Author Topic: Dimick rifles (Read 7231 times)

doulos · « **on:** January 19, 2010, 06:32:45 PM »

Is it true that H.E. Dimick produced more plains rifles than the Hawken Bros produced?
If that's true, does any one know of any pictures of originals?

scooter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2010, 09:12:13 PM »

To give a wholly objective answer would require that one had access to the day books of both men, which is not the case. I have seen "plains" rifles by both and also non-plains, i.e., KY long rifles, by both. Dimick seems to be more associated with CSA arms supply than plains rifles altho that's most unfair.

Curt J · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2010, 05:45:03 AM »

I fully agree with Jim's statement about not knowing the answer without having the records from both makers, but I will say that there seem to be a few more Dimmick rifles surviving. This is based upon rifles I have seen personally, over forty-five years of actively collecting Midwestern rifles.

Dimmick is known to have supplied rifles for the 66th Illinois Vol. Infantry, better known as "The Western Sharpshooters" during the Civil War. These were mostly long range target rifles, rather than plains rifles.

As far as pictures of Dimmick plains rifles, there are a number of books that show examples. These would include (but are not limited to) The Plains Rifle by Charles E. Hanson; and Missouri Gunsmiths by Victor A. Paul.

Gary · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2011, 08:08:44 AM »

Horace E. Dimick could not produce enough rifles to equip the entire regiment (Birge's Western Sharpshooters, aka 66 Illinois Volunteer Infantry). It was not beyond him to purchase guns from other makers. Per Bill Edwards (Civil War Guns), Dimick delivered 472 guns by April 27, 1862. A check of Ken Bauman's book, Arming the Suckers, has the Quartermaster's Return which shows the maximum of 538 Dimmick Target & Sporting Rifles carried by them was in the second quarter of 1863. By the 1st quarter of 1864, they had 71 Dimmicks, 206 Springfield rifle musket (1855-63) and 63 Austrian Lorenz.