Difference between a Soddy Daisy and a Southern Mountain Rifle?

[Grischi]

Please, can someone explain the difference between a Soddy Daisy and Southern Mountain Rifle to me?
For me as a german BP-shooter there is hardly a difference visible. Maybe the shape of the butt plate...?
Thank you.

Christian

[rich pierce]

Let’s say that under the heading of vehicles we have cars, trucks, vans, busses, and so on. Ok, let’s imagine Southern Mountain rifles are passenger cars in this analogy. A Soddy Daisy would be in a subset, made in a certain region at a certain time, to a particular style. Like a VW bug made from 1950-1968 for example. Easily recognized by those who are interested in German cars of that period.

Soddy Daisy is a region of Tennessee where a specific style of SMR developed. It’s architecture through the buttstock is easily recognizable especially on the cheekpiece side.

[Grischi]

Let’s say that under the heading of vehicles we have cars, trucks, vans, busses, and so on. Ok, let’s imagine Southern Mountain rifles are passenger cars in this analogy. A Soddy Daisy would be in a subset, made in a certain region at a certain time, to a particular style. Like a VW bug made from 1950-1968 for example. Easily recognized by those who are interested in German cars of that period.

Soddy Daisy is a region of Tennessee where a specific style of SMR developed. It’s architecture through the buttstock is easily recognizable especially on the cheekpiece side.

Thank you for your explanations. You helped me much to get a bit more familiar with all the different types of American longrifles.

Christian

[Frank]

Can someone post pictures showing the differences?
The car analogy somewhat escapes me.

[jgraham1]

Forgot to mention that under Contemporary Longrifle Collecting on this site, there is a Soddy with pics available to look at.

Jerry

[smylee grouch]

So where in Tennessee is this region?

[Robin Henderson]

North slightly west of Chattanooga.

[Daniel Coats]

So where in Tennessee is this region?

A little Northeast of Chattanooga Tennessee

[Robin Henderson]

So where in Tennessee is this region?

A little Northeast of Chattanooga Tennessee

Well....I was a few degrees off on the west.

[FALout]

If you do a search, you’ll find pics of both styles of rifles, not that hard to compare and look for differences.  Look at the lock panels, the sides of the butt stock and the buttplate.

[rich pierce]

I removed off topic replies. Can’t help myself sometimes. Ok, most of the time.

Look in our library. https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6000.0
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2302.0

What do you notice about the cheekpiece side of the buttstock and the contours of the buttplate (looking on-end)?  What do you notice about the cheekpiece?

[rich pierce]

Can someone post pictures showing the differences?
The car analogy somewhat escapes me.

Soddy Daisy is a particular subset of Southern mountain rifles, from a specific region, and timeframe, and the architecture is easily recognized.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2302.0

[FALout]

There’s a book out called “Kentucky rifles of the great smoky mountains” by Randal Pierce that can by bought direct from Pierce.  Maybe someone can post how to contact him.  It’s a great little book with colored pics with various southern rifles including a Soddy.

[Daniel Coats]

No two are exactly alike only similarities and not all of them were built in that precise region. Henry Smith Alabama Gun Maker
Born July 28, 1796 in Tennessee Died 1878 in Etna Beat 3, Smith County, Texas built a surviving rifle with most all the Soddy Daisy characteristics. Near as I can tell he was likely born in Nashville nowhere near Soddy-Daisy

[rich pierce]

Here’s a picture of B. Barker’s recent Soddy Daisy build illustrating hallmark buttstock architecture. 

[Daniel Coats]

Here's a picture of my recent Soddy on the left and one by Jack Duprey on the right.

[smylee grouch]

So Soddy Daisy is a town and the area around it is called the Soddy Daisy area ? 

[MuskratMike]

Originally there were two small towns close together, Soddy and Daisy. As time went by and the area grew the two towns grew together and became Soddy-Daisy.
When I fly to Kentucky for the CLA show I am taking a side trip to Soddy-Daisy as a guest of their historical society to view the area, museum, and their original rifles. I also am lucky enough to have been invited to a private viewing of a large collection of original Soddy's. I will post pictures when I return.

[oldtravler61]

  Muskrat you are indeed a lucky fellow. But a simple search of Jack Duprey will help a lot. He builds his from his original Soddy that he owns. Plus his decades of research on them.
  You can also check out Art Riser under Soddy-Daisy rifles.
  Oldtravler

[Grischi]

Thank you all for your answers. They help much.
Now I know that it is a regional limited sub style of a SMR and the differences are in the cheek piece and butt plate.
I didn't know there is a region named so and therefore I was a bit confused because the words 'soddy' and 'daisy' mean a kind of shabby flower in German.
Christian

[smylee grouch]

Thanks for posting the map Daniel. 40 years ago I remember Walter Cline talking about Soddy Daisey in his book and never knew it that was people or place.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Soddy-Daisy is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,070 at the 2020 census and estimated to be 13,619 in 2022. The city was formed in 1969 when the communities of Soddy and Daisy, along with nearby developed areas along U.S. Highway 27, merged to form Soddy-Daisy.

During the early 1900s until the early 1960s there were regular muzzle-loading shooting matches held there about every month.
Lots of trading and story telling!