SW Virginia

[Hlbly]

Picked up a couple of decent old hillbilly rifles last week. Both full stock, one brass and one iron.

[MGillman]

Any history?

[Hlbly]

No story, no history. They came from an old southern Virginia collection.

[MGillman]

Why a SWVA attribution?

[Hlbly]

1, that’s where they were found, and 2, they are stylistically from that area. If you disagree, I can live with that.

[MGillman]

It’s a question. Why be rude about it? But since they were found here, that falls in the history/provenance category. I believe you said “no history.” Why not just throw out all the information in the beginning so people don’t have to fish and get rude responses?

[Hlbly]

Saying I’m okay if people disagree with me is rude???

[MGillman]

I never disagreed. I was asking questions. You assumed my intent was to disprove you when I was asking why the attribution. It really was a simple question.

Do you have any maker/County in mind?

[Hlbly]

I would guess somewhere between Roanoke and Abington, but that is just a guess.

[MGillman]

Thanks, that certainly covers the whole region. Lol. I am genuinely interested in SWVA decorative arts and material culture. I have four Wythe County rifles and some horns. Always looking out for more SWVA items/info.

[Rajin cajun]

Mr MGillman, the gentleman you are discussing the attribution of the 2 unsigned SW Va. rifles, has probably owned 200 Virginia rifles in his collecting career.
Anyone who knows him will tell you, if he says it you can take it to the bank....!
He’s been a collector since he was a kid in the mountains of North West North Carolina.
His opinion is highly respected by all collectors.

Bob

[homerifle]

Hlbly thanks for posting pictures of the rifles you just turned up. Good find!  Always like seeing what you have at the shows! Please continue posting pictures.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I like the cheekrests. Thanks for sharing the photos. How long are the barrels?

[WESTbury]

HLBLY--Nice looking rifles Thanks for posting the pictures.

Any markings at all? It "looks" as though the lower rifle may have been originally a flintlock, as there seems to the remnant of the pan fence present.

[Hlbly]

Barrel on the brass mtd gun is 41 1/2. It was originally flintlock and probably lost some length when converted. Barrel on the iron mtd is 42” and is original length.

[WESTbury]

Thanks for the reply.

Some of my direct ancestors, the McIntires, lived in Harrison County in the northern part of WV. The time frame was the latter half of the 18th and the early 19th century. I hope to find a representative rifle for that general area and from the time period. Realistically, that may be quite challenging at best. Probably a rifle from Hampshire or Mineral Counties would be more likely.

 

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Thanx for sharing these recent finds, Gerald,... proves there are still some hiding out in the mountains,... !!! ,.... I kinda like these old hog rifles,.. maybe not  as fancy as some E. Tn or WNC mountain rifles, but have a rightful place,.... And Bob,...Good to see you here,... any you boys going up to Ohio,...?... regards,... CCF..

[bama]

Hibly, thanks for posting the pictures. I too always enjoy seeing your table at the shows. You seem to have a knack for finding good old southern rifles. I will look forward to seeing them at my show in January if you still have them.

[WElliott]

Hibly is a gentleman whom I know to possess great knowledge and a keen eye for details. Whatever he tells me, I trust. Although I have been collecting longrifles for over half a century, I still have much to learn. Part of effective learning is figuring out from whom you can learn.