"Found in A Barn"

[Avlrc]

I got this at auction. From the info , I believe it came from Shelbyville, KY. They said "found in barn".  Funny, I know I am weak & the phrase "Found in A Barn" always gets my attention. Like Limburger, onions & sardines on a cracker, I can't resist.  I did remove some rust while searching for a signature, another compulsion I can't quit.  None. Now I feel bad about removing the Patina. The muzzle is flared some, which is one of its best features, LOL.  This is the kind of gun I should have been collecting all along, I can afford them Oh, don't ask me to check if it is loaded; I am confident it is, with a load for chicken thieves, foxes, Yankees, or the fattened hog. Oh, there I go again assuming that the Yanks had better arms & Kentucky actually had Rebels.  I promise not to restore it, not that I don't want too, but my buddy's restoration prices are too high, again, I am joking.

[Howard]

That is pretty neat just the way it looks!!!

[homerifle]

Shine it up and have it shooting tomorrow! LOL!

[Avlrc]

Shine it up and have it shooting tomorrow! LOL!

I don't intend to shoot it, I want to keep it pristine. Smile.

I would like to know if someone has an idea to where or who made it. But not anything really distinctive about it.  I think that the flared barrel is older than the rifle. 

[Avlrc]

That is pretty neat just the way it looks!!!

I think so too. Reminds me of stuff that you see hanging in Cracker Barrel.

[Tanselman]

I've studied Kentucky's early firearms for a lot of years, so I looked at that rifle a number of times before it sold. I could never see enough identifiable details to allow any kind of attribution... other than the longish lozenge-shaped tang, heavily swamped barrel, front side-facing with relatively even band of wood around lock, and straight comb/toe lines that suggest it was made in Kentucky. But where and by whom is anybody's guess.

It appears to be a true "barn gun" made up of parts [and the assembler wasn't too picky] to create a low cost "shooter" for the foxes, chicken thieves, and lurking varmints you mentioned. The rear side-facing with its straight top edge in front of the lock bolt is a little odd for Bluegrass area guns [usually have a small step part way out] that includes the Shelbyville area. But I'd accept the story as a local barn find, since we don't have anything better to go on. For a gun probably assembled from earlier parts, the stocking appears good and was probably done by someone who had stocked guns previously.

Shelby Gallien

[Avlrc]

 Shelby, that is all good information, way more than I knew. Thanks.

[Bob Gerard]

That stock needs a good, long drink of BLO and some penetrating oil on the metal parts. I bet it will  even happier then 😉

[tooguns]

WOW! That is truly special! A real working gun, if it could only speak....

[JTR]

You might consider turning those couple screws in further, so they don't get lost.
John

[Avlrc]

Good Eye JTR..

[Bob Gerard]

P.S.  I love the sign on the wall 😎

[Daryl]

Is it loaded?

[Avlrc]

Is it loaded?

I have not checked, the bore is nearly full. Probably mud daubers.  I doubt I ever clean it out to check. It might be easier to remove the breech plug and empty it.   But I ain't touching it.  I am lazy and leave stuff alone. If I am unable to con Homerifle into working on my old guns, nothing ever happens to them. 

[Tanselman]

That's one of the most honest answers I've ever seen on this site.

Shelby Gallien

[MuskratMike]

Other than turning in the screws on the butt plate I would leave it as is. Seriously cool find. Thanks for sharing it.

[Hawken62_flint]

Must have been in a leaky barn, Mark. She sure is weather worn. Make a good "hanger upper" over your shop door. Pretty cool though.