The Soddy school is one of my favorites. These guns are generally included in the E. TN school and while geographically correct; guns from this are have a have several features that seperate them from other E. TN guns creating their own little school in lower E.TN.
Soddy characteristics include: Deep curved buttplates with a vee cross shape. Long straight strap tang that terminates at the base of the comb. The cheekpiece is very unique and flows from the wrist of the gun, blending in with the vee shaped butt stock. The typical forearm is also very vee shaped. Both rifles are great examples of the typical architecture found on guns made in the area.
Noted gunsmiths from the area include Enoch Harding, Johnny Fritts, John Clements,Sr. and Jr., and H Gardner. Robin Hale also mentions in his papers Clarke and Horne from Walden's Ridge on the Mt. above Soddy-Daisy. Jerry Nobles has several pictures in his books of early Log shoots in the Pikeville are which is not far from the town of Soddy-Daisy. Gun making and shooting has been a tradition in these communities for many years.
