L. Lusk rifle revisited.

[cshirsch]

I am very excited about newly found information about the "L. Lusk 1838" rifle I posted photos of a few months ago.  Yesterday, I was been contacted by a direct descendant of Lewis Lusk in Mississippi.  They are researching Mr. Lusk and saw my post about the rifle.  This morning they sent me a photo of an 1846 ad in a Raymond, Hinds County Mississippi newspaper that clears up the mystery of who made my rifle.  This is the only full stock, signed longrifle I am aware of that was made in Mississippi before the American Civil war.  See the photos below to read the ad.

[Eric Kettenburg]

About whomever contacted you - were they able to provide more background info?  For example, is it known where he was born, or when, how long he ay have lived in Mississippi, where he came from etc.  I ask because of the obvious NC characteristics on the rifle, and also because I am wondering if the name Lusk is a multi-generational modification of a different spelling.

Just random thoughts.  I don't remember where the other thread is, maybe some of this was covered.  Very neat rifle.

[Stoner creek]

Yep that gun looked a whole lot like a North Carolina gun in my eyes too.

[cshirsch]

About whomever contacted you - were they able to provide more background info?  For example, is it known where he was born, or when, how long he ay have lived in Mississippi, where he came from etc.  I ask because of the obvious NC characteristics on the rifle, and also because I am wondering if the name Lusk is a multi-generational modification of a different spelling.

Just random thoughts.  I don't remember where the other thread is, maybe some of this was covered.  Very neat rifle.

The family is doing more research on Lusk and is going to give me all they find when completed.  I'll let y'all know.

[RobertS]

What a cool rifle, and Raymond MS is located not far from the Natchez Trace, a historic trail from Nashville TN to Natchez MS.  The hand with the pointing finger is interesting, as there is a church at Port Gibson, MS, 43 miles away and on the Natchez Trace, which has the same symbol atop their steeple.  The church dates to the early 1800's.  I wonder if that might have inspired Lusk, and if this feature might be unique to southern guns? Seems like I've seen it somewhere before, and there may have been a discussion about that on this forum at one time. Thanks for sharing!  Hopefully some other Lusk rifles will come to light.

[RobertS]

https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-western-farmer-lewis-lusk-expelled/34511172/

Maybe he just wasn't odd enough?

[JTR]

That is a Beautiful rifle!
And certainly made in the N. Carolina style.

But that doesn't mean it was actually made in N. Carolina.
John

[EGG17601]

The hand with the pointing finger is interesting, as there is a church at Port Gibson, MS, 43 miles away and on the Natchez Trace, which has the same symbol atop their steeple.  The church dates to the early 1800's.

The hand on the Port Gibson Presbyterian Church steeple dates from 1860, when the current building was completed. It was placed there in tribute to one of the congregation's pastors, Zebulon Butler, who used to point his finger heavenward during his purportedly quite fiery sermons. Butler died in 1860, and his funeral was apparently the first held in the new structure. Given the 1838 date of the rifle, this suggests there was no connection between the two pointing hands, although certainly the one on the rifle could be a heavenward gesture, or maybe just a forerunner of the ubiquitous foam finger.

[bama]

The hand and finger pointing upward is a Masonic symbol and is seen on many early firearms of the time. I believe that many of our early builders were Mason's as were many of our founding fathers. Not saying that this is the case for this rifle but I would not rule it out. Rifle building is a trade, Masonry is built around a craftmans trade. It would make sense to me that many gunsmiths could have been Mason's. Of course the rifle could have been built for a Mason who specified the use of the symbol.

[JTR]

The hand and finger pointing upward is a Masonic symbol and is seen on many early firearms of the time.

Ditto on Jims comment.
And not the first time I've seen the finger! 
John

[cshirsch]

Here's the lock

[cshirsch]

This was reported in a Newton County, Mississippi newspaper.  Unfortunately no date was provided.
ACCIDENTAL KILLING OF A MAN FOR A BEAR.

The killing of Mr. Lusk by his nephew, is a very thrilling thing as related by an old settler. Lewis Lusk and his nephew went bear hunting in Connehatta swamp. The cane was very thick and the uncle wore an overcoat made of material very much resembling a bear. The young man saw his uncle, supposed it was a bear, and through an opening in the thick cane he fired, shooting his uncle through the heart. The young man, though a rough backwoodsman, was so overcome with grief, that after telling what he had done, did not speak for three or four days. The mental agony was so great as almost to derange the man and he never did get fully over the sad event.

[Daryl]

Funky carving, reminded me of Taylor's Allageny rifle in .25.