W N & J M Beals WR Longrifle

[MoJo1161]

I inherited this longrifle and do not know much about this gun. I did find out that W N & J N Beals were gunmakers in East Tennessee. I would appreciate any input regarding this gun.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... William Nelson and Joseph Morgan BEALS  built longrifles in the Unicoi Co. Tennessee area between 1860-1890 era,... they built some of the finest Tennessee rifles I have examined,..it is also believed they may have made barrels to sell to other gunsmiths in the area,... I cannot tell much from these photos,... give some photos of the cheek side, the barrel tang, trigger-guard, rammer entry pipe, toeplate and muzzle,... detail shots of these areas will help I.D. ,.... CCF 

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... MoJo,... I don't know where you are located, but you must get Dave Byrd's blue book,...CCF
 

[MoJo1161]

Thanks Cade Cove Fiddler. I will take more pictures. I live in Oklahoma. Have family in Tennessee.

[MoJo1161]

Cades Cove Fiddler,
I just looked on the map where Cades Cove is located, that is assuming your user name reflects a location. I am attending a family wedding in the Walland, TN area in the month of April. I would be willing to bring the gun in hopes that you could look at it, which might help determine the origination of this gun.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... will be glad to try to connect,... BTW,... the Knoxville gun show is April 30-May1,... more original Tennessee made rifles than you can shake a stick at,...

[Dennis Glazener]

... William Nelson and Joseph Morgan BEALS  built longrifles in the Unicoi Co. Tennessee area between 1860-1890 era,... they built some of the finest Tennessee rifles I have examined,..it is also believed they may have made barrels to sell to other gunsmiths in the area,... I cannot tell much from these photos,... give some photos of the cheek side, the barrel tang, trigger-guard, rammer entry pipe, toeplate and muzzle,... detail shots of these areas will help I.D. ,.... CCF

Yes the Beals did make gun barrels for sale to others, I have photos of a Gillespie with a Beals barrel on it.
Dennis

[albert]

Does anyone know if William Beals ever put just W B on his guns instead of spelling out his name? I  have a nice Tennessee style half stock rifle with just initials  , 46" handforged bbl.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

 ... I've never seen one,... is yours stamped or engraved,... post some photos of the gun and the signature,...
 

[albert]

[albert]

[albert]

free photo hosting

[Dennis Glazener]

Here is a barrel signed by Wm N Beals


Dennis

[MoJo1161]

Cades Cove Fiddler
Here are some more pictures. I apologize for not getting this posted sooner. I hope these photos are what you asked for.