thinking of purchasing a Virginia smooth rifle. I’m wondering about the historical context of these guns. By that I mean what era were they used? Mid 18th century, late 18th century, or early 19th century. Any info or help is greatly appreciated.
Virginia smooth rifle
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I’ve seen so many conflicting opinions about the origins of the smooth rifle. Some say they were a thing along with the rifled versions originating about the same time. Some say there were originally rifles that were freshed out smooth when larger game became less common in settled areas. Some say around 1800 because the term starts showing up in correspondence around then. I don’t know which is which.
By the 1770s they were saying both smooth rifles and rifle mounted fusils. Examinations seems to suggest about 10% were made smooth.
Every ‘Virgina style I’ve seen was an iron mounted Lancaster. But as far as I know there were no iron mounted rifles north of the Carolinas until the ‘Virgina’ style fell out.
Now with any luck someone else will pop up and tell me about a well known historic peice because I sure like them
Every ‘Virgina style I’ve seen was an iron mounted Lancaster. But as far as I know there were no iron mounted rifles north of the Carolinas until the ‘Virgina’ style fell out.
Now with any luck someone else will pop up and tell me about a well known historic peice because I sure like them
Banjoman
Eager to learn and willing to teach.
I have heard lots of conflicting opinions about the historical correctness of smooth rifles. Doesn’t really matter to me, mine is my favorite muzzleloader.
Mine
nchawkeye
58 Cal.
A couple of observations, prior to the Revolution, very few barrels or locks were made in Colonial America...Barrels came from both the Germanic areas as well as England, we know this from the records that the Moravians kept...If the gunsmith wanted a rifled barrel, they were rifled here, in America...So, if you had a customer that wanted a smooth rifle, it would be easily made from the barrels in stock also...Were they ordered smooth because the gunsmith knew not all customers would want rifles?? 
Another observation...After 2-250 years, how do we know that barrel that is now smooth was originally rifled?? Remember, they were made from iron, not steel and those that were used quite a bit may indeed have been rifled, bored out, refreshed, etc...
Were there smooth rifles made in the Colonies, sure, how many? What percentage would have been smooth originally? Nobody really knows...
Another observation...After 2-250 years, how do we know that barrel that is now smooth was originally rifled?? Remember, they were made from iron, not steel and those that were used quite a bit may indeed have been rifled, bored out, refreshed, etc...
Were there smooth rifles made in the Colonies, sure, how many? What percentage would have been smooth originally? Nobody really knows...
Smooth rifles were more prevalent in some areas than others. If concerned about historical accuracy, re-create an existing original rifle or smooth rifle. Smooth rifles were common in Bucks County and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania, on into Berks County. Try to find an original Bucks County “rifle” with a rifled barrel. I haven’t seen an original Virginia 1700s rifle-built gun with no rifling. I’ve seen 4 actual Virginia-attributed, 1700s rifles that are iron-mounted.
Remember they didn’t have corrected vision then in general use. If one lived in an area where rifles were common you wanted a gun like everyone else had. But the percision that comes with a rifle was lost on a near sighted man. He could still take a deer at fifty or sixty yards with a smooth rifle, even a black blob of a turkey. He still had a gun that looked like all in his community
Mike in FL
50 Cal.
Mark Baker used and carried a .50 smooth barrel longrifle, and he never stepped away from historicaly correct everything. I always wanted one in .54. I imagine they would be so easy to clean. And a versatile smooth rifle looks exactly like a rifled gun. What great fun it would be experimenting with roundball and shot loadings. Aren't Kibler's Woodsrunner and Colonials offered in smooth bore? Uh oh, I may have just talked myself into a .54 WR smoothy.
That is a good point. I also think that many rifles with the rear sight mounted farther forward than most were for older farsighted individuals.
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My Narragannsett Armes is an Early Virginia ca. 1760.
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
Very good observation on eyesight.
I have been saying the same thing for years.
A smooth rifle had a lot going for it in the old days.
Another point to consider is a smoothbore does not require patching material.
There is no reason to believe rifle shooters had access to the variety of patching material that we do now.
What would they do if the bullet diameter out of their only bullet mold and bore dimension required cotton or linen patch material of .010” to .020” and the only cotton material to be found for 50 or 100 miles in any direction was .025” to .035” ?
Well, honestly they didn’t use tight combos like we do.
Good question.
smoothshooter
50 Cal.
I know, but it could still cause problems; especially if no potential patching material was available at all.
Can’t speak to the historical aspect but I love my .62 Chambers smooth rifle! Can’t recommend one enough, very versatile-shot or round ball, light weight, great balance, just feels so right! Im sure you’ll be very happy if seeking an all purpose arm.
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I never got a smooth rifle, but I like the concept. Yours certainly seems to have some talent!!
pics?
I had a 54 cal Jukar flintlock that I turned into a smooth bore and caught a lot of flack about it. here is the thread about it.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/removing-rust-in-the-barrel.172302/page-3
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/removing-rust-in-the-barrel.172302/page-3
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