I’m just picking up on ths conversation. According to a local history published in the 1930s, Wiley Grover Higgins was a gunsmith, silversmith, and furniture maker. I would love to see furniture made by him. We do see his silverwork on his guns, particularly on the silver mounted pistol referred to as “Precious.” The Southern Belle Wiley created on this rifle is of brass, silver and copper and I find it quite charming, although surprising to find instead of a patchbox.
The cheek side of the buttstock of this rifle is surprisingly plain. It is in original flintlock, half-stock condition, just as it was when discovered (as Arnie Dowd’s research determined) in 1912 in a hardware store near where Wiley had worked. Incidentally, the rifle Wiley made for FitzHugh Heard is also a half-stock flintlock.
Higgins’ “Southern Belle” rufle has Wiley’s signature panelled buttplate.. It was for years in the Olin collection (Winchester) and went to the Cody Museum with the rest of that collectio years ago.
