Author Topic: Early Rowan School Longrifle signed by Isaac Ribelin (Read 4608 times)

mbriggs · « **on:** September 05, 2020, 11:36:06 PM »

I recently received back from restoration the earliest known Rowan School rifle signed by Isaac Ribelin. He was born in 1801 and was the son of Peter Ribelin. Isaac Ribelin lived in Morgan township in the southeast section of Rowan County. His house still stands. On August 10, 1822 Isaac married Mary "Polly" Eagle, daughter of gunsmith George Eagle of Cabarrus County. He apprenticed as a gunsmith under his father-in-law. He died in 1863 and is buried at St. Matthews Lutheran Church graveyard.

I purchased this rifle in Mt. Pleasant, N.C. a few years ago. Kenneth Orr did a great restoration on it. Of the seven signed rifles by this maker it is the only example with his name spelled out. The other six have only the initials "I R" on the patchbox lid. This rifle is dated 1825 on the side-plate. Enjoy the photos.

The Rowan School is my favorite architecture of the nine North Carolina Longrifle Schools. They have a lot of drop to the stock, high comb, and are scooped out below the comb on the patchbox side and always scooped out above the cheek-rest.

Here is a close up of the cheek-rest. Note the chip carving in front of the butt plate, that is common with this school.

I hope you enjoy the photos. What do you think of the rifle?

Michael

mbriggs · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2020, 11:51:28 PM »

I tried many times to post this rifle yesterday, but could not get the site to let me post it or preview it.

Here are some additional photos.

Two screw side-plate with hooks dated 1825.

Fore-stock molding termination.

Two screw barrel tang.

Good view of the comb - scooped out above the patchbox.

3/4 view from the front.

The patchbox is signed upside down so the person holding the rifle could flip it upside down to read it.

Wedding band on the nose cap is a common feature in this school.

Buldge cast on the ram-rod entry pipe is another Rowan feature.

Rowan rifles will often have double incised carved lines that run along the bottom of the butt-stock from the butt plate to in front of the trigger guard and then return on the other side of the stock.

Thank you for looking at the photos. What do you think of the rifle?

Michael

Algae · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2020, 12:59:54 AM »

Outstanding! Thanks for the photos and the info!

Al J.

Avlrc · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2020, 01:13:14 AM »

That is a great looking rifle. I especially like the patchbox and sideplate. The barrel looks long, what is the barrel length? Thanks for sharing.

WESTbury · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2020, 01:39:39 AM »

Mike---A superb rifle. I like how the incised carving and engraving on the brass is understated somewhat but bold enough to quickly catch your eye. Thanks for sharing this great rifle.

Is it okay to download the pictures?

JTR · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2020, 02:25:18 AM »

Thanks for posting these great pictures.
I've always liked Rowan Co rifles, but have only owned one in the past.
John

mbriggs · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2020, 02:32:23 AM »

Avlrc, the barrel is 47 inches long.

Kent, it is ok to download as they are not published or copyrighted.

John, thanks for your comments, we have always had similar taste.

Michael

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2020, 06:18:25 AM »

Absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing the photos.

Chris_B · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2020, 07:23:33 AM »

Thanks a lot for sharing these beautiful pictures!

smallpatch · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2020, 07:39:27 AM »

I love this gun! Would almost make me shift to these instead of Lehighs......... well, almost.

Richard · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2020, 06:52:29 PM »

I am an immediate fan of this gun. I really like treatment of the comb. Out of curiosity… one of the PB lid hinge knuckles looks riveted. Is this an original early repair? Thanks for sharing these pictures.

mbriggs · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2020, 10:19:44 PM »

I forgot to include a close up photo of the lock and beautiful set of Rowan double-set triggers.

Michael

rennikselum · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2020, 02:39:28 AM »

Thank you Michael for sharing, Great pictures and Fantastic rifle! A lot of nice detail on a NCarolina piece! Beautiful Ribelin patchbox!

Jeff

WElliott · « **Reply #13 on:** September 15, 2020, 01:04:09 AM »

Thanks for posting, Michael. Ribelin is right at the top of my favorite NC makers.

bama · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2020, 01:31:52 AM »

Thanks for sharing this rifle Mike, a gorgeous rifle.

bama · « **Reply #15 on:** September 15, 2020, 02:00:45 AM »

That is a neat repair on the hinge of the patch box.

mbriggs · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2020, 10:56:21 PM »

Wayne & Jim,
I thank you for your kind comments. Like you, Isaac Ribelin has always been one of my favorite gunsmiths. This is the third rifle signed by him I have owned.

I sold this rifle today to one of his descendants. He was a very happy man when he left with the rifle.

While I collect and enjoy studying the best rifles from each of the nine longrifle schools in North Carolina, the Rowan School has always been my favorite because it is so unique.

Thanks,

Michael

JTR · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2020, 02:50:57 AM »

No doubt went to a good home, but wow, that would have been a hard one to let go!
John

elkhorne · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2020, 04:51:35 AM »

Michael,
Thanks for sharing this fantastic rifle with us! What kind of release did the maker use on the patchbox lid or is it a cam action spring or something similar? Also, curious about what the shape or contour of the forend is. Again thanks for all the good photos of this classic.
elkhorne

mbriggs · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2020, 08:12:44 PM »

Hi John, thanks for the nice comments. It is hard to sell the good ones, but I still have more great rifles than I need. While I really liked this Isaac Ribelin, I still own his best known rifle which is relief-carved. He put his initials on it on both the patchbox lid and the silver wrist inlay, which to me indicates it was probably his personal rifle. It is possibly the best rifle in my collection, that and the great Isaac Thompson rifle I posted in August.

Elkhorne, the patchbox release button is visible in the rear of the upper-sideplate of the patchbox. The patchbox lid has a spring under the lid.

I am sorry, but I do not understand your question "what the shape or contour of the forend is?"

Are talking about the comb? Or the profile of the nosecap? Forend is not a term I am used to hearing.

Michael

Buck · « **Reply #20 on:** September 19, 2020, 01:49:44 AM »

Mike,

That’s a smoker right there - beautiful

I think Johns referring to the fore stock.
Buck

JTR · « **Reply #21 on:** September 19, 2020, 02:39:35 AM »

Well Michael, that beautiful rifle does take some of the the pain out of selling the other one!

Buck, not me. That's Elkhorns' question.

John

mbriggs · « **Reply #22 on:** September 21, 2020, 09:56:57 PM »

John,
If you ever make it over to the east coast and have some time free please come down to North Carolina and visit me.

I will open a bottle of wine and we can spend a few hours looking over some old longrifles, pistols, and banded powder horns.

Thanks,

Michael

A.Merrill · « **Reply #23 on:** September 21, 2020, 10:21:12 PM »

I have never had the opportunity to hold a rifle with so much drop, but I think they look beautiful and I've often thought about building one similar to this. But what is it like to aim and shoot a rifle with this much drop? Is it hard to see up over the breech..lol ? Is your chin even on the cheek rest? Al

JTR · « **Reply #24 on:** September 22, 2020, 01:33:12 AM »

Michael,
When things clear up and get back to some sense of normalcy, I'd be pleased to come down your way for a visit.
Perhaps before or after one of the KRA meetings.
Thanks, John

News:

Author Topic: Early Rowan School Longrifle signed by Isaac Ribelin (Read 4608 times)