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Author Topic: one of my favorites  (Read 3850 times)

Offline WElliott

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one of my favorites
« on: June 06, 2018, 02:11:02 AM »
This has been one of my favorite rifles for 25 years.  It has been my assumption that it originated in SW Virginia. A knowledgeable collector recently suggested to look further south than SW Virginia.

The barrel is 48 3/4" swamped, .50 caliber rifled, overall length 64 3/4", and a 1 5/8" wide buttplate. It has an iron ramrod that was with it during many years of use, judging from some denting on the thimbles. I can imagine that the original hickory ramrod broke at an inopportune moment and the owner declared that would never happen to him again (! )-and had a blacksmith make the iron rod.

Any thoughts on possible origin?
[Photography by Mark Elliott]








« Last Edit: June 06, 2018, 01:56:06 PM by WElliott »
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Wayne Elliott

Offline VP

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2018, 05:23:21 AM »
Wayne,

No idea as to this rifle's origins, but I can certainly see why you have admired it for so long. It is certainly a beautiful example of a talented gunsmiths work.

VP
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Offline redheart

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2018, 06:54:02 AM »
That patchbox is absolutely gorgeous,
It is incredibly tastefully done!
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Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2018, 08:07:15 AM »
 :o : .... very fancy rifle there, Wayne,.... I do not think I have met this one yet,.... has anyone speculated maybe one of the Middle Tennessee gunsmiths of the early Cumberland settlements,...???... thanx for sharing her with us,.... again,... VERY NICE,.... Regards, Cades Cove Fiddler,........
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Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2018, 02:09:25 PM »
Beautiful rifle. What points to south of SWVA?
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Offline Howard

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2018, 12:49:24 AM »
I can see why it is one of your favorites.
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Offline jdm

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2018, 03:08:06 AM »
Interesting patch box . I keep thinking I've seen one with that final before. Very nice piece.
Mark does a wonderful job on the photos.
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JIM

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2018, 03:25:38 AM »
I think I saw that finial before too
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Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

Offline WElliott

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2018, 05:22:28 AM »
Someone suggested that this rifle may relate to the “Poem” rifle in Dave Hansen’s wonderful book. That rifle has been attributed to the Chattanooga, Tn area.
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Wayne Elliott

Offline Buck

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2018, 01:51:53 PM »
Wayne,

I like it, very attractive rifle.

Buck
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Offline cshirsch

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2018, 05:20:16 PM »
Very nice.
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Online BOB HILL

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2018, 02:39:47 AM »
Don’t know where it came from, but it sure is a beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
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South Carolina Lowcountry

Big Wolf

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2018, 07:20:18 PM »
Very nice rifle Wayne!
« Last Edit: June 26, 2018, 07:20:55 PM by Big Wolf »
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Offline will payne

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #13 on: June 26, 2018, 10:24:33 PM »
She's a beautiful rifle. Nice patch box and stalk.
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Will


"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -Thomas Jefferson

Offline Jason C

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #14 on: July 07, 2018, 04:10:16 PM »
I am very new here and to the world of long rifles so please excuse my ignorance. Jacob Young did at least one heart shaped patch box finial(I think that’s the right terminology) so maybe this rifle is from him, his father, or someone that worked with him. He was born in Virginia and then came to the middle Tennessee area.

http://www.americanhistoricservices.com/uploads/1/0/3/4/10348480/kra_bulletin_spring_2014_v13_1to11_lres.pdf

Scroll down to the Whitley rifle and look at that patch box.
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Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #15 on: July 07, 2018, 06:03:28 PM »
 ;)... Just read your description again, Wayne,.... I have an old Middle Tennessee rifle that is attributed to Jesse Bean,... it also has an iron ramrod that was with her when I got her,... !!! .... 44" bbl,...
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Offline Hlbly

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Re: one of my favorites
« Reply #16 on: July 07, 2018, 06:08:35 PM »
One of my Kellar rifles has an iron rod that has been with it for a long time.
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