Jacob Young Rifle for Sale

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I saw this notice in the September/October issue of the magazine Antiques.

[oakridge]

Here is the link to his website with photos of the rifle:

http://www.kellykinzleantiques.com/long-rifle-by-jacob-young.html

I'm looking forward to comments on this one.

[spgordon]

I'm out of my league--but would be interested to know what folks think of the superlative here: "The quality and quantity of gold and silver mounts is unparalleled in the history of American longrifles."

Unparalleled. In the history of American longrifles.

Are the gold and silver mounts on this rifle that extraordinary?

[Mike Brooks]

I'm out of my league--but would be interested to know what folks think of the superlative here: "The quality and quantity of gold and silver mounts is unparalleled in the history of American longrifles."

Unparalleled. In the history of American longrifles.

Are the gold and silver mounts on this rifle that extraordinary?

I believe it's extraordinary in several aspects. Condition is amazing. I have seen more silver on a few NC guns. I have seen about that amount of gold on a Kunz rifle. So, I don't know if it is unparalleled or not, but I would say it is extraordinary. It would be a very pleasing gun to own, I'm sure it will bring a big pile O' cash.

[Eric Krewson]

The first vintage long rifle I ever saw or held in person was a Jacob Young rifle at a local art center exhibit called "Arms Through The Ages".

The owner was a powder horn collector/expert and was giving a talk about the art of original horns. Before his program I was looking at his stuff and mentioned I shot a TC flintlock and was thinking about trying my hand at building a PC rifle. He held out the Young rifle and said hold it, I was blown away. I was expecting an original to be somewhat crude, the fit and finish on this rifle was perfect, like one would expect from a fine English SXS shotgun today.

The rifle had been built for a wealthy lawyer in Nashville and seen little or no use, it was as pristine as if it had been built yesterday.

I knew nothing about gun building at the time, I don't remember the guy's name but he spent a lot of time with me, steered me in the right direction and gave me encouragement. He said "buy a Chambers kit, you can make money on the finished gun even if you don't do the best job putting it together". Pretty good advice but I built my first from a plank so I could learn it all from start to finish.

[jcmcclure]

I'm out of my league--but would be interested to know what folks think of the superlative here: "The quality and quantity of gold and silver mounts is unparalleled in the history of American longrifles."

Unparalleled. In the history of American longrifles.

Are the gold and silver mounts on this rifle that extraordinary?

I was the manager for the state historical site that cared for the rifle that Young built for William Whitley. The year this rifle surfaced for broad public consumption I was able to be a part of the display of all three of then known Jacob Young rifles.  If you have never seen I can understand y you would question it. The rifle is superior to many. The craftsmanship itself is wonderful, the the skill gone into the working of silver, gold and brass is not like most any other of the old builders. Young had some well defined skills that far exceeded most builders and Smith's of the day.

The lock on the rifle was forged and build by Young and it's amazing. I'm not going to say he was a master of all things. His woodcarving was acceptable, but there us only one know carved rifle out there.

In the large scheme of things, it's a grand rifle.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... I sure wish someone would put leather in the jaws of that hammer ..... even if just for display, that makes me cringe .....do it right ......

[Sequatchie Rifle]

What's most interesting about Young is that he was living in an area that really was very isolated- the border between Middle and East Tennessee just a little west of the Cumberland Plateau.  My in-laws had a Jacob Young rifle until the mid 1990's when it "disappeared". It was a simple iron-mounted rifle with a wooden patchbox cover.  Young lived and worked less than 10 miles from their home place and I'm sure the family's new each other.  They have all been there since the Indian lands opened up in the early 1800s.  That are eventually became Jackson County and Putnam County.

[louieparker]

Wiley Higgins also used gold on some of his guns . Also generous mounts of silver.
I recently inspected a Phillip creamer rifle that had what I believe to be a bit gold decoration. I didn't test it but that was my feeling at the time.  LP

[Mike Brooks]

Although I could be wrong, that lock appears to be an English import, not built by Young. It has certainly been nicely embellished by Young.

[jcmcclure]

Although I could be wrong, that lock appears to be an English import, not built by Young. It has certainly been nicely embellished by Young.

The discussion about both guns with original locks was that they had been built by Young. That however is not my area of expertise. 

[Shreckmeister]

I'd like to see a nice picture of the patch box.

[Majorjoel]

Rob, if you hit this topic from Jim Parker (Bama),  there is a nice picture of this fine Jacob Young rifle's patchbox. http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=45751.msg450867#msg450867

[Shreckmeister]

Thanks Joel