Dixie Tennessee Mountain rifle in .36?

[scottmc]

Did Dixie ever make their subject rifle in a .36?

I was at the range yesterday and a guy was their with his nephew and had just gave him a dixie mountain rifle in .36.  I told the young man that was the rifle I kilt my first deer with in a left hand .50.  I was amazed at how light this .36 was but i also observed it may have been an older model since it had no markings on the barrel.  The one I had said made in Japan on it.  Looking in a 1985 catalog there was no mention of a .36 but did mention a .32.  Possibly someone had the barrel pulled out to a larger caliber, too.  Just curious...

[TN Longhunter]

That rifle was extremely popular in the early 80s. Only .50 and .32 if I remember correctly. Likely a rebarrel.

[flinchrocket]

At some point didn't they have Douglas barrels?

[littlefat]

I bought 50 cal kit in the early 80's and hunted with it for almost 20 years . That 15/16 " barrel was a heavy sucker,but it shot well and I was younger then . I gave it to a friend awhile ago he still hunts with it.

[scottmc]

The 15/16ths were heavy.  I had one and loved it but then took the plunge into building and went on from there.  I'm thinking that this barrel was a .32 and was pulled out to. 36 especially since nobody is saying they remember these guns being made in .36.

[varsity07840]

I had Bobby Hoyt cut mine back to 36" and fresh it out to .54.

[bones92]

I have read a few instances where people describe having a Dixie Mountain Rifle in .36 caliber.  I don't know if these were the Miroku barrels or otherwise, though.

[scottmc]

Varsity, if I'd known about Bobby back in the day, I'd done the same thing and would possibly still have that fun.  I know about him now and have used him a number of times now.

Bones, you are the missing link I'm looking to hear from.  Sounds like it could have made in .36 back in the late sixties or 70s if you've seen a few comments.

[T.C.Albert]

Before the made in Japan imports,
I thought the Dixie Mountain Rifle was
Made in Belgium. That would have been in the
70s. Maybe it was offered in .36 then?
TC

[scottmc]

You are correct T.C. that they were made in Belgium before Miroku, Japan.  I was hoping to hear from someone who knows about those but not seeing any responses, maybe not many here know much about them.

[OLUT]

I checked my old Dixie Gun Works catalogs. The folks who replied already who remembered only .50 and .32 caliber offerings have nailed it .... With regard to the Tennessee Mountain Rifle, Dixie said, "The first variation of this series was the right handed .50 caliber rifle introduced in 1979 to commemorate 25 years of service by Dixie to the muzzleloading field. This was followed in 1980 by the left hand version in .50 caliber and in 1981 we took great pleasure in introducing the Tennessee Squirrel Rifle in .32 caliber". I knew a couple old shooters that had the bores of their .32's cut larger to keep the slimmer & sleeker look of the Squirrel offering, but with more "punch" from a bigger ball

[blienemann]

I agree with OLUT on the only two bore sizes.  I have acquired quite a few for family and friends over the years.
 
The first production run of the .50 rifles had a 7/8" barrel, which handled well, and made a reasonably authentic, slim rifle.  They were very well shaped and finished out of the box. 

Dixie / maker became concerned with liability, and changed to a 15/16" barrel, maybe safer but definitely heavier.  And the wood was heavier, a hump at tang and extra wood, benefited from a trim.  Bob

[Y2GREY]

I have 2 .50 TMRs and a .50 lefty project that is in need of a frizzen to return to the woods. There are quite a few differences between my #133 and #6969. Introduced in 1978, 133 has a walnut stock of different proportions, drop, fit and finish as well as a 13/16 barrel. Unlike 6969 it is not muzzle heavy.
 Build #133 weighs in at 7.6 while #6969 tips the scale at 9.4 which is pretty heavy. Of my entire collection only my Browning Mountain Rifle in .50 is heavier at 9.6 pounds

[JBJ]

I seem to recall that Dixie's original "mountain rifle" was in .40 caliber. This would be back in the 1960's. Does anyone have one of the early Dixie catalogs that were little more than a pamphlet? I seem to remember the rifles were percussion, .40 and had a striped ramrod. Price was approximately $100. That was a sum far beyond by means but I sure drooled a lot over one of those rifles.
J.B.

[bones92]

JBJ, I don't know if they called them the "mountain rifle" or not, but I had one, just as you described.  It was a nice looking rifle, but just never felt comfortable (for me).  They were made in Belgium, and the locks had a small fox stamped into the lock face.

[RAT]

My first muzzleloader was a Dixie (made by Miroku) mountain rifle in .32 cal. It had a dark-stained stock of cherry wood. I purchased it from the Log Cabin Shop in 1989. At that time they were only made in .32 and .50 cal. It was accurate, but not reliable. The frizzen seemed soft and it ate up flints really fast. I was getting something like 4 shots to a flint.

[Y2GREY]

We have two TMRs. #6969 is a pretty standard cherry stock (except for her number) she's a .50 flintlock (L&R upgrade) with the 15/16th barrel. Always been a great shooter although a bit heavy at 9.4 pounds. The older sister is #133 walnut stock of different dimensions, L&R upgrade and 7/8 barrel and comes in at 7.6 pounds. All together a different rifle and yes made in Japan.

[Bob Roller]

Before the made in Japan imports,
I thought the Dixie Mountain Rifle was
Made in Belgium. That would have been in the
70s. Maybe it was offered in .36 then?
TC

I worked for Dixie in the Summer of 1958 and those rifles were from Belgium then.The Japanese versions must be later.I think the Belgians were 40 caliber but 64 years have staggered by and I am not sure of that.
Bob Roller

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I’ve had tree of these over the years, all cherry. Two in flint and one percussion. The flint were very unreliable. The first two we bought directly from Turner Kirkland. I was in high school. One was a kit and one was completed. Both were the Japanese barrels and flint. One was .32 and the other .50 caliber. One hung up on the wall of our kitchen when we lived in quarters at Ft Bragg to remind my sons of where we “came from”. I sold both in about 20 years ago to upgrade to better rifles. They were popular in the 1970s.

[Levy]

I have a small bag full of the .40 hollow based minies that Dixie used to sell for use in their early rifles.  I believe they also sold a mold to cast them too.  James Levy

[Hungry Horse]

 If I recall the earlier rifle Dixie imported from Belgium “possibly called the Kentucky was offered in .36 caliber.

 Hungry Horse

[Dan'l 1946]

I recall the .40 caliber Belgian rifle being called a squirrel rifle. The Roman nose stocked rifle was in .45 caliber and called the Pennsylvania rifle.

[Daniel Coats]

I also remember the 40 caliber Belgian rifles.

Looks like by 1973 both rifles were 45 caliber

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