Author Topic: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.  (Read 815 times)

Offline RobertLosekamp

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D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« on: September 21, 2024, 02:19:33 AM »
Howdy y'all, there's a mountain rifle nearby that I'm considering picking up. It was built in 1984 by the late D.R. Hopkins for the father of the seller, possibly one of the last ones built down in Tennessee. Feels really good, but it could definitely use a wipe and oiling. I wanted to get you opinions on it before I move forward with purchasing.

The inletting is excellent around the lock and it wouldn't pop off easily otherwise I'd have gotten photos of the internals, didn't feel right tapping it out without proper tools to be safe. The seller said it has possibly never been taken apart and has probably 50> balls down the pipe. Bore looked kinda yucky (brown dried oil and dust) from the outside but it's been sitting in a safe a while and has some surface rust on the iron parts. I'll run some cleaning patches down it and borescope it before buying of course. But if it was put away dirty a decade ago it would probably be obvious if the barrel was wrecked right?

Anywho, what sort of value would one put on this? Does anyone recognize the lock? How annoying would a flint conversion be? Happy to soak up any and all information I can on this before I make a decision, I found two or three old threads but not much else.






















Offline RobertLosekamp

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2024, 02:21:31 AM »



















Offline A Scanlan

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2024, 04:19:25 PM »
Some "ordinary" rifles are just that....ordinary.  Others are graceful and even elegant in their simplicity.  This rifle is just ordinary IMO.  The head of the drum screw and the corrosion on the barrel above the drum suggests more that 50 rounds to me.  Looking at the inside of the lock and a good bore inspection would be wise.  As to a flint conversion....why convert....buy a flint rifle.  If the bore and lock are good it would probably be a "worthy" rifle and give one good service.  I paid $1500 for a exceptionally elegant ordinary 50 cal. flintlock purchased new from the maker.  The stock was spectacular, the finish was striking and the performance was superb and all the components were top of the line.  I sold it after years of easy use for $1,500.  I do like the documentation and "history".  That tends to add some value to me.  So how much is it worth to have a Doc Hopkins rifle?  That's the "value" question.  As to the wood and iron....not much.

Track of the Wolf can be a useful source of market value to some degree.  Frequently "common" caplocks go for well under $1000.  Rifles offered here on the forum also provide insight to prices.  Some good stuff offered now for not a lot of loot!

ACS
« Last Edit: September 21, 2024, 04:31:32 PM by A Scanlan »

Offline Daryl

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2024, 07:25:02 PM »
ACS makes some good points, especially about the drum screw and corrosion beside the drum.
The bore's condition would be the make or break on a deal for me.  Judging by the ratty crown, I suspect a badly rusted bore. Won't know for sure until the bore is cleaned.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2024, 07:28:27 PM by Daryl »
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline RobertLosekamp

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2024, 07:31:37 PM »
Some "ordinary" rifles are just that....ordinary.  Others are graceful and even elegant in their simplicity.  This rifle is just ordinary IMO.  The head of the drum screw and the corrosion on the barrel above the drum suggests more that 50 rounds to me.  Looking at the inside of the lock and a good bore inspection would be wise.  As to a flint conversion....why convert....buy a flint rifle.  If the bore and lock are good it would probably be a "worthy" rifle and give one good service.  I paid $1500 for a exceptionally elegant ordinary 50 cal. flintlock purchased new from the maker.  The stock was spectacular, the finish was striking and the performance was superb and all the components were top of the line.  I sold it after years of easy use for $1,500.  I do like the documentation and "history".  That tends to add some value to me.  So how much is it worth to have a Doc Hopkins rifle?  That's the "value" question.  As to the wood and iron....not much.

Track of the Wolf can be a useful source of market value to some degree.  Frequently "common" caplocks go for well under $1000.  Rifles offered here on the forum also provide insight to prices.  Some good stuff offered now for not a lot of loot!

ACS

Thanks for your perspective ACS. I agree, I often get caught up in stories and history. That aspect probably clouded up my decision making on this one, along with the asking price of 1k I think I'll probably wind up putting together a Kibler or finding something in the classifieds.

Offline RobertLosekamp

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2024, 07:33:07 PM »
ACS makes some good points, especially about the drum screw and corrosion beside the drum.
The bore's condition would be the make or break on a deal for me.  Judging by the ratty crown, I suspect a badly rusted bore. Won't know for sure until the bore is cleaned.

On the outside it's a handsome rifle, but yeah the bore is suspect because of that corrosion. Not sure it's something I want to gamble $1k on no matter how much the history speaks to me.

Offline EC121

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2024, 04:15:50 PM »
Years ago I was in his shop in Gatlinburg.  He had some rifles on the wall that sure looked like they were from Jack Garner(TVM) but still in the white.  Nothing fancy. He got upset when I asked if they were Jack's work.  I think he was finishing them to sell to the tourists as his work.  Doesn't matter now anyway.  There was a loop you could drive around that had all sorts of craft shops to stop at.
Brice Stultz

Offline RobertLosekamp

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2024, 05:38:14 PM »
I decided to grab an SMR kit from Kibler. No sense spending that kind of cash on something I wouldn't be 100% happy with. Thanks all :)

Offline duca

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Re: D.R. Hopkins Mountain Rifle I'm looking at locally.
« Reply #8 on: September 23, 2024, 11:21:31 PM »
Great choice! You Will enjoy it
...and on the eighth day
God created the Longrifle...