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Author Topic: Ambrose Lawing re-stock  (Read 4742 times)

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« on: April 30, 2019, 02:18:02 AM »
... 8) 8)... after much persuasion, I finally got the owner to part with an old gun barrel he had owned for a while,...clearly marked with maker's name behind rear sight,... I will have it re-stocked to be faithful to the architecture, dimensions and overall perfect "TENNESSEE" look that the Unicoi Co. TN gunsmith is well known for,...I believe Mr. Lawing would approve, and be happy to see it completed again,.... some specs are,... length, 47",... cal. about 38,... 1" at breech,.. 7/8 at middle,.. 15/16 at muzzle (slight swamp),... will be restocked using as many old original parts as I can find,.....(last two photos are Ambrose Lawing rifles in private collections)....  regards,.... Cades Cove Fiddler 






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Offline Dave Marsh

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2019, 02:42:29 AM »
Percussion or flint???

Dave
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Offline Algae

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2019, 03:08:12 AM »
Wish you the best of luck, can't wait to see it! :D

Al J.
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Offline JTR

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2019, 04:45:11 AM »
Go for it!!!

John
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John Robbins

Offline Molly

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2019, 02:46:34 PM »
Look at it this way....

The year is 1868.  Ambrose built this rifle for a good friend maybe around 1860.  The rifle was in the top floor of the owners cabin when it was burned by northern invaders.  The owner and family fled to escape the greater danger of being killed.  Upon their return some years later the found the barrel in a pile of wood and ashes.  The barrel was all that was recovered.  The owner contacts Ambrose who agrees to rebuild the rifle and can do it for half the cost of a complete new rifle. 

So, the question is, What would Ambrose do?


REBUILD IT!!
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Offline Ross Dillion

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2019, 05:22:45 PM »
That is so very cool!  Can’t wait to see it completed. Ambrose Lawing rifles are my favorite.
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Offline Robby

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2019, 05:52:27 PM »
Great project Cades!!!!!! Hope to see it finished.
Robby
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Offline Kevin

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2019, 07:53:26 PM »
Neat acquisition.  I too will enjoy seeing the completed project.

Consider me curious, is the inside of the barrel ready to go or might it need a bit of refreshing?  Also, any indication if the muzzle was purposely coned/funneled?

Thanks for sharing,
Kevin
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Offline Seth Isaacson

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2019, 10:58:28 PM »
Will you be marking it somewhere to identify yourself as the one who rebuilt it for posteritys' sake? I too am happy to see you restoring it.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2019, 12:51:08 AM »
I'd see if the warrantee is still good..... ;)
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Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2019, 09:52:12 PM »
 :D :D ;)..... HaHaHa,... well Mike, I'm not gonna dig him up to find out,... !!!,.... and Kevin,... the bore is 7 lands & grooves,... still usable but after a good scrubbing is still very dark,.. she will be re-stocked, but never fired anyway... muzzle is flat, no cone,... Dave,.. I have never seen an Ambrose Lawing in flint,... believe only made caplock rifles,...And Miss Molly,... I love your stories on these old guns,... !!! ... you should write an article (fiction based on fact of course) on one of your old Tennessee rifles and entitle it,..."The old gun that DID talk",... !!!... Thanx folks and hope to post pix of this project soon,... Regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler, ..... 
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Offline BOB HILL

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2019, 12:21:25 AM »
Looking forward to seeing it, Dana.
Bob
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Offline Elnathan

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2019, 03:17:18 AM »
Fiddler,

Sent you a PM about an unrelated matter.
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Offline JTR

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2019, 05:25:28 AM »
Fiddler,
I still have this rifle, attributed to Lawing.
If you need some dimensions, additional pics, whatever, just let me know.
John

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=8921.0
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John Robbins

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2019, 07:02:42 AM »
 ;) ;)... thanx, John,... I've always liked that rifle,... I have another Lawing that is similar to yours in many ways,.. mine is Walnut, and no patch-box,... barrel is longer,... same tang , toeplate , lock-bolt plate and drum... I might want some more detailed pix,... this barrel will be in a tiger maple stock,...thanx for the offer and will let you know by PM,... (and if yours ever goes to wanting to move back to Tennessee, let me know...!!!)... Regards,... CCF...
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2019, 03:54:48 PM »
Quote from: Cades Cove Fiddler on May 02, 2019, 07:02:42 AM
;) ;)... thanx, John,... I've always liked that rifle,... I have another Lawing that is similar to yours in many ways,.. mine is Walnut, and no patch-box,... barrel is longer,... same tang , toeplate , lock-bolt plate and drum... I might want some more detailed pix,... this barrel will be in a tiger maple stock,...thanx for the offer and will let you know by PM,... (and if yours ever goes to wanting to move back to Tennessee, let me know...!!!)... Regards,... CCF...
Are you going to forge the mounts for it?
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Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #16 on: May 02, 2019, 07:46:24 PM »
 ;D ;D... Mike,... will be trying to find some old original parts to use,... kinda like the butt-plate and trigger-guard that Wayne beat me to a  couple weeks ago,... will be posting on here soon to locate the hardware,... any help appreciated,.. want to go with the idea that the original stock was splintered, and a new gun was built using all the original parts,...
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Offline Greg Pennell

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2019, 03:54:41 PM »
Amazing that the breechplug/tang survived intact...what a great find! 

Several years ago a good friend (now sadly gone) and I were walking around the fairgrounds at Gray, Tennessee, and found an old forged rifle barrel (no breechplug) on a table for cheap. When we got home and started looking it over, we found it stamped “E B” , which we figured was Elisha Bull. I wound up trading it to Gary Brumfield, as he thought it was probably a Bull as well.

Be sure and post updates as this one comes back to life!

Greg
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Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #18 on: May 04, 2019, 05:43:45 AM »
 :o :o... Greg,.. the "E B" rifle barrel was most likely by Elbert Bible, Greene & Cocke Co., Tennessee,.. he marked his barrels thataway... wonder what Gary did with it,...??? ... great iron in these old barrels,... regards,.. CCF...
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Offline Greg Pennell

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2019, 05:56:27 AM »
Mr. Fiddler, I believe his intention was just to add it to his collection as a study piece.  He offered to trade me a new swamped Green Mountain barrels for it...which I still have, just waiting for the right project. I’m thinking it might be used soon, as the basis of a Joseph Bogle rifle...that one just speaks to me.

Greg
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Offline B.Barker

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2019, 06:19:32 AM »
Should be a neat rifle when finished. I have a wrought iron butt plate that would work if you can't find an original.
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Offline Stoner creek

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Re: Ambrose Lawing re-stock
« Reply #21 on: May 05, 2019, 03:11:07 PM »
Hey Dana
Will this old piece work? If so shoot me a P/M.


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