Just for a minute I thought this thread was going to slip off the first page !!
I already have one rifle posted on this thread, but thought I would share this little beauty. I guess it would have to be described as a "fantasy" or a reenactorism rifle. I think the maker was trying to represent his idea of what a transitional period SMR might have looked like. Fantasy or not, the little rifle has excellent balance and accuracy.
Ron Paull made this rifle in '79 or '80 when he was still living in Montana. It is a .40 cal., and has a hand swamped, cut rifled barrel that measures 45", and is very close in profile to an "A" profile (I believe it is one that Les Bauska made).
It has some classic Upper East Tennessee features, and some much more unusual features as well.
The Germanic style lock, South Carolina style buttplate, and the trade-gun like baluster wrist are obvious anomalies.
The rifle weighs in at a whopping 6 lb, 10 oz.s. The barrel has been lightly browned and the lock is heat blued. The rest of the metalwork appears to have been heated and then quenched in linseed oil. The workmanship is absolutely "top shelf" My poor photographic skills and the bright sunlight make the stock seem a much lighter color that it is in person.
The rifle fits me perfectly and will consistently produce ragged one-hole groups at 50 yards with a .390 ball, .018 patch, and 35 gr. of Swiss FFFG. The lock is "scary" fast!! It has been my go-to rifle since I received it, and has killed more small game than any other rifle I own ( muzzleloader or cartridge). It has survived two primitive canoe trips down the Missouri River and more hunting trips, woods-walks, and walk-in rendezvous than I can remember and has the scars to prove it.....
I guess it's pretty obvious that I think a lot of this little rifle!
This has been an OUTSTANDING thread !!!
Tom
