Amazing rifle, need help locating maker!

[cshirsch]

I recently acquired an amazing and rather unique American rifle.  It is signed L. Lusk 1835.  It was originally in flintlock and has been converted to percussion.  It needs a little work but now I need help locating info on the maker.  I have searched online but with little luck.  Maybe some of my fellow researchers can help me out.  The rifle shows a lot of southern influences.  The patchbox and inlays are coin silver.  The carving is amazing.  It is a very fine gun and I am extremely lucky to add it to my collection.  Anyone have a clue?   Thanks, Chris Hirsch
























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[JTR]

No help on the maker, but WOW! What a fantastic rifle!
John

[Seth Isaacson]

Very interesting and attractive rifle. I used to know a photographer by the last name of Lusk, but I'm not aware of any gun makers by the name.

[Eric Kettenburg]

Well it sure looks NC to my untrained-in-NC-rifles eye, and I'm wondering if the surname is 'Lusk' or 'Lush' or 'Lash.'  Because then it begs the questions as to whether Jacob Loesch had any sons that became gunstockers, or a relative of the same surname?  Have not looked into his family tree.

Just a thought anyway.

[JTR]

For area, I'd agree NC would be a good bet.

[Bob Roller]

No matter where it's from,whoever made it had more than a passing idea about dressing it up a bit.
Outstanding find so enjoy having it and we enjoy seeing it.
Bob Roller

[cshirsch]

No matter where it's from,whoever made it had more than a passing idea about dressing it up a bit.
Outstanding find so enjoy having it and we enjoy seeing it.
Bob Roller

Thanks Bob.  I love it!

[DaveM]

Very nice rifle!

[120RIR]

There's a great piece of symbolism on there too...at the patchbox finial that sure looks like a "manicule" - a hand with the extended index finger pointing towards the heavens, towards God, towards the righteous path or something along those lines.  It shows up in many contexts over centuries but around the time this rifle was made, was also a common motif on headstones in America. 

[Tanselman]

What a beautiful, unique rifle, the type we all wish we could find at least once in our lifetimes. While I agree it appears closer to a North Carolina rifle than elsewhere, whenever I see a very fine but "different" southeastern rifle from that general area, I keep open the possibility of South Carolina. Unfortunately, we don't know much about SC's finer rifles, with only a little in print and even less in images. I think some of these "probably North Carolina" rifles, when really dressed up like this one is, could be from South Carolina... but we categorize them as NC guns since we know so little about NC's next-door cousins.

Shelby Gallien

[cshirsch]

I have thought South Carolina from the start.  Still searching the archives.

[wormey]

Waiting for Bill Ivey or Michael Briggs to chime in on this one.  Definitely N.C.  Davidson School I expect.  Beautiful piece. Wormey

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... now Chris... being the lock man that you are, I am surprised you did not include a photo of the lock,... !!!

[Dennis Glazener]

Well it sure looks NC to my untrained-in-NC-rifles eye, and I'm wondering if the surname is 'Lusk' or 'Lush' or 'Lash.'  Because then it begs the questions as to whether Jacob Loesch had any sons that became gunstockers, or a relative of the same surname?  Have not looked into his family tree.

Just a thought anyway.

Can't help with maker but I agree it looks NC and it's a beautiful rifle!
Dennis

[Shreckmeister]

Wonderful rifle Chris. Great addition to your collection

[cshirsch]

... now Chris... being the lock man that you are, I am surprised you did not include a photo of the lock,... !!!

I'm in the process of reconverting it.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

My vote is South Carolina.

[T.C.Albert]

Maybe I’m just missing it, but is there an image of the lock and the lock panels?
Thanks,
TC

[mbriggs]

Did someone call my name? My good friend Kenneth Orr called this rifle to my attention the other day.

Congratulations Chris,
Wow!!! what a great and unusual rifle. As to where it was made I agree with Shelby, it was probably made in South Carolina. 

I remember the two unusual relics of rice carved rifles posted here a few years ago that I believe were made by John Murphy in Williamsburg County, S.C. 

I believe this rifle is from a different hand, but both examples show there was some great talent working in South Carolina that has not been documented. 

Matt, maybe when you retire from coaching football you can take this on as an important project since you are a born sandlapper. (South Carolina native.)  It would be great to have a quality book on South Carolina Longrifle Makers. I will be happy to be your first customer.

Thanks,

Michael Briggs

 

[cshirsch]

Did someone call my name? My good friend Kenneth Orr called this rifle to my attention the other day.

Congratulations Chris,
Wow!!! what a great and unusual rifle. As to where it was made I agree with Shelby, it was probably made in South Carolina. 

I remember the two unusual relics of rice carved rifles posted here a few years ago that I believe were made by John Murphy in Williamsburg County, S.C. 

I believe this rifle is from a different hand, but both examples show there was some great talent working in South Carolina that has not been documented. 

Matt, maybe when you retire from coaching football you can take this on as an important project since you are a born sandlapper. (South Carolina native.)  It would be great to have a quality book on South Carolina Longrifle Makers. I will be happy to be your first customer.

Thanks,

Michael Briggs

 Thanks for the input.  The second the rifle was put in my hands, I knew I would not be able to let it get away.  Luckily a close friend had just acquired it and he understood that it needed to be in my hands.  It needs a little work and a reconversion.  I am slowly getting it done.  I also had owned the William Bartell rifle at one time but let the family adopt it.  Thanks again.

[Tanselman]

Chris,

I keep looking at the date on the barrel, and I've almost convinced myself it is "1838" rather than "1835." I'd expect a "5" to have a more robust lower section similar to the "3," but instead it's narrow and seems to have a light line running back up to make a lower loop, much like the lower section of the "8." There seems to be a small loop on top, but when I enlarge it to really see, it's too grainy to make out. Can you take another close look and verify what that last number is?

Shelby Gallien

[cshirsch]

Shelby, you may be correct.  I will examine it closer tomorrow and try to get a clearer photo. 

[cshirsch]

The only Lusk that I have found (so far) that is a possibility is a Lewis Lusk in Mississippi.  He was born in 1805.  I have not been able to determine his occupation.  One 1840 newspaper entry states that a Lewis Lusk was expelled from the Odd Fellows for 'conduct unbecoming an Odd Fellow.  Another undated article states that a Lewis Lusk was accidentally killed by his nephew on a bear hunt.  If anyone has further info on this Lewis Lusk, please let me know.  Thanks, Chris

[cshirsch]

The date on the rifle is 1838

[Hungry Horse]

With a date of 1838 it is entirely possible that the gun was an original percussion made with a converted lock. I own a Lehigh smooth rifle that was either converted very soon after it was built, or built with a converted lock.

Hungry Horse