Crockett's rifle

[JOHN L. HINNANT]

Good Afternoon Dan,

There are more examples of "fancy" rifles than plain ones, but that would depend on the area one would be talking about. The area in and around Lancaster, Penn.is the home of the "Kentucky" or American long rifle. Even the earliest of these rifles were embellished with carving and some enlays.

The German gunsmiths who developed the American Long Rifle were already Master Gunsmiths from the "Old Country. The Jeager Rifle they made in Europe were nicely carved from the beginning.

The competitive Capitalistic System was already thriving in America at that time. If one gunsmith added some "extras" to his rifles, you can bet the neighboring gunsmiths also did in order to stay competitve.

The Crockett rifle was a product of those German gunsmiths competing for business. At the time of the purchase, young David Crockett was working for a Quaker Gentleman and getting a regular wage. He could afford a good pre-owned rifle.

The Quaker Gentleman that David Crockett lived with did not approve of gambling and looked upon the rifle matches as a form of gambling.

Young David had to keep the rifle at a friend's home and not tell his employer about attending the beef shoots. He always seem to win part of a beef, and once, won all four quarters. I would venture to guess he put two or three quarters back for sale and pocketed some nice coin.

So far as "plain" rifles go, a "fancy" Tennessee or Southern Mountain rifle is rare, while rifles from Virgina, both Carolinas and Georgia tend to be more decorated.

The Crockett/Thomas rifle displayed in the Alamo Long Barracks is one of those "plain" Tennesse Rifles.

David Crockett was always cash poor, even as a US Congressman and always seemed to be plaqued with business bad luck. One business endeavor that would have provide him and his family with a good living was agrist mill. Unfortunately, before operations could commence a floos wiped out the mill, and it was back to professiona hunting.

Within the past year, researchers have discovered what are most probably the actual grinding stones from that grist mill.

So yes, depending on locale, I think the American Long Rifle was not lacking for carvings and enlays and that was the norm.

The rifle that James Bowie supposedly had at the Alamo is definatly not a "plain rifle". For those who are interested in this rifle, go to tenring precision.com or just Google Alex Hamilton San Antonio, Texas

With respect to all,

John L. Hinnant

"God and Texas"

 

[Dphar]

The American native was a picky buyer it seems.
Things he bought, firearms anyway were supposed to not only perform but LOOK like what he thought it was used to.
So when the supply of American rifles dried up for the British allied tribes in 1776 or so the British had copies of American rifles made in England for the natives that wanted them. They made 3 grades of rifles. The most expensive has a brass patchbox and carving around the tang, lock panels and behind the cheekpiece, a mould and a case. Its pretty English looking carving but its there. The second best was the same in all respects except its box cover was wood. The third grade is largely unknown since the natives would not buy them...
So what can we glean from this? I see that the NA native was used to seeing relief carved long rifles. It was expected and thats what they wanted and got. Now if most American rifles were plain then plain would be the norm but apparently this was not the case.
Its an interesting theory, about the natives preferences. But I think its a good one. But there are those who insist that there were a lot of plain guns made. But one must remember that the plain iron mounted "Tenn. Rifle" is a late comer and arrived after fashion in Europe had long since dictated that carving was old fashioned, by 1800 of so it was here at least with people who paid attention to Euopean fashion. Its entirely possible the people making these did not know HOW to carve a gunstock. Also the frontier was always cash strapped. But gunstockers would often accept payments of various goods and services when cash was unavailable. Its entirely possible that some may have sold guns on time payment plans. See the information on Reedy in Kindig's book.
And finally the natives and Europeans who lived/traded/worked with them knew appearances were important. And what you owned was an indicator of who you were in society. Being perceived as being on the bottom rung of the social ladder was not a good thing if you wanted to influence people. Never see an military officer stating that he wore his poorest uniform to go meet with the natives...
This was true across 18th century (and later) society. A free man who was passing though the country might be detained if he was dirty and poorly dressed and thus might look like a runaway bound servant. A runaway bound servant who looked like a gentleman because he had made off with his masters horse, suit and rifle gun would be treated as a gentleman until proven otherwise. Which if he kept moving was not going to happen, given the speed of communication, until he reached the frontier where nobody much cared if he had escaped servitude and he would surely find kindred souls.
Yeah appearance was important. What you wore, what you owned and how you conducted yourself.
Young people today who go about dressed in rags would be at least questioned back in the day, even in 20th century America, just because of their dress. Dress like a bum, you are a bum until proven otherwise and the cops would run you out of town in many places. We have lost this, for the most part, since the "hippie" movement of the 1960s.
When I went to high school you could not wear blue jeans or work clothes to school. Dress code. Another thing we have lost at least in public schools.


Dan

 

[jbwilliams3]

Good post, Dan. And great rifle to look at!

 

[tom deinek]

"Young David had to keep the rifle at a friend's home and not tell his employer about attending the beef shoots."

Why?

 

[Swtodd]

Read the post. A form of gambling.

steve
Didn't mean it as harsh as it sounds