Author Topic: R. Ashmore Warranted 'Kentucky' rifle (Read 3330 times)

Enfieldguy · « **on:** December 25, 2022, 01:06:47 AM »

Hi there, new to the forum. Thought I'd start off by posting a rifle I traded for today. Lock is marked 'R. Ashmore Warranted', not sure if he was also the maker of the entire piece. Double set triggers, heavy octagon barrel. From what little I can find, R. Ashmore was a British lockmaker?
The stock looks like it has some great tigerstriping to it. Any advice on how to make it show more, or should I leave it be? Any info appreciated. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

ntqlvr1948 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2022, 01:31:44 AM »

I would leave it alone. it looks great as it is

Tanselman · « **Reply #2 on:** December 25, 2022, 02:24:37 AM »

You have a nice-looking rifle that needs nothing done to it, other than being appreciated and taken good care of. Since it may be a "southern" gun and has some neat features including little "tear drops" at the rear of the side facings, fine triggers, and a high rear sight, I'd really like to see a couple more details on the rifle, if you would indulge us. Could you add pictures showing:

1. the complete tang
2. the rear pipe/ramrod entry area and several inches on either side
3. if there is any trace, even if not readable, of initials, or possible name, on the top barrel flat several inches behind the rear sight, please post a good picture of what's there.

I can't tell if the butt plate is iron or brass; it's probably iron, but can you confirm the metal type?

Thanks for posting this gun.

Shelby Gallien

rich pierce · « **Reply #3 on:** December 25, 2022, 02:48:07 AM »

Ashmore locks were found on guns by scores or perhaps hundreds of makers, with a wide geographic distribution. So, it’s notable indicator of make for region. Nice find and in excellent shape, too.

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #4 on:** December 25, 2022, 05:16:19 AM »

Thanks so far! Will get some more pics up soon!

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 25, 2022, 06:14:14 AM »

Some more pics.

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 25, 2022, 06:15:28 AM »

No visible marks on the barrel. Might there be some under it?

Jacob_S_P · « **Reply #7 on:** December 25, 2022, 06:30:09 AM »

Leave that great piece alone! It is worth stabilizing and loving for the rest of your life.
There is likely no name under the barrel.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2022, 05:30:25 PM »

What a sweet surprise for Christmas day.
Southern gal fo sho
Does toe plate go all way to trigger finial, and is it mounted on top of wood
Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas bro!
Dave

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2022, 06:14:54 PM »

No toe plate. Just the buttplate. Yep, I'm beginning to think, thanks to everyone here, that it is a Southern rifle, particularly a Tennessee.
Merry Christmas!

taterbug · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2022, 08:39:06 PM »

great looking rifle! I'd like to make one just like it, with just a few less wear marks

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2022, 10:06:39 PM »

Getting back to preserving this piece, would wiping the stock with BLO be an option here? When I asked earlier if anything should be done to it, I certainly didn't mean restoring or refinishing anything.

Tanselman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2022, 11:48:58 PM »

You have a great looking rifle with good surfaces. Any modern surface applications are unneeded and begin to move it away from an all-original surface. There is no need to do anything with this rifle, other than enjoy it.

Shelby Gallien

JTR · « **Reply #13 on:** December 27, 2022, 04:48:29 AM »

That's a nice looking rifle with a fine old finish!
If you want to add a bit to it, just rub it with your hands. Maybe run a finger behind your ear or along side your nose, then just rub the stock. it won't take long and won't hurt the old finish at all.
Maybe said already, but check that it's not loaded.
If you start getting a little rust, a few drops of light oil rubbed in will help out. If you have a long enough ramrod, clean the bore with a brush and patch, then oil it lightly to keep it from rusting up.
John

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 27, 2022, 05:29:39 AM »

Good deal. I collect mainly First World War/British military firearms, but this one was too good to pass up. I think I'll just leave it be. Appreciate all the advice and info!

RAT · « **Reply #15 on:** December 27, 2022, 04:02:32 PM »

The lock was originally a flint lock as indicated by the filled holes for the frizzen and frizzen spring. The lock appears to have been used on a different gun at some point as indicated by the filled hole at the very front that would have been used for a forward lock bolt, which isn't present on your gun.

I'm not saying your gun was originally made as a flintlock...I'm saying the lock was re-used on your gun. Whatever gun the lock was first used on was a flintlock.

There are a lot of people more expert than me on here... but I'd guess your rifle is an original percussion made sometime post 1840.

JV Puleo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2022, 04:24:59 AM »

That is a very late flintlock lock and it is quite possible that it was never used as a flintlock. These were "hardware store" items and I suspect that many of the late flint locks were converted when first put to use. This is further suggested by the wide, flat form hammer which is the earliest form of Percussion hammer we see here.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2022, 01:18:26 AM »

I agree with this assessment of the lock.Positive evidence that at one time it WAS a flintlock lock but could have been on another gun before it was on this one.This is a great relic and as suggested,check it it a long rod to see if there is a long forgotten load.
Bob Roller

Enfieldguy · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2022, 04:12:09 AM »

Yep, definitely a flint at one time. And unloaded.

Longknife · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2022, 05:34:27 PM »

Look behind the hammer at the wood and see if there is a notch cut in the stock. This would be a notch to clear the flint hammer stop. Most of the time this notch is burnt away by extensive percussion use... Nice southern rifle!.... LK

Tanselman · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2022, 12:33:43 AM »

A couple images show no notch behind the hammer, and fresh/white wood where the current hammer scrapes the edge of the side facing above the lock plate. If you look closely at the lockplate cutout for the percussion side lug, the fit is not perfect, and in my opinion not as good as it should be for an original lock on this rifle.

I believe we have an always-percussion rifle that had its original lock damaged and replaced by this "percussed" older flintlock. Well-made rifles, as this one certainly is, usually had even-width side facings around the lock... unless elongated at the front and rear in regional styling. A hint of lock replacement can be seen in the unevenness of the side facing above the lock, i.e., the side facing gets thinner above the lock's top edge, suggesting a second lock, the repurposed flintlock, was slightly taller than the original percussion lock and the old mortise had to be opened a little along its top edge. If it were also a little longer, it wouldn't be noticed since the sidefacing had extra length at the rear, allowing ample room for a slightly longer replacement lock.

Shelby Gallien

elkhart · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2022, 07:09:43 PM »

Maybe it's the original lock for that gun. Is it possible that someone took a new unused lock plate intended for a flintlock and just used it to cobble together a percussion lock? After flintlocks went out of style, I'm guessing there were quite a few "discounted" parts one could acquire from those who were mass producing them.

Nice find, it would be fun to recreate that gun!

RAT · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2023, 04:03:36 PM »

The filled hole for a front lock bolt tells me the lock was once used on another rifle. The rifle here never had a front lock bolt. This doesn't take anything away from this rifle. It's just another part of it's story.

The cheekpiece and lock/side plate panel finials might help you identify who made it.

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Author Topic: R. Ashmore Warranted 'Kentucky' rifle (Read 3330 times)