John Bivins rifles?

[brokenflint]

Any one have any photos of John's rifles?  I've only seen the B/w photos from Rifle magazine, would like to see some color ones.  Maybe the PA rifles for the centenial?

[Jim Filipski]

brokenflint  There were a few nice ones published in MuzzleBlasts Magazine in 1983-84 Color shots on the covers

[Blacksmoke]

If I remember correctly there is a color "frontcover" picture of a Bivins longrifle-- Gun Digest 1976.  Where has 30yrs. gone??    Hugh Toenjes

[Dennis Glazener]

There is one photo in this post.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2386.0

I thought someone posted photos of Jim's Winchester VA show display of his Bivins centennial rifles but I could not find them.

Dennis

[billd]

Isn't there one in the TOW catalog?

Bill

[brokenflint]

seems like they all disappeared    Where are the ones done for the state of PA?  they in a museum someplace, or did these all get auctioned off? 

[Jim Filipski]

seems like they all disappeared    Where are the ones done for the state of PA?  they in a museum someplace, or did these all get auctioned off? 

If they are in a PA museum they may be stored away in a dark back room! I'll tell you all about it some time!!!!
Jim

[Don Getz]

At one time the State Museum in Harrisburg, Pa. had two Bicentennial Rifles,  one by John Bivins and one by Jack Haugh.
The would use them to demonstrate to children how a flintlock worked, and toward the end they were getting somewhat beat up, what a shame.   My wife worked as a curator there, that's how I found out about this.  The museum has a lot of
kentuckies, unfortunately, none are on display.  Isn't that ironic, the state that is considered to be the birthplace of the
kentucky rifle and they don't even have an exhibit showing this.  At one time they had a beautiful display of them, shown
between sheets of plexiglass, where you could look at both sides of the gun.  If I recall correctly, they had about sixteen
of them displayed.  The one gun that still stands out was a beautiful Moll rifle, Lehigh county.   It had a bright barrel, with
a few rusty spots, and the varnish finish looked like you reach in there and just flick some of it off with you finger nail.  I
called down there about a year ago, wanted to go and look at them, and described the Moll rifle.....he told me they don't
have a rifle like that.   I really should check it out................Don

[brokenflint]

Don't get me on my soap box over Museums     More often than not I've found them non cooperative when it comes to showing you items in storage.   I guess on the flip side its funding also, and recently political correctness to not display controversial items.   This bothers me more so with the government facilities than with the private ones.  Oh well  I'll shut up.

[Majorjoel]

There are a couple of John Bivins rifles pictured in the fine book..."Three Centuries of Tradition" "The Renaissance of Custom Sporting Arms in America".  One a Germanic style wheel-lock rifle and a fine steel and silver mounted longrifle done in Bivins "New School" styling. Great book, great color pictures, and great guns!! Quite a few of our ALR alumni have works displayed as well.

[Jim Filipski]

Ok Here is my sad story:
Back in the early 90's My associate was friends with a local Museum's Curator. He got a personal tour of the displays ( back room). When he returned to work the following day he told me about what he saw. Since he knew of my love for old guns he said he would ask his curator friend if I could also get a tour of the back room.
 We were out on a photo shoot one day close to where the museum is and decided to stop by on our way home to see if I could get a look at their old guns. I was taken to the basement of the facility and a couple rooms back, lit by ( seriously) only 25 watt bulbs screwed into sockets in the ceiling.

   Even though the bad lighting I was able to examine A beautiful short barreled Jaeger rifle (17th/ 18th C)  fancy raised relief carved  with a Flat plate German lock with round face cock. This gun was a beauty. Besides this was a J Dickert & Gill flint longrifle In very good shape There were a few other guns which I didn't get to inspect along with some pretty nice horns but the Museum was near closing time.

   I asked that I may make an appointment to photograph them and was told that that could be arranged. A few weeks later when I had the time to return to photograph them I was told to call back in a few weeks! Needless to say I never got that appointment. A few years afterwards I was talking to an acquaintance of mine who had just got the job of assistant curator to this museum. I told him of the back room and my longing to photograph these pieces. I thought "now I really have a good chance". Weeks later he told me that he could not locate those items in the archive rooms. So all I have are memories & some notes that I made at the time I first saw them. I'm sure they are lost to the ages
Jim

[rsells]

I have a good set of color pictures of one of the rifles you are talking about.  It was on Cabela's Gun Library and is a good example of the BiCent. rifles.  If you will send me your mailing address, I will print them off and send you a set.  It has good photo's of the carving and details like that .  For some reason, I thought someone from this forum purchased the rifle, but can't remember for sure.  Also, the book "Contemporary Makers of Muzzle Loading Firearms" writen by Robert Weil has a bunch of John's work in them.  My e-mail address is rbpodge@twlakes.net.
                                                                 Roger Sells

[elk killer]

the Bivins rifle from Cabelas, was #97 or maybe it was #93 i cant remember now,,
but i got to study it at great length,,and its one that John built himself,,
its a very nice rifle,,and yes one of the members of this board bought it..
the sad note is,,cabelas had zero idea of what it was..or who John Bivins was,,
when i 1st saw the rifle in their display,,it was on full cock,,and had been that way for some amount of time,,

[brokenflint]

well doh!!  I forgot about Three Centuries of traditions!  pardon my seniors moment LOL   I'll have to look that up. 

Jim  You think these are still in the museum or walked? Or maybe your acquaintance didn't really know what to look for?  from reading about the beck pistol disappearing, I wonder how many others have been stolen.  All the more reason I appreciate it when someone offers the opportunity to let us view originals, and another good reason for the archives!  Thanks again Hurricane and Nord

Roger I'll shoot you an email tomorrow, not sending any emails out today because of this april fools virus, corflicker or what ever its called, don't want to cause anyone problems if by chance I have it on my machine and pass it on.