General discussion > Antique Gun Collecting

So called Natty Bumpo rifle

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rich pierce:
George Shumway published this rifle in Muzzle Blasts, June 2001. It has an engraving on the buttplate “ J. Fenimore Cooper”, proposed to have been added when the relic was acquired by or given to the author of “Last of the Mohicans”. Some say it was found in upstate NY and therefore might be fitting for one of the novelist’s characters. It is not clear to me if it was stocked here or in Europe but the wood looks like cherry to me, but George called it maple. The wood has almost no apparent pores. I suppose apple or pear is a possibility but maybe I should just trust George’s conclusion that it is stocked in very plain maple. The barrel is 35.75” long and is .53 caliber, swelling enormously at the breech. The buttplate is 2 and 3/16” wide. It has a round-faced Germanic flintlock and the furniture is extensively engraved. I had not seen the carving until I got to handle the rifle late this summer. I apologize for the snapshots. On these unsigned early rifles it seems difficult to impossible to truly know their origin. George estimated that it was made before 1740. Mercy. I do not know if it’s even possible that it was stocked here at such an early date, or if it is much more likely that it was imported. Carving seems very unusual. The pace where a sideplate should be is carved instead. Some of that may be post-build, “in use” adaptation.

The carving fire and aft of the cheekpiece is not what I’d expect on a European gun or any gun. It is odd and seems out of sync with the carving around the comb and tang and trigger. The cheekpiece May have been modified also in use. It is nothing like what I’d expect on a 1740s rifle. Any thoughts?

Cades Cove Fiddler:
 8) 8)... Old one for sure,... !!! .... However, I recall the Huron using the French name," Le Long Carebine " for ol' Natty,... seems like his rifle would have been longer,...??

Eric Kettenburg:
It looks like fruitwood to me, also.  I really think it's a somewhat provincial German piece and I also strongly suspect some of the carving is old, but secondary, work.

Pukka Bundook:
I agree with Eric, but would like to see some good clear overall photos.

Some convincing early volutes there, more or less Mannerist....  Some detail I've never seen before.

Mike Brooks:
I'd bet Euro as well, out in the sticks somewhere. I would also agree it's possible that there were some later embellishments that possibly uglied it up more than pretty-ied it up. Interesting none the less.

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