Author Topic: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.  (Read 6959 times)

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #25 on: March 09, 2022, 05:08:13 PM »
We're getting pretty far off the subject on this topic. Any thoughts on my rifle would be appreciated. ;)
« Last Edit: March 09, 2022, 11:24:45 PM by Daniel Coats »
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #26 on: March 11, 2022, 03:04:24 AM »
Dodds Rifle arrived today!

Took a couple pictures just as the sun was setting.


Yes I'm smiling I'm just more subtle about it than most!


Standard backdrop for most of my rifle pictures

Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Stoner creek

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #27 on: March 11, 2022, 03:16:41 AM »
Congratulations! Well bought.
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Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #28 on: March 11, 2022, 03:26:48 AM »
Thanks Wayne this is one of the most believable contemporary long rifles I've ever had the pleasure of handling let alone owning. Even the lock bolts are hand made.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2022, 03:31:25 AM by Daniel Coats »
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #29 on: March 11, 2022, 04:58:16 PM »
RCA 21 & 22 appear to be the inspiration for this rifle. About when were they made? My guess is the 1780's but would like to hear from others who know the Reading guns better than I do.
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Keith Zimmerman

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #30 on: March 12, 2022, 02:25:08 AM »
Beautiful!  Congrats again buddy!

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #31 on: March 12, 2022, 04:22:11 AM »
Thanks I couldn't be happier with it!
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #32 on: March 12, 2022, 04:23:21 AM »
Let me ask again. Do we have any idea when RCA 21 & 22 were made?

Send me a PM if you would rather not reply in public.

Pretty please. ;) ;)
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline rich pierce

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #33 on: March 12, 2022, 05:50:10 AM »
Let me ask again. Do we have any idea when RCA 21 & 22 were made?

Send me a PM if you would rather not reply in public.

Pretty please. ;) ;)
Whenever we try to date unsigned guns, we probably put several things into our personal algorithms. Here are some of mine.
1) what’s the best guess date of the most recent part on the gun (lock, barrel, furniture)? Not the oldest part, because recycling parts was common.
2) where does it land, time-wise, based on style and architecture, to other guns from the same (best guess) region?
3) how much wiggle room can we figure in based on what we’ve seen with other makers? Some seem to have not changed much over decades (JP Beck) while others (maybe George Schroyer) seem to have embraced change or even led change).

When I consider these factors in relation to RCA 21-22:
1) None of the parts show features we commonly associated with post-Revolutionary War guns.
2) What about it is later than the Schreit rifle dated 1761? (not much: all within typical variation) What about it is earlier than other related guns like RCA 24-26? (21 and 22 have wider buttplates, and earlier construction techniques like the screwed on nosecap). RCA 24-26 appear post Revolutionary War but nothing is dated or signed; only attributed to a builder who never signed a gun.
3) Wiggle room is our issue. What if the maker of 21 and 22 is not the same person or shop as 24-26? What if he was an old man working in an old style?

As has been pointed out here, everyone wants their guns to be as freaking early as possible. But the facts are that we have very little solid data on rifles that can be documented to before 1770. Guesses, estimated, reasoned guesses?  Yes. As solid as clay.

So there do I land on these 2? 1774 plus or minus 4 years. AS IF. As if I am qualified and we know enough about Reading rifles. We are estimating dates on these guns based on an attribution to a guy who never signed a gun. Some would put these guns as early as 1760. RCA 20 does “feel” earlier. How much earlier? 5 years? 3? 10? We are all playing guessing games and pretending we know what we are talking about (when it comes to attributions of dozens of unsigned, undated guns).
Andover, Vermont

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #34 on: March 12, 2022, 05:08:45 PM »
Thank you Rich! I only said 1780's to avoid the "as freaking early as possible" trap!  ;D

I really appreciate the detailed answer you provided which sounds spot on and believable to me. Any way you look at it David did a masterful job getting close the the RCA rifles mentioned.

