The rifle in question {a copy by Chris Moyer} which will be referred to as the Feather rifle is one of two rifles {the other one being the rifle shown by Shumway in his Muzzle Blast articles Vol.II PP.16-19 and also illustrated by Wallace Gusler in Muzzle Blasts Jan.,2003,PP.4-5} which are usually discussed together as being possibly from Shenandoah County,Virginia.I have seen and handled both of these guns, the Feather rifle at last years CLA and the other {which I have always referred to as the "little woodsrunner" rifle} on several occasions and especially some 20 years ago when Earl Lanning bought it from the Kindig collection and brought it down to the Robin Hale show.The woodsrunner gun has been thought to be as early as the 1760-1770 period and possibly made by Christian Huffman or a member of his family.The two guns could perhaps be the product of one man or possibly a father and son.Without a thorough examination of the Feather rifle I wouldn't venture a guess as to its age although I accept Mike's statement that the gun on TOW is a very accurate copy of the feather gun and is close to its sister {the woodsrunner gun} and can use the pictures posted here to a great degree.I do think that the two guns are certainly related in some fashion either as the product of one or more makers somehow related or one maker and separated in time.Wallace and Earl have both placed the woodsrunner gun into the 1760-1770's period and I concur.As to where these guns were made, Virginia seems a very possible location and members of the Huffman family{Christian and others}of Shendoah County,Virginia have been mentioned as the possible makers.As to the Virginia attribution,as always, there is no solid proof given the absence of early signed specimens. There are a couple of details that are suggestive of Southern/Virginia manufacture but not really enough for a solid attribution.RCA Vol.II No.119 was long thought to have been made by a member of the Bullard family but a recently discovered signed gun by the same hand{John Newcomer the younger ?}showed that attrbutions without solid evidence can be dangerous.
As to the slim wrist on the Feather rifle, the slim wrist and high comb combination is not uncommon on very early guns.Besides these two guns one should note the slim wrist/high comb combination on the Schreit rifle {RCA II No.18}, the Free Born rifle {RCA Vol,II No.114 and the Hankla web site},and the "42" rifle {RCA Vol.I No.42}. An interesting note here is that four of these rifles{I didn't have measurements for the Feather gun and had to guess relying on Mike's statement and assumed that the measurements were basically the same as the woodsrunner gun} have wrists slimmer than an early French Fusil de chasse which surprised me a little.
I have always admired the "little woodsrunner gun"and it along with a very few others made up my fantasy wish list.I have loved that gun for better than 25 years since I first saw it in Neuman and Kravic {P.233 No.9}and still do.It handles and points like a dream and I suspect the Feather rifle does likewise.I hope Reaves brings it to the CLA and look foward to seeing it again.I hope this helps
Tom Patton
