Author Topic: Interesting Tennessee rifle (Read 3908 times)

mountainman70 · « **on:** January 13, 2021, 10:54:26 PM »

Greetings to all. Here is recent acquisition by Moses White. Please feel free to turn these in correct orientation. Dave
I have his permission to post these.
He can add the specs,etc.
Thanks, Dave

mountainman70 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2021, 10:56:48 PM »

Mo pics Bro Moses got some nice boots. !!!

tooguns · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2021, 04:19:27 PM »

Interesting rifle. Is that a button or ball in the back part of the trigger guard? Thanks for sharing!

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2021, 07:34:18 PM »

What is the purpose of the ball at the rear of the trigger guard? Is it a double Patchbox? If so, it the ball a Patchbox lid release?

Thanks for sharing the photos.

moseswhite · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2021, 04:54:46 AM »

The patch box is a double compartment and the front compartment lid is released by the button behind the trigger guard . It is the first one I've seen with a double compartment patch box .

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2021, 05:13:24 AM »

.. nice one,...... I'll take it,... !!! ..... I have seen a couple double patch-boxes, but never one with a release like that,... any marks on the barrel or muzzle end,...? ...give some specs, ...barrel length, overall length, calibre, marks on lock, pic of barrel-tang, and rammer entry pipe, etc,.... back-action locks are rare on TN rifles,... thanx for showing this one,... !!! ... regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler

mountainad82 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2021, 09:45:43 PM »

Interesting to say the least! Thanks for sharing it.

-Adam

mountainman70 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2021, 12:23:22 AM »

Ya owe me one, Dana. hahaha. This is a sho nuff sweet rifle, and he found it in Sprinfield Mo area. I shoulda found it here in the Mountain State. Indeed. Dave F

moseswhite · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2021, 08:03:25 AM »

I'll take a few more photos and do some measurements this weekend . Thanks for your interest . there are no markings on the barrel or the lock .

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2021, 06:08:33 PM »

... Thanx, Moses,... the extra photos and specs can help with possible identify,... is the cheek-rest inlay mussel-shell or bone,...? ... bring her to the knoxville show in April,... will cause quite a stir,...!!!... regards,... CCF ,......

JamesT · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2021, 02:09:51 AM »

Certainly is an interesting rifle. I can't wait to hear more on this one.

moseswhite · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2021, 09:26:41 AM »

I have a few more photos to post . The barrel is 43 1/2 inches long , swamped , and approx. .43 caliber . It has a great hand made rear sight and a silver low thin knife blade front sight . The butt plate is hand forged 2 piece with a small rivet at the heel . All iron mounted . I think it is pretty nice for a back action lock gun !

mountainman70 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2021, 10:15:35 PM »

Mo pics from bro Moses.

Collector · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2021, 12:14:34 AM »

The button release is a intriguing feature

Q. Is the rear portion of the trigger guard, incorporating this feature forged as one (1) piece?

The 'housing' for the button release appears to have a turned-up 'lip' and a seam shouldered up against it, below the grip rail. The housing has the appearance characteristics of being a repurposed casting.

I wonder if this rifle holds any other surprises.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2021, 12:29:19 AM »

I will tell ya,collector, it be a sho nuff shame this isnt in my collection. Ol bro Moses just fell into thisn.
I dont know how many times I have passed on a back action antique, no Tenn rifles I recall. But this one is very unique. Moses should 'spond here after bit. I think he is out scoutin for more of these goldmines. Best regards, Dave F

moseswhite · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2021, 07:56:20 AM »

the piece with the button is separate from the trigger guard but it doesn't appear to be a casting but instead hand made .

Collector · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2021, 09:15:06 AM »

Quote from: moseswhite on January 26, 2021, 07:56:20 AM

the piece with the button is separate from the trigger guard but it doesn't appear to be a casting but instead hand made .

Thanks for your examination and providing that clarification.

My first impression was that this part was repurposed from a early opposing industrial 2-push-button ON/OFF electrical fixture you'd find in the early silk-wrapped wire days.

Impressive symmetry in the work at that size and scale.

moseswhite · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2021, 08:40:34 AM »

There are no markings on the barrel or the lock . The inlay on the cheek piece appears to be made of bone .

mr. no gold · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2021, 08:53:25 PM »

Yeah boy! This here old gun is a real dandy! Don't know why those old fellers didn't sign off on their guns. Maybe just to vex us later on down the road. Anyhoo, if I built this rifle I would have signed it from one end to the other. If'n I found a piece like this, I would be as proud as a puppy dog with two tails! Thankee for showing it around.
Dick

moseswhite · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2021, 09:00:16 PM »

Thanks for your interest !

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2021, 07:15:01 PM »

....Well,... been studying on this a while,...... I like her,.. now .. for what it's worth, some observations of mine,... great different patchbox,... mostly seen in area where folks don't know if they are in TN or NC,... I have only seen two other double boxes and they used traditional catches,... don't know about the barrel tang,... trigger guard is from same mountain area,.. triggers seem to have a mountain area of South Carolina look,... Have seen a very few using a back-action lock made in the mountains,.. where was this gun found,...?? ... might have been made by a gunsmith who moved West from these mountains,.. anyway,... most interesting rifle I have seen lately, and hope to hold and examine one day,... thanx for posting,...!!! .... regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler ....

mountainman70 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2021, 11:03:28 PM »

Dana, I was wonderin if and when you was gonna show up. How are ye bro? Dave

Moses found it in the Springfield Mo area. I offered him twice what he paid, he hasnt replied as yet.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2021, 11:26:55 PM »

Quote from: mr. no gold on January 27, 2021, 08:53:25 PM

Yeah boy! This here old gun is a real dandy! Don't know why those old fellers didn't sign off on their guns. Maybe just to vex us later on down the road. Anyhoo, if I built this rifle I would have signed it from one end to the other. If'n I found a piece like this, I would be as proud as a puppy dog with two tails! Thankee for showing it around.
Dick

One reason some of these types of rifles weren't signed was that the maker could not read or write
and few if any had any kind of stencil or stamp like the Hawken shop used.
Bob Roller

mountainman70 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2021, 11:34:48 PM »

Probably so Bob. Another thought is they didnt want the revenooors after them any more than they already were. How are you and the missus? Dave F

moseswhite · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2021, 07:29:19 PM »

My thanks to everyone for their thoughts , it is much appreciated !

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Author Topic: Interesting Tennessee rifle (Read 3908 times)