on the rear of grip rail and with wedding rings filed into 'em.....Why not, looks different...Tom

[Hungry Horse]

 Some years ago I had a guy come by my home trying to sell me a set of parts from a longrifle that had been stripped years before for the barrel. The parts were defiantly southern in style. The trigger guard was made in two pieces. the rear extension, grip rail, and most of the bow were all one piece. The front extension, and the front of the guard were one piece. The front part of the guard was forged into a tapered square, tapering up towards the front extension. The front of the guard passed through a square hole in the bow, and was peened tight. Ahead of the junction of the two pieces the extra part of the bow was rolled back making a nice place to attach either a vent pick of a sling. The guy wanted more than the parts were worth, and I told him I wasn't interested. I have never seen another guard of this style, and regret letting this one get away.

                    Hungry Horse

[shortbarrel]

Hungry Horse, could you do a picture or drawing of this TG. I think I made one like it from an original years ago. All wrought iron on a rifle I built that is in the collection. thanks Dick...

[KNeilson]

Thx for the replys, Ive also now found a TG with a similar characteristic in Dillons "The Kentucky Rifle", but its grip rail is more like a Jaeger in style . I find what Hungry Horse describes interesting, that is the loop for a swivel or vent pick .  Regards  Kerry

[WadePatton]

... Wade, thx for taking the brunt of the information search for me, I notice a lot of your posts as I search the subject material. ... Thx for the info    Kerry

Glad to hear someone benefited from the compilation compositions (pre-searched research?). Thanks for noticing.