Silknitter Rifle (2nd attempt)

[OldSouthRelics]

Steve,

If you still need help with the pictures, feel free to message me and I'll try to convert them to a manageable size for you.

I want to touch on something Mr. Briggs said, which was an excellent point I forgot... the amount of items at museums that actually do not go on display. The majority of the items they have in their "safes", "vaults", and or "basements" will probably never be seen and if for some reason the curator changes, like mentioned above, and the political atmosphere has been galvanized so much around a particular subject, it might be shelved, indefinitely.

In case you didn't know Steve, because I didn't at some point in my life. Dr. John Murphy, who I never met, wrote, what I would consider, the best reference books containing Confederate firearms. I think I own all of them, and they are incredible, in my opinion. I believe Mr. Briggs is speaking of the same man.

Mr. Briggs, who I have had the pleasure of meeting several years ago, is one of the most knowledgable men on the subject of North Carolina long rifles, and has contributed a great deal to the preservation of the knowledge surrounding them. Everything he said regarding museum's is true, and he has the experience to give such a warning. Please take note, as I think you have.

Regards,

Bob

[Steve Howell]

Will be offering the rifle for sale here on the 19th. I finally have a reasonable amount of knowledge about it. Thanks for letting me join!!!!

[Hungry Horse]

Several of the museum horror stories related here are ancient history. The current thinking in most of the museums I have contact with ( I am the current Vice President of the “Friends of the Lake County museum) is that long term loans are no longer encouraged or accepted. Artifacts that were on loan were’nt likely to get special care, or  special display considerations, basically because one never knew when they would be claimed by the owner, or their heirs.
 Museums can no longer House large static collections, because they rely on public traffic, and public funds, and to be honest often the traffic does’nt justify the space they take up. Firearms displays require special display fixtures, lighting, and maximum security, as well as someone on the staff with the knowledge to label them properly as to the manufacturer, age, and local lineage.
 Most small museums are concentrating on a few high quality locally made firearms that can be housed in a stand alone display, in an area of the museum that already has the best security.
 My museum recently was given a collection of 40 firearms. Sadly they should have been donated twenty years ago, before they fell into disrepair do to the owners advanced age. I was on the team that sat down with the family, and made it perfectly clear that many of the guns either were’nt particularly valuable, or interesting, or had no local history. We gave them the option of keeping them, or allowing us to use them as we see fit. This would include selling them, trading them to other museums, or in a couple of instances stripping butchered up military muskets for valuable parts to restore guns in our current collection.
 I think before you give up on museums in general, you need to contact them and talk to the people involved. They’re not all the same, and shouldn’t be painted with the same brush.

  Hungry Horse

[Shreckmeister]

Based on the most recent pictures posted, the most interesting thing about this rifle has not even been discussed.  It appears that
the soldier in the inlay is identified by name on the silver.  What does it say his name is? A. Bennett?

[Steve Howell]

Yes. My understanding is that it most likely was Artemis Bennet. I believe his pre muster funds would have allowed him the funds for this type of rifle. I am being told locally that the soldier looks Confederate. I’d love to hear opinions on that front because faintly dotted to the left of the picture is a “J.W.” Any info would be appreciated if someone knows more.

[Shreckmeister]

Where was Artemis from?

[OldSouthRelics]

I'm not an authority on anything, so please take everything I say with a grain of salt, but I believe he is a Union Soldier. Hopefully someone with more experience of period photographs, accouterments of both sides (Union and Confederate), and uniform patterns will come along and view this thread.

The firearm he is holding appears to be a Model 1861, although it is hard to tell, it certainly isn't a more distinct rifle that would led to a conclusion of either side in my opinion. Model 1861's were picked up whenever possible by Confederate soldiers and I have seen them photographed with Union Rifle's before. The pistol he is holding is most interesting, it doesn't appear to be the usual Colt Pocket one would see, but a smaller caliber revolver like an Uhlinger (copy of S&W), or an actual S&W. The belt buckle he is wearing looks like a standard oval U.S. buckle, but I can only see a glimpse.

My first thought was perhaps a Pennsylvanian, I don't know why, so I did some searching for names close to the one you posted. I could not find any records for a "Artemis Bennet" with the quick search I performed on the National Parks Website. However, with some tweaking, I did find this. Let me end this by saying all of this is speculative and from an amateur's point of view, please form your own conclusions.