Great Set of Accouterments - With John Painter Rife of Botetourt Co., VA

[Tanselman]

A few months ago I acquired a John Painter rifle [back action lock] with its original hunting bag & powder horn, powder measure, and blowing/hunting horn. I thought the accouterments were special, so I picked up the outfit at auction despite the fact I don't collect VA items. When I finally received the set, it was better than I thought. Auction house didn't show the contents of bag. Inside were the original bag strap - which fits up perfectly to the bag where it broke off - and two pieces of the powder horn strap, the ball mold, can of caps, chunk of tow, dirty piece of thin cotton, and thicker piece of jean material. There was also a short length of hickory, probably a piece of ramrod, that apparently was the ball starter. Anyway, despite the rifle not being great, the accessories were very complete, and nice to see still assembled a century and a half or more later. I thought everyone might like to see them..nice pieces...since we haven't had much new on this board in a while. For those who like dimensions, the powder horn is 13-1/8 inches on outside curve, blowing horn 16 inches, and powder measure 4 inches. Horn plug is a very nice stepped "bee hive" style but doesn't show well in picture, and is worn on the sides. Leather is still strong and pliable despite strap breaking off at top of bag. Shelby Gallien

[Tim Crosby]

 Great set! Always nice to find everything together. Is that an applied band/collar on the powder horn? Very Virginia-ish to me. The Hunting horn with the two bands quite a bonus.

  Tim

[G. Elsenbeck]

I agree with Tim, outstanding set of accouterments and thanks for sharing. 
Gary

[Tanselman]

The blowing horn has two applied rings, one reinforcing the bell, and the other on the spout for strap retention. Four tiny, short iron pins attach the support ring at the bell end. There is a small, brass cone attached as a mouth piece. The slightly shorter powder horn has the two smaller, integral rings on spout for strap attachment. It also has a nicely polished back side from a lot of bag wear.

For anyone who might be curious, I didn't show the rifle because this is an "accouterments" board, plus the rifle is rather plain. Rifle is full-stock with back-action lock. Barrel has two elaborate, scrolled initials, "J P." It was once heavily cleaned  and refinished, and is obviously lighter than it should be. It has a smaller, oval side opening cap/patch box with fully engraved lid in butt, and an extended toe plate also fully [and nicely] engraved...otherwise a plain looking rifle. Shelby Gallien

[Nordnecker]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing these.

[Tim Crosby]

 I don't think it would matter if you put the rifle in. Always nice to see the whole set and for me, anyway any Botetourt Co. rifle is worth seeing.

  Thanks, Tim

[TN Longhunter]

Great set and post. I really like to see a hunting horn included. I think they are an understated accouterment to hunting sets from the past. I have one blowing horn with the applied band at the mouth for reinforcement of the strap.

[scottmc]

Shelby, thanks for posting this as I love seeing the original stuff with a bag.  Can you give us bag lovers some measurements on the bag and some specifics such as bound edges, etc?  I'm wondering what purpose that row of stitches serves on the bottom of the gusset??  Also, is the flap separate from the back or one piece with the back?  I may try to make one like it.

Thanks again!

Scott

[Tanselman]

Earlier today I posted pictures of the John Painter rifle that goes with these accouterments over on the Antique Gun Collecting board, in case anyone wants to see a Botetourt Co., VA rifle.

For those of you interested in the bag construction, here's my best efforts on describing it.

1. Width across top of bag... when flattened [but not stretched] = 9-3/4 inches
2. Height, taken on back side, from top of bag to bottom seam where back meets bottom piece = 7-1/8 inches
3. Bottom piece at middle of bag is 2-5/8 inches wide.

Bag is made in four large pieces and one small strip. The flap is a separate piece, along with the front, back, and bottom pieces. The 5th piece is a small strip folded over the top edge where flap and back side are joined, and stitched to hold it all together.

The bottom is "reasonably" even in width across the width of the bag, then tapers up along each side to a point, about 1/3 the way up the side of the bag.

All stitching is welted, with a small strip of leather in-between the two pieces being sewn together.

There is a decorative stitched border around the bottom of the bag, running about 3/8" out from the seam. It appears the same decorative stitch also made a border around the flap, but the stitches are long gone and only a shadow of the original stitch line still remains.

I hope that helps any of you with an interest in the bag.

I am attaching a picture of the powder horn's plug, since the plug can't really be seen in the prior photos. There's a good bit of wear on the plug's edges, but it is a nice bee-hive style plug in end-grain walnut, with a staple for strap attachment.      Shelby Gallien

[scottmc]

Thanks for adding the bag specifics, Shelby!
Sure is a wide one at the top.

[heinz]

That is really a great set.   Thanks for posting

[Greg Pennell]

Thanks for the photos, and good job in being able to acquire the rifle and all its accessories!  I’m not a collector, but I do know how seldom opportunities like that arise!

Greg

[smylee grouch]

Wow, great find. Interesting to me is that short piece of "ram rod". If it was indeed a " bulger", short starter then you have what might be considered "proof" of their use "back then".