Dixie Gun Works Tennessee Mountain Rifle

[LSB]

I just purchased a Dixie Gun Works Tennessee 50 Caliber Flintlock Mountain Rifle off of Gunbroker.com. I haven't received it yet but supposedly it is in unfired condition. Was wondering if anyone knows what the rifling twist was that the manufacturer used in these rifles? They were made in Japan and haven't been produced for a very long time and a 1 in 48 twist was pretty popular back then for 50 caliber factory rifles such as the TC Hawken and CVA offerings. Any information anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

If I read it correctly, its a 1:56 twist. I watched that auction, you got it for a great price. Beautiful gun!

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...316/product_name/PF1110A+TN+Mountain+Rifle+LH

 

[Rock Home Isle]

These were RoundBall guns…1:56” twist is what I believe to be true.

I have 2 of them… .50 calibre and .32 calibre….well had…

Both have since been re-barreled and shortened to 36” barrel length

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

These were RoundBall guns…1:56” twist is what I believe to be true.

I have 2 of them… .50 calibre and .32 calibre….well had…

Both have since been re-barreled and shortened to 36” barrel length

1:56 twist for the .32 as well? I have one in percussion, and love it, but don't have any specs on it....Do you remember what the factory riflings looked like in your .32? The riflings of mine, the grooves are very shallow, and there is an additional tiny groove cut down the center of each of the lands...kind of odd looking.

 

[LSB]

If I read it correctly, its a 1:56 twist. I watched that auction, you got it for a great price. Beautiful gun!

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...316/product_name/PF1110A+TN+Mountain+Rifle+LH

Thanks for the twist rate info. If the rifle is in the condition it is advertised to be, I think I will be a happy camper.

 

[LSB]

These were RoundBall guns…1:56” twist is what I believe to be true.

I have 2 of them… .50 calibre and .32 calibre….well had…

Both have since been re-barreled and shortened to 36” barrel length

Thanks for the info.

 

[Y2GREY]

Congratulations! I have a couple of these in my collection and there are significant differences between first run and later build models... Walnut stock, lighter barrel, slender stock with more drop. These are really great guns from a large manufacturer. The biggest challenge most have is being muzzle heavy. My early build .50cal with the 13/16 barrel (#133) weighs in at 7.6 while later build (#6969 gotta love that number) tips the scale at 9.4 which is pretty heavy. Of my entire collection only my Browning Mountain Rifle in .50 is heavier at 9.6 pounds.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

1:56 twist for the .32 as well? I have one in percussion, and love it, but don't have any specs on it....Do you remember what the factory riflings looked like in your .32? The riflings of mine, the grooves are very shallow, and there is an additional tiny groove cut down the center of each of the lands...kind of odd looking.

I think the .32 is a 1:66”….

 

[LSB]

Congratulations! I have a couple of these in my collection and there are significant differences between first run and later build models... Walnut stock, lighter barrel, slender stock with more drop. These are really great guns from a large manufacturer. The biggest challenge most have is being muzzle heavy. My early build .50cal with the 13/16 barrel (#133) weighs in at 7.6 while later build (#6969 gotta love that number) tips the scale at 9.4 which is pretty heavy. Of my entire collection only my Browning Mountain Rifle in .50 is heavier at 9.6 pounds.

Thanks for your thoughts. I have NO idea whether it is an early build or a later build. It has a serial number in the 4000 range but that doesn't tell me anything. When it arrives, I will see.

 

[Y2GREY]

Yours would be the later series.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

later build (#6969 gotta love that number) tips the scale at 9.4 which is pretty heavy.

huh huh huh huh huh hey Beavis

 

[Y2GREY]

huh huh huh huh huh hey Beavis

I named the rifle “Double Trouble”…

 

[Eras Gone]

I have one on the L&R replacement flintlocks for the Dixie Tenn Rifle for sale if you want to make it covertable to flintlock. It is essentially new.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have one on the L&R replacement flintlocks for the Dixie Tenn Rifle for sale if you want to make it covertable to flintlock. It is essentially new.

I saw it…nice looking rifle

 

[Y2GREY]

Some comparisons between the very early and later models…

 

[springfield art]

I've got one of the Japanese-cherry stocked TMRs, left hand, that Dixie had in the catalog for a while. It's really nice! I had the bbl. shortened, too. Being LH, they must've taken a while to sell out, they were Miroku made. I just wish I had saved all my old Dixie catalogs! Been buying them every year since about 1968. Sure wish I'd bought one of the Belgian Dixie percussion rifles, too!

 

[vintovka]

Somewhere circa 1980 i think Dixie closed out many early ones with the 13/16 barrels for really low prices. We acquired five and only kept one with the extra flint kit. In going thru some old paperwork finally found some notes made from a conversation with one of the Kirkland clan asking if our buyers thought the barrel thickness issue and the grease hole were affecting desirability. Think i said barrel was fine but disliked the hole and had added an iron Narrow bean style patch box to cover it. Shortly thereafter the thicker barrel came out and the kept the hole. Go figure.

 

[hanshi]

Those photos do show a major change from the early ones to those sold later.

 

[LSB]

I have one on the L&R replacement flintlocks for the Dixie Tenn Rifle for sale if you want to make it covertable to flintlock. It is essentially new.

I appreciate the offer. However this is a flintlock. Some of the posters here have stated that the original lock sometimes leaves something to be desired. If that is the case with this one when I receive it, I might contact you and take you up on your offer. Thanks.

 

[SlidePicker]

I built my flintlock Tennessee Mountain Rifle kit over the winter of 1980-81, having gotten it for my birthday in November 1980. Doggone, I didn't know they dumped the early models at a discount! Mine is clearly the later model, stocked in cherry. I just weighed it a couple of nights ago, weighing myself on my home digital scale with and without the rifle. I got 9.8 pounds. It is heavy and muzzle heavy. I love it, though!