Jackie Brown smoothrifles?

[pepperbelly]

I may be trading for a Jackie Brown smoothrifle made about 10 years ago. I haven't been able to find any pics of his rifles and the person I will be trading with doesn't have any.
I found some references to Jackie Brown on another forum through a search. There is apparently some disagreement about his work- mostly about the time it takes and promised delivery time.
Does anyone have any experience with his rifles?
Anyone have any pics of some of his rifles that might help me decide if I am interested in this one?

Jim

 

[roundball]

Didn't he say it was made for a "widowmaker's Walk", and that he'd also made some modifications to the sights, etc?

 

[pepperbelly]

Yes, he said it was made for him to use for the Widowmaker smoothrifle match at Friendship, then he lost interest in the Widowmaker. I have no idea what that match is.
He installed slightly taller sights to avoid heat waves coming off the barrel when shooting the match.
I have read several wildly differing opinions of the quality of his work. I would really like to hear from someone who owns, or owned one.
I wouls also like opinions on whether one of his smoothrifles is worth trading a Pedersoli 1777 Charleville musket for.

Jim

 

[Capt. Jas.]

The smoothbore barrel will in all probability be out of tubing.
If that suits you then OK.

 

[Trench]

Go to jbrownmuzzleloaders.com

 

[pepperbelly]

He answered me with more info. I think it's called a smoothbore rifle because it has sights, but I do know the different between a smoothbore barrel and a rifled barrel.

It has a curly maple low grade stock. It is indeed a flintlock.
It is said to be of Carolina style, but as a shooter I do not know what this means. It is similar in features to a Tennessee Bean rifle.
Except the butt plate is flatter and it has a Fowler trigger guard. The stock is stained light and the steel is rust brown. It is a single trigger gun.

Jim

 

[tg]

This is a pic of the one I had in .54 smoothrifle
I liked the gun and it shot well it took a long time to get it as he was having problems at the time and did not communicate well. The style of gun is probably post 1780 or so it has a wide buttstock and nice cirve at the comb, the barrel on mine was straight oct then the taper started at the round part this was not as pleasing to the eye as the normal style,it had a Queen Ann lock Mine was an in the white project and I liked it and took a deer with it, I sold it only to thin the heard so to speak not from any dislike of the gun.I don't know what the Charville is worth but would think that a used JB would go from $500-700 depending on what wood and furniture mine had no buttplate or nose cap, I have heard both ways about the Maker but mostly good stuff about the product, The tubing for barrel thing did not concern me but it is a hotly debated issue around the forums.

 

[pepperbelly]

Is that a full stock or half stock?
As for the value, that is where it gets difficult. A custom made rifle is usually a better weapon than a production weapon. My Pedersoli cost about $1200.00 new, but a lot of that value is because of the exchange rate. The current owner of the JB said he paid $850.00 10 years ago, so I think the values are comparable.
The one I am thinking about was made about 10 years ago- before JB starting having trouble according to the current owner. He shot it is a match and says it held up well against rifled barrelled rifles.
There has been a lot of positive discussion here about guys going with smoothbores, so the lack of rifling doesn't bother me much. He also said it has a low grade curly maple stock. He doesn't have any pics, so I really have no idea exactly what it look like.
I could just sell him my musket and buy something, but I hate to pass on what might be a real nice rifle.

Jim

 

Jim,

I had a Jackie Brown with a 50" barrel smoothbore in .62 cal. At 50 yards the balls were just about touching if memory serves me. Heat waves off the barrel were a problem on cold days. Made it useless basically. Gun shot well and Jackie often sells guns still on other forums for around the price your seller mentions so his prices really haven't gone up.

I'd get one again but only if I could inspect it and test it first.

B

 

[RickD]

I`ve owned a couple of Jackies .62cal guns been pleased with both

 

[pepperbelly]

This is a .54 caliber. The current owner has installed slightly higher sights to eliminate the heat wave problem when he shot a Wodowmaker match.
This is starting to sound encouraging.

Jim

 

[tg]

Mine was a fullstock, this gun comes to the eye/shoulder very cleanly and is light and easy to handle, it was kind of hard making the choice to let it go but I didn't get it out to use anymore, hopefully someone else is doing that now, the price I quoted may be on the low side but that is where I buy used ML's often one can get a good deal if he is at the right place at the right time.if all is in working order you will likely be hapy with the JB gun.

 

[oldarmy]

IMHO
There is a certain amount of snobery in the muzzel loading communtiy.
If the rifle isn't built out of the most costly parts and by the "best" builders.. costing thousands of dollars... Then it is considered by some to be.. for lack of a better word, second class..
I personaly wouldn't hesitate to buy one of Mr. Browns "smooth bore rifles". He has been building nice guns for years and deserves more respect then he gsts.
I understand he has had more then a few personal problems in the recent years, but he has always delievered what the customer paid for.
Better to buy a plain Amercian made rifle with affordable parts at an affordable price then to buy a forgine made gun.

 

[Flintlock58]

I have two Jackie Brown built flinters. Both in left hand. One is an 11 gauge fowler with a heavy tubing barrel the other is a 58 with a colerain barrel.both guns have harvested animals. Both are good quality and I am very happy with them for the money I had to spend. And I cant beat the warranty he gave me. Until he dies or I die! But I cant advise as to trading. Dont know anything about a musket such as yours.

 

[pepperbelly]

Does a smoothbore like this really give up much range to a rifled barrel?

Jim

 

[Parzifal]

Wow , Tg Sir.
That is a really fine lookin arm, I like the rounded hammer all of the Queen anne style.

Just has the look of a good bush gonne.
Very nice!!

As for a piedersoli trade to a Jacki Brown goes, Ask if you can handle the arm, then make your decision.
I have seen alot of picts of the rifles from jacki brown and they seem very stunning, I myself have yet to shoulder one unfortunately.

Rob

 

[tg]

"There is a certain amount of snobery in the muzzel loading communtiy.'

Aswith any activity, from what I have seen any reasonably accurate gun made from quailty parts has been well accepted, this includes JB and other makers in the sub $1000 price range, as for this particular builder, not everyone is aware of all the facts and respect can be lost when the ball is dropped and at times it takes a while to get the good rep back, I like to believe this builder is back on top of his game, as he has a very nice style that you cannot find in a parts set from other vendors

 

[pepperbelly]

Rob, he is going a long way to ensure I will like it before. He has offered to ship it to me, and if I like it to then send my musket.
I am really leaning towards doing the trade.

Jim

 

[tg]

That is the only way to do a sale/trade of a used gun, I think you will be pleased, enjoy the wait.LOL

 

[lew wetzel]

i shot one of his canoe guns and it seemed like a solid shooter,now there has been alot of discussion on jackie on the other forums.and where i buy my parts for the rifles i build they wont even let one of his guns come through the door.there is alot of animosity concerning him and his guns.i would really try to get some pics.