Iron Mounted vs. Brass Mounted...I think the iron mounted rifle is from Bearden's mid-career [based on width of butt and toe], but it's the only iron mounted Bearden I've seen among perhaps a dozen brass mounted rifles, so we only have this single iron rifle to study. The butts were a little wider on the prior two brass mounted rifles I've had, so maybe they were a little earlier than the iron mounted rifle...but none of my rifles had the exceptionally long side-facings like those on the 2nd posted rifle. Bearden's side facings are always a little longer than eastern side facings, and a few look awkward due to their excessive length, but many aren't so long and look reasonably good on his rifles.
These rifles are most often signed by two relatively large initials "A B" stamped or cut into the rear oblique barrel flat near the breech. Unfortunately, whenever one of these rifles is re-breeched, it usually loses its barrel stamp.
The iron mounted rifle had an original flintlock replaced with a later, longer percussion lock. The original lock was shorter, making the side facings appear to have more length at either end of the lock plate as compared to the current lock. I have always thought that iron mounted rifles made in the back hills of TN and KY were usually a lower cost gun [rather than being earlier or later] than a comparable brass mounted rifle...since the gunsmith could forge the butt plate, guard, and toe plate rather easily...and iron was usually more readily available than brass in hill country areas.
Shelby Gallien
