This is an idea I have for building a recreation of Joseph Meek's rifle. I'm going to keep a running thread here to assemble my primary source material and pick up any suggestions folks have. My concept at this stage is to work off of a Kentucky kit or Kentucky parts set, but I've got to get more info before I know what to get.
Here's the general description from Carl Russel, Guns on the Early Frontiers at p. 73-74
"The maker of the Meek rifle has not been identified, but the piece displays the earliest deviations which marked the beginnings of a new rifle type. it retains the full forestock and the sharp drop to the butt which characterize the Kentucky rifle, but it has been decidedly shortened. It was brought to the Willamette Valley, Oregon in 1848 by the noted trapper Joseph L. Meek and is typical of the modified Kentucky rifle first manufactured for use in the West in the early 1830's. ... On the barrel behind the rear signt is the inscription, inlaid with silver, Verien zum Schutze Deutsher Einwanderer in Texas, which may be translated as "Organization for the protection of German immigrants in Texas. Crudely carved on the right side of the stock are the words "J. Meek, Rocky Mountains." On the left side of the stock are similarly carved the word "Death," followed by the figure of a running deer and the signature "A. Kelly." Three notches have been filed in the right edge of the trigger guard. The lock is percussion, and as was usual during the period of the Plains rifle there are double triggers."
I tracked the rifle itself down to the Oregon Historical Society, and they were kind enough to send me this information on it:
My name is Kimberley Buergel and I am the associate registrar here at the Oregon Historical Society. I received your email inquiry regarding Joe Meek's rifle.
We do have the Joe Meek's rifle. I can give you some information on the rifle.
Barrel Length: 70.48cm
Barrel is Octagonal
Rifle is percussion
Overall weight: 6lbs, 4oz
Brass front sight, brass pin sight dovetailed into muzzle end of the barrel
Rear fixed sight dovetailed into the barrel. Has a steel pin remaining indicating that it once was a folding leaf-type sight.
Double triggers, ramrod missing.
Stock material: walnut
Additionally, I have some notes that say the barrel of this gun has been cut short of its original length at one time and has been bored out of all its rifling. The notes go on to say that the gun must have originally been a .50 or .54 caliber. The gun has, according to these same notes, a hooked breech and nipple "snail" fixture.
Here's the general description from Carl Russel, Guns on the Early Frontiers at p. 73-74
"The maker of the Meek rifle has not been identified, but the piece displays the earliest deviations which marked the beginnings of a new rifle type. it retains the full forestock and the sharp drop to the butt which characterize the Kentucky rifle, but it has been decidedly shortened. It was brought to the Willamette Valley, Oregon in 1848 by the noted trapper Joseph L. Meek and is typical of the modified Kentucky rifle first manufactured for use in the West in the early 1830's. ... On the barrel behind the rear signt is the inscription, inlaid with silver, Verien zum Schutze Deutsher Einwanderer in Texas, which may be translated as "Organization for the protection of German immigrants in Texas. Crudely carved on the right side of the stock are the words "J. Meek, Rocky Mountains." On the left side of the stock are similarly carved the word "Death," followed by the figure of a running deer and the signature "A. Kelly." Three notches have been filed in the right edge of the trigger guard. The lock is percussion, and as was usual during the period of the Plains rifle there are double triggers."
I tracked the rifle itself down to the Oregon Historical Society, and they were kind enough to send me this information on it:
My name is Kimberley Buergel and I am the associate registrar here at the Oregon Historical Society. I received your email inquiry regarding Joe Meek's rifle.
We do have the Joe Meek's rifle. I can give you some information on the rifle.
Barrel Length: 70.48cm
Barrel is Octagonal
Rifle is percussion
Overall weight: 6lbs, 4oz
Brass front sight, brass pin sight dovetailed into muzzle end of the barrel
Rear fixed sight dovetailed into the barrel. Has a steel pin remaining indicating that it once was a folding leaf-type sight.
Double triggers, ramrod missing.
Stock material: walnut
Additionally, I have some notes that say the barrel of this gun has been cut short of its original length at one time and has been bored out of all its rifling. The notes go on to say that the gun must have originally been a .50 or .54 caliber. The gun has, according to these same notes, a hooked breech and nipple "snail" fixture.