Would anyone else like to add their perspective?

Thanks again!
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline Telgan

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #35 on: March 12, 2022, 06:30:42 PM »
I always admired David's treatment/modification of the Chambers Early Ketland lock on this rifle - So much so, that it has been stuck in my mind ever since then.  I first saw this gun on Davids table at the CLA - He had exceptional attention to detail. Very nice to see it again and refresh my memory - Im gonna save a photo of it.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2022, 07:11:27 PM by Telgan »

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #36 on: March 12, 2022, 07:52:53 PM »
Rifle shoots great too!

Photo courtesy Curt Lyles


Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline ohiostate

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #37 on: March 13, 2022, 05:53:05 AM »
My feeling on this gun is that with the patchbox, thick butt stock, and studiness of the gun it would be just prior to the revolution.

Offline alyce-james

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #38 on: March 20, 2022, 06:04:09 PM »
Good morning all. I've always admired David Dodds craftsmanship any high quality of his rifles. Thank for sharing. AJ.
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Offline Panzerschwein

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #39 on: March 21, 2022, 09:35:48 PM »
Great rifle. Try pushing it out to 50. 25 doesn’t tell much about accuracy.

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #40 on: March 21, 2022, 10:30:19 PM »
Agreed, I haven't shot it yet.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2022, 06:33:26 AM by Daniel Coats »
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"

Offline DBoone

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #41 on: March 28, 2022, 06:11:53 PM »
Absolutely gorgeous! 

You, my Friend, have a great eye for great stuff!!  Congratulations on a "top shelf" buy!

Offline Marcruger

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #42 on: March 28, 2022, 06:28:17 PM »
She's a beauty!

Offline nadjetdrew

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #43 on: October 06, 2022, 07:07:55 PM »
This David Dodds guy seems a really good gunsmith. Unfortunately, I’m new to the movement and didn’t get the possibility to meet him personally or to own any of the rifles he made.
I wonder whether it is still possible to find and purchase any of the rifles made by this guy and how much it would cost me. is there a certain marketplace for that, or do I just have to look through forum topics to find any offers? And does he still make them?
It would be cool to buy such a rifle for my father because he likes old guns and everything connected to it. It would be cool to try to shoot from a rifle like this.
« Last Edit: October 10, 2022, 02:03:03 AM by nadjetdrew »

Offline mountainman

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #44 on: October 06, 2022, 07:58:14 PM »
That's quite a treasure!! I've known David Dodds, he didn't live that far from me, around 16 miles or so, I was at a show with him at Warrior Run, seen him at Dixon's a few times, and at Old Bedford Village once, he was a good man!

Offline hanshi

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #45 on: October 06, 2022, 11:16:32 PM »
I have to say that is a gorgeous rifle for sure.
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Offline BJH

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #46 on: October 06, 2022, 11:24:14 PM »
Dave and I were nearly neighbors. Probably about 5 miles. His thoughts about the lack of signatures on what he called “Wolfy” as in guns attributed to Wolfgang Hachen, was that one possibility was these guns were built immediately before the revolution. Given the time the conversation happened, he posed the question to me with a wry chuckle. Would you sign a gun that would be used by the 18 th century equivalent of Alquida? However the heck you spell it. Meaning revolutionaries or terrorists in the eyes of the British government. Just a poor description of his humor. I miss Dave and Cathy.     
     BJH
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Offline Austin

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #47 on: October 07, 2022, 03:42:52 AM »
Congratulations Dan!
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Offline oldtravler61

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #48 on: October 10, 2022, 03:47:10 AM »
   Dan very nice rifle. You did very well indeed...!   Oldtravler

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: .54 Caliber David Dodds Rifle.
« Reply #49 on: October 10, 2022, 05:36:48 AM »
Thanks I was lucky to recognize what it was when it became available, a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Dan

"Ain't no nipples on a man's rifle"