Grease Holes

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Recently a member asked about the shapes of grease holes and I thought it would be interesting to be able to compare a variety of them. Please post photos with any information you have on when and where the rifle was made. Has anyone seen one on a Fowler? This first one is on a rifle that came out of  Haywood County in western North Carolina. It is an original flint with a 46 inch long barrel. I have no idea when it was made.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

This one is on a percussion rifle that came out of Missouri. I have no idea when or where this rifle was made.

[Bob McBride]

Matthew Gillespie c1810 (pic from the CMB 6/24/14)

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

..... "OLD DEATH",.... the  bear rifle of Black Bill Walker, Tuckaleeche Cove, Blount Co. Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains,... circa 1860's,......

[gibster]

Here is one that is different. It's on a Rowan County NC rifle.

[cshirsch]

[cshirsch]

[Bob McBride]

As one can see, it's hard to go wrong with a grease hole as long as you position it near right. I wonder if anyone has ever had the contents of an original tested to see what the composition of the lube was?

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... the (M*G) for Matthew Gillespie marked rifle in the GSMNP collection,... originally a flint gun, now cap with converted flint plate,... has the "Gillespie" egg-shaped taller-hole,... long & slender, I fell in love with this one when I first saw her over 50 years ago,.... Henderson Co. NC,... 

[Sequatchie Rifle]

As one can see, it's hard to go wrong with a grease hole as long as you position it near right. I wonder if anyone has ever had the contents of an original tested to see what the composition of the lube was?

Someone I was talking with at the Tennessee Rifle Show in Norris had the contents of a patch box of a north Georgia rifle analyzed several years ago and it had remnants of bear fat!

[Bob McBride]

As one can see, it's hard to go wrong with a grease hole as long as you position it near right. I wonder if anyone has ever had the contents of an original tested to see what the composition of the lube was?

Someone I was talking with at the Tennessee Rifle Show in Norris had the contents of a patch box of a north Georgia rifle analyzed several years ago and it had remnants of bear fat!

Interesting. Thanks!

[rsherman]

Thank you for sharing your guns and photos guys!
It helps take away a bit of the disappointment of the York shoot and Tennessee rifle show being cancelled.

[jdm]

Any body got a two holer's? ?     

Thanks I,m enjoying the pictures.

[Bob McBride]

Here’s a cool two holer Jack Duprey built about 10 years ago. 40 cal.

[rsherman]

Cshirsch, would you please provide the  name of the maker if known and location of the rifle you posted on #6 of this thread?  And also a larger  photo  including the lock and trigger guard?  Thanks for posting it in the first place. Am hoping to see a few more submissions.

[mountainad82]

Here is a rectangular taller hole on an early Israel McInturff rifle circa 1820’s-1830’s.

-Adam

[Sequatchie Rifle]

You don't see Israel McInturff's work every day!!!  Thanks for sharing.

[mountainad82]

No problem Sequatchie Rifle! I collect and research the McInturff rifles and makers and I am glad that others are interested in the more unusual mountain rifles. I will post a separate topic for this particular rifle if you would be interested in seeing her.

-Adam

[jdm]

Adam Post em!!!!!

[Smokey Plainsman]

Why 2 greasers?

[Clowdis]

This isn't an antique rifle but it is an old one. The barrel is actually a hand forged original that I decided to stock and see if it would shoot many years ago.

[Smokey Plainsman]

I heard someone say you can press a cloth patch over the grease hole to protect the grease from dirt or creek sand, etc.

[Bob McBride]

I heard someone say you can press a cloth patch over the grease hole to protect the grease from dirt or creek sand, etc.

Sure can. And when you're ready to load you’ve got a patch hanging on the side of your stock. Right handy.

[Burg]

This rifle is a signed "J * W" rifle made by John Waisner Jr in Rowan county, NC probably sometime in the 1820's and never got very far from home.  See "North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765 - 1865" Rifle # 152 and #153.  It was passed down to my mentor Albert Helton in Rutherford county, NC by his Grandfather sometime in the mid 1900's.  I do not remember when I first met Albert but it was before 1960 and he lit the muzzle loading fire that still is burning today.  He did not call himself a gunsmith but preferred to be called a gun mechanic.  One of the many things I remember about him was that he color case hardened in his forge with bone and leather charcoal he made using a Dental Sweet Snuff can as the container for the charcoal and gun parts.  The rifle has two grease holes under the cheek piece and I do not know whether they are original to the gun or were added later.  The grease holes are old and unfortunately I do not remember a conversation about them with Albert. 

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  .. Well, Burg,.. I see you are a "starting member", so welcome aboard and enjoy the ride,... !!!.... Now,... thanx for posting pix of this interesting rifle,... I've seen a lot of taller-holes on rifles, but never undrer the cheek rest,... I guess Rowan Co. is close enough for a gun to look like a mountain rifle,... !!! ... I really like her and would like to know more,... How about starting a new thread here and post more pix and tell us more about her,... .... thanx, ... regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler....