Author Topic: Appalachian Rifle with Forestock Molding (Read 2970 times)

Sequatchie Rifle · « **on:** April 10, 2021, 06:05:23 PM »

This is a walnut-stocked rifle with a 47 1/2 inch long .40 caliber barrel and a very nice nose cap. Notice the forestock molding (carved line) on the butt and forestock. The rifle in in excellent condition. Buttplate is iron, nose cap pewter.

Does anyone recognize the profile and have any ideas on the maker or location?

Thanks for your comment.

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Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2021, 07:22:21 PM »

... Bring her to Knoxville,... only 3 weeks from today,...

Tanselman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2021, 01:19:45 AM »

It looks like a great Tennessee rifle. Can you provide a few more pictures of details on the gun, taken closer up? It would help to see a close-up view of:
1. cheekpiece
2. nose cap
3. tang
4. triggers and guard
5. rear pipe with termination of forestock molding
6. lock bolt washer on back side of gun

...and any initials, names or traces of them on the top barrel flat several inches behind the rear sight. Thanks, Shelby Gallien

wildcatter · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2021, 02:27:23 AM »

I'm with Shelby, looks like a nice one and more of those pictures would be great. If you could also get a measurement for me from the front trigger guard finial to the first barrel pin. Nice find!!

Matt

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2021, 08:08:33 AM »

Don Steele · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2021, 11:28:24 AM »

That is a dandy..!!
What does the muzzle look like.. ?

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2021, 03:49:05 PM »

.... well Bill,... you got yerself another good 'un,... !!! .... cannot make an observation as to the maker however,...

,.... from the side views, the barrel tang looks like might be shorter,... interesting that the rear of the trigger-guard is pinned in,... you thinking Southern Middle TN,...? .... regards, and see you in Knoxville,.. !!!! .... CCF..

Buck · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2021, 09:46:17 PM »

Bro Bill,

Nice rifle - have I seen this one before?

Buck

Tanselman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2021, 10:42:26 PM »

Exceptional forestock and lower butt moldings, nice filing on butt plate and guard, just a great rifle with a few "different" details such as the lock bolt washer. Based probably too much on the intricate cast nose cap and smaller cheekpiece, it could well be from up around Campbell County in northeastern TN. Shelby Gallien

mr. no gold · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2021, 11:12:01 PM »

Great TN mountain rifle! Anyone would be proud to own and shoot that beauty whether way back then or today. Too bad these don't grow in the garden; I would ask you for some seeds if they did. Again. fine, fine gun and you get a round of applause for letting us see it.
Dick

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2021, 01:15:36 AM »

Don, the muzzle is plain.
Noel, it’s a new one that I picked up in January.
The bore is as perfect.
Appreciate the comments.

Banjoman · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2021, 03:56:00 AM »

Quote from: Tanselman on April 11, 2021, 10:42:26 PM

Exceptional forestock and lower butt moldings, nice filing on butt plate and guard, just a great rifle with a few "different" details such as the lock bolt washer. Based probably too much on the intricate cast nose cap and smaller cheekpiece, it could well be from up around Campbell County in northeastern TN. Shelby Gallien

Tanselman,

I live in Campbell County (LaFollette) in Tennessee. Who would have made that here?

Thanks

Ken G · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2021, 05:07:16 AM »

What a great find. That one is special. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Ken

Daryl · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2021, 09:29:16 PM »

SPECIAL - and in wonderful shape.

wildcatter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2021, 03:50:41 AM »

Thanks for the extra photos, and thanks for sharing, great gun.

Matt

mountainad82 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2021, 03:55:34 AM »

This one has got some fine and unique features. I am with Dana, would love to take a look at this one at the Knoxville show. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Adam

Tanselman · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2021, 05:45:42 AM »

Banjoman - you asked about why I mentioned Campbell Co., TN as a possible origin for this rifle. It shares a number of features with rifles by George Washington Hatfield of Owen County, Indiana. Hatfield was born and raised in Campbell County. But after reconsidering your question, I think he actually was trained in Fentress County west of Campbell. If you swapped out the later style guard on this rifle for an iron TN style guard with oversized reverse-curl rear spur, it would look very much like a Hatfield. Hatfield also added a small, independent reinforcing strip just behind the rear pipe to help protect the forestock from splitting there, which is not on this rifle. But overall, it's got a lot of similarities to a G.W. Hatfield rifle. Shelby Gallien

Banjoman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2021, 01:59:06 PM »

Thanks Tanselman! That makes sense. My family has lived in this area since mid 1800's and I've studied Campbell County history and never heard of any builders around here. Ain't saying there weren't any, just had never heard of them. There are lots of Hatfields around here though and I knew there were builders in Fentress County so that all fits.

My great grandfather had an old percussion "hog rifle" which I never saw but only heard stories about. It possibly could have been like the one in this thread but who knows since it disappeared long ago. I hope all this didn't seem like I tried to hijack the discussion. Just trying to learn all I can about rifles built around here. Thanks again.

Rajin cajun · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2021, 04:58:01 PM »

Bill are you bringing this rifle to Knoxville at the end of the month? I’ve got one I want to compare that molding to..
Bob

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2021, 08:17:23 PM »

I'll bring this rifle to the show. Thanks for the comments.

Rajin cajun · « **Reply #20 on:** April 16, 2021, 03:02:16 AM »

This is very similar to your rifles molding, and the rear sight well forward of rear entry thimble. Will have it at the Knoxville show end of month. Ken Orr said he has seen about 8 rifles with similar features that all had a Mississippi connection. My rifle was found in New Orleans years ago. It’s at a friend now so I can’t get more photos, but he will bring it back to me at Knoxville.
Bob

Tanselman · « **Reply #21 on:** April 16, 2021, 06:19:33 AM »

To Banjoman,

Perhaps your are aware of this publication; if not, it is the best overview of early TN gunmaking I've seen, with 1820 thru 1860 census and manufacturing census breakdowns of gunsmiths reported by county, and by output, broken into Eastern, Central, and Western Tennessee regions. It lists gunsmiths in Campbell Co. and Fentress Co., the area we discussed earlier with regard to the posted rifle. If you have not seen this TN State report, google "A Preliminary Survey of Historic Period Gunmaking in Tennessee" published in 1991 by the TN Dept. of Conservation's Archaeology Division. The entire paper is posted so you can read it, including all data sheets on census listings with references to counties. I think you can print it off, maybe 35 pages or so. Shelby Gallien

Banjoman · « **Reply #22 on:** April 16, 2021, 07:15:50 AM »

I was not aware of this publication. I will definitely check it out though! Thanks!

Sequatchie Rifle · « **Reply #23 on:** April 16, 2021, 03:36:16 PM »

Here is the link to the Tennessee Department of Conservation 1991 report.

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/archaeology/documents/reportofinvestigations/arch_ROI_8_Gunmaking.pdf

Banjoman · « **Reply #24 on:** April 17, 2021, 04:10:30 AM »

Thanks folks. I read the publication. It lists around Rice and Snodderly as gun makers in Campbell County at that time. I know folks by those names who may be their descendants and if I get a chance I may ask them about the gunmakers.

Thanks again.

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Author Topic: Appalachian Rifle with Forestock Molding (Read 2970 times)

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