Author Topic: Out of The Attic (Read 5206 times)

Avlrc · « **on:** July 26, 2020, 08:12:56 AM »

Built near Fort Ashby WV. I love the black around the carving & like the wrist repair.

Chris_B · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2020, 11:21:57 AM »

What a beauty. I have a J.H. Johnston Rifle with a quite similar wrist repair,
but it is from two pieces soldered together.
Thanks for sharing!

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2020, 03:08:02 PM »

Thanks for posting that beauty.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2020, 04:05:18 PM »

Wowee! That is exactly how I love to see them. What a great rifle. Wonderful stock shape and profile, too.

jdm · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2020, 04:34:55 PM »

That is pretty dang cool! Thanks

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2020, 05:28:26 PM »

Sure wish these ole guns could talk.. Thanks for posting..
Oldtravler

Keith Zimmerman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2020, 05:35:25 PM »

Wonderful! Whats the specs? Swamped? Bore size? Barrel length?

mr. no gold · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2020, 07:18:23 PM »

Right out of the attic, it looks like. A great rifle that stayed in the game until the end. Any indication who made it? I surely do like it! Thank you for posting the photos here.
Dick

Bob Roller · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2020, 07:20:59 PM »

Quote from: oldtravler61 on July 26, 2020, 05:28:26 PM

Sure wish these ole guns could talk.. Thanks for posting..
Oldtravler

Grand old relic and in decent condition as well.Check it to see if it's still loaded.

Bob Roller

flinchrocket · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2020, 09:20:47 PM »

Cool beans, looks like they may have been associated with that Sheetz fellow.

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2020, 10:19:52 PM »

Bob is so right about old muzzleloaders often being loaded. We found three loaded ones in the local museum, two rifles, and a shotgun.

Hungry Horse

far55 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2020, 11:54:08 PM »

Is the small piece of brass at the rear of the cheek piece between the oval star and the lower inlay a holder for a vent pick ? Thanks, Roland

Avlrc · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2020, 01:26:55 AM »

Quote from: far55 on July 26, 2020, 11:54:08 PM

Is the small piece of brass at the rear of the cheek piece between the oval star and the lower inlay a holder for a vent pick ? Thanks, Roland

Yes, here is a better pic. I also have the bag, horn, bullet mold and tin of caps, that was in the bag. The rifle was made by William Britton, very little is know about him. I have held three other rifles he made and seen pics of another. So we know of 5. I will check specs later, mind not so good can't remember off hand. Thanks for the advice to check if unloaded, that is easy to over look & this one would be a prime candidate for a forgotten load.

I appreciate all the nice comments.

Avlrc · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2020, 01:36:08 AM »

Quote from: flinchrocket on July 26, 2020, 09:20:47 PM

Cool beans, looks like they may have been associated with that Sheetz fellow.

Yes, we have wondered that as well. His census location in 1850 was very close to where Frederick Sheetz' first shop was. Just don't know how long he was here. Census taker noted he was an illiterate, maybe that was an act. Either way he had talent & his work endured.

VP · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2020, 04:11:13 AM »

Mark,

I don't remember seeing this one before, really nice rifle. Love that cheek inlay. Had to imagine that he avoided all the tax collectors. Must been some record somewhere.

VP

Avlrc · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2020, 04:57:19 AM »

Van , one of Britton's rifles is pictured page 173 , Bowers Penn-Mar-Va. In Hartzler & Whisker's Maryland book, they say Britton was an armorer at Harpers Ferry. In Hampshire County census of 1850 he is listed as 56 and born in Maryland. That is all I could ever find, would love to know more.

WESTbury · « **Reply #16 on:** July 27, 2020, 05:09:22 PM »

I'm assuming all of you know that a rifle by William Britton was posted to the Bruce Miller Library, in the W.Va. section, on Jan 1 2013. If you forgot about the posting, the Library designation is 121124-3, posting by NORD (Bruce Miller).

It is a great looking rifle.

Avlrc · « **Reply #17 on:** July 29, 2020, 06:51:52 AM »

Quote from: WESTbury on July 27, 2020, 05:09:22 PM

I'm assuming all of you know that a rifle by William Britton was posted to the Bruce Miller Library, in the W.Va. section, on Jan 1 2013. If you forgot about the posting, the Library designation is 121124-3, posting by NORD (Bruce Miller).

It is a great looking rifle.

Yes, nice rifle..

Rajin cajun · « **Reply #18 on:** July 29, 2020, 02:03:59 PM »

Very nice, we all would like to find them in that condition.
Great find !!!
Would love to see couple of photos of the rifle with bag and horn together.
Thanks

Bob

Chris_B · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2020, 06:21:50 AM »

Quote from: Rajin cajun on July 29, 2020, 02:03:59 PM

Would love to see couple of photos of the rifle with bag and horn together.

Bob

Me too!

Avlrc · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2020, 03:14:47 AM »

Quote from: Chris_B on July 30, 2020, 06:21:50 AM

Quote from: Rajin cajun on July 29, 2020, 02:03:59 PM
Would love to see couple of photos of the rifle with bag and horn together.

Bob

Me too!

Will try to dig them out and post , soon. Here is a photo of my buddy's Britton. Had a drink at his house this evening & snapped these. Plus loaded me up on garden stuff,LOL

tallbear · « **Reply #21 on:** July 31, 2020, 04:56:52 AM »

Thanks for sharing...I'm a big fan of Brittons.

Mitch

Chris_B · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2020, 06:25:25 AM »

One more beauty! Thank you for posting.

Avlrc · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2020, 06:23:27 PM »

Horn & bag, the horn ( Early York ) is earlier than the rifle. The horn has been passed down in the family since late 1700s. The German family immigrated to Eastern Pa just before the American Revolution. In the early 1800s most of the family moved West. According to the family story, the kit has been handed down to the eldest son through the generations. Barrel is 41" cal is approx. 40 cal. The horn was damaged when I received it , Art DeCamp repaired for me. Sorry for the fuzzy pics.

Hawken62_flint · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2020, 09:20:22 PM »

Very nice Mark. It is super to have the whole outfit and know that it has endured all those years.

News:

Author Topic: Out of The Attic (Read 5206 times)