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I can describe that rifle in ___ words...
- Thread starter sse
- Start date
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sse,
I got the following from Green River Rifle Works web site; it's not much and it probably has many "Holes" in it:
Jim.
The Southern Mountain rifle came from the Tennessee Mountain area. It was a poor farming area so they required a solid reliable rifle, with no fancy work or frills, but very dependable. There were probably more of these rifles carried to the Western mountains in the early days of the fur trade than any other type. A little more affordable to the average hunter, these rifles were often called "Poor Boys" and often did not have butt plates or nose caps. Calibre's varied from .32 to .54 cal but were most common around .45 cal.
Personally, I don't think we know enough about the Poor Boy or Schimmel or whatever name it goes by. Too many southern rifles were confiscated and destroyed during the War of the Rebellion (1861-65). Those that survive may be later examples especially if they're percussion fired. This may explain the sharp "C" shape butt which originally came about (methinks) during the Golden Age of longrifles. If they were made post-war, it would explain a lot. The South was devastated by the war. The economy was in shambles (thank you Uncle Billy), a lot of property was stolen by soldiers or deserters or even sold off during the war just to feed the family. The poor boy couldn't afford a rifle with frills and extra work like a patchbox whether sliding wood or metal, relief carving, inlays was beyond the budget of many. To meet the demand for a gun to control varmints or put food on the table, the hunter needed the most basic rifle. Gunsmiths could make nicer guns but who had the $? :imo:
I heard the name "Southern Mountain Rifle" was used on the rifles from NC, Southern KY and Tennessee area. Mainly it was called that because Tennessee wasnt a state yet just part of NC,VA,KY hence its being called the southern mountain rifle.
CrackStock
69 Cal.
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Take a look at www.trackofthewolf.com
There is an example of their version of it.
Otherwise, try Jerry Noble's 2 books on the subject.
I built one from Track's kit in .40 and really like for off hand or crossstick shooting.
CS
There is an example of their version of it.
Otherwise, try Jerry Noble's 2 books on the subject.
I built one from Track's kit in .40 and really like for off hand or crossstick shooting.
CS
brian turpin
36 Cal.
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- Jan 21, 2005
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Don't you mean the War of Northern Aggression! ::
Now, now. You know that when the U.S. fights a Third World country it is called a "Police Action."
Lets not get this can o'worms open here. :nono:
Lets not get this can o'worms open here. :nono:
I think the "Southern Mountain Rifle" covers a large area of the Appalachian Mountains beginning in Georgia and South Carolina then up through Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. There was a lot of commerce in the mountains and I feel a lot of ideas were exchanged based on what people saw and used. I lived in North Carolina and examples of "Appalachian School" rifles shared some characteristics with Tennessee rifles. Many of them were plain iron or brass and iron mounted. Something we forget is that you had a large number of skilled woodworkers in this area... many of them were know for the quality of furniture they made. You can see this in the care they used in designing the stocks of the rifles they created. I am sure many of the old gunsmiths recycled parts they had in their shops. The term "Southern Mountain" or "Poor Boy" is a very broad brush that covers a lot of geography.
Bovey,
Thanks for the post. I was trying to think of a way to say all that. :imo: The term "Southern Mt. Gun covers way to much of an area and different gun makers to even try to describe them (even though I use the term quite often myself). I think you will also find it has different meanings to different people like the term "Poor Boy". Jerry Noble's books do a great job showing the diversity of styles that would fall under the heading "Southern Mt.".
Packdog
Thanks for the post. I was trying to think of a way to say all that. :imo: The term "Southern Mt. Gun covers way to much of an area and different gun makers to even try to describe them (even though I use the term quite often myself). I think you will also find it has different meanings to different people like the term "Poor Boy". Jerry Noble's books do a great job showing the diversity of styles that would fall under the heading "Southern Mt.".
Packdog
I think the terms are loosely used in a number of discussions. Personally I have found that the "Southern Mountain" term covers many different geographical areas and styles. Each geographical area has its own unique style or styles. As an example... An early brass mounted Gillespie rifle has a simular architechial style of a Bean rifle.
When I think of a "poor boy" rifle I think of something that was crafted by its user. Back in those times the folks in the mountains had to work hard for what they had. I think of a poor farmer that had acquired a lock and barel, found a good plank of wood, then went to work buildling a rifle. Contrary to what some may think, the mountain folk were a very talanted and resourceful group.
Just like the term "hog rifle". Did you use it to just kill hogs or did it come from the British expression "a hog of a rifle"?
I am sure the terms "southern mountain" and "poor boy" will be discussed for many years. I think we each have to decide for ourselves which definition we are comfortable with. Remember "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".
When I think of a "poor boy" rifle I think of something that was crafted by its user. Back in those times the folks in the mountains had to work hard for what they had. I think of a poor farmer that had acquired a lock and barel, found a good plank of wood, then went to work buildling a rifle. Contrary to what some may think, the mountain folk were a very talanted and resourceful group.
Just like the term "hog rifle". Did you use it to just kill hogs or did it come from the British expression "a hog of a rifle"?
I am sure the terms "southern mountain" and "poor boy" will be discussed for many years. I think we each have to decide for ourselves which definition we are comfortable with. Remember "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".
I have wondered if all the terms that we use to describe the guns of the flintlock era were even used at that time. Southern Mountain, Tennessee Mountain, Pore boy, Hog Gun, they all sound like terms that came to be used after the time the guns were used.
Militarily firearms would be a different story. They would have bin named buy the government that commissioned them to be built. To tell them from past models that they had armed there solders with.
Modern guns are not named is such generic terms now a days. Why would they have bin in times past? Maybe I am just adding to the confusion with this line of thought. But I have never seen all these terms used in the past. My thought is that they are terms made up as a marketing ploy buy gunsmiths to make there product stand out from the rest. Nothing wrong with that, but not a term that would be historically correct for the time the gun is patterned after.
The only terms I am familiar with is Musket, Gun, Rifle gun, trade gun, Then there are the terms for the french guns, but I am trying to stick with the plane firearms of American origin.
Hairsmith :m2c: :imo: :thumbsup:
Militarily firearms would be a different story. They would have bin named buy the government that commissioned them to be built. To tell them from past models that they had armed there solders with.
Modern guns are not named is such generic terms now a days. Why would they have bin in times past? Maybe I am just adding to the confusion with this line of thought. But I have never seen all these terms used in the past. My thought is that they are terms made up as a marketing ploy buy gunsmiths to make there product stand out from the rest. Nothing wrong with that, but not a term that would be historically correct for the time the gun is patterned after.
The only terms I am familiar with is Musket, Gun, Rifle gun, trade gun, Then there are the terms for the french guns, but I am trying to stick with the plane firearms of American origin.
Hairsmith :m2c: :imo: :thumbsup:
Fusee and fusil (small(er) bore muskets ~ these terms were used by "us" Brits, too). Carbine (smaller barrel and/or bore than military standard at the time). Firelock (any blackpowder weapon from c.1400 matchlocks until the advent of percussion c.1820. "Flintlock" was redundant until the percussion lock came along). Jaeger or J
