FS58 said:
Excuse my ignorance, But what characteristics distinguish a Kentucky rifle from the others?
This is quite a question.
The classic Kentucky/American Longrifle was made from 1770 to 1820 or so but the styles varied widely from not only the location where is was made, every colony/state at the time, but also by time frame since the form of decoration and the actual design of the rifle changed over that time period as well.
These were often called "the American Rifle" by some British/Europeans of the period.
The relief carved Longrifle is one of two (I have heard) indigenous American art forms the other being the carved duck decoy.
*Generally* a classic "Kentucky" Longrifle is of a bore size under 50 caliber, has barrel over 36" long that is tapered or swamped. It may or may not have wood carving/engraving/patchbox. Some were bare bones rifles had no buttplate and only one rod pipe, others were elaborate works of art. Unfortunately many of the plain guns did not survive. Being used up or not considered worth keeping at some point in the past 200 years or so.
Some rifles were much larger bore than 50 and a great many were smaller. Surviving rifles often saw a great deal of use and were re-rifled "freshed" several times over their service lives which might easily run 50 to 100 years. But when made the *typical* Kentucky from the Rev-War onward was between 40 and 50 caliber. This is based on surviving rifles in near new condition and comments by writers there at the time.
Later rifles got heavier and the barrels were shortened. Some believe this was the result of better powder making. I believe it was two fold, better powder and shooters using the elongated cloth patched Picket Bullet to make a small bore rifle shoot to long ranges for target shooting and rifle matches. These were also used for hunting to some extent.
The higher pressures of the better powder and heavier bullets resulted in barrels being made of steel and being heavier in contour and thus shorter to control weight. The long barrel was not needed for velocity by this time even with the RB.
In any event the classic Longrifle was generally "out of production" by 1840. Barely kept alive by surviving examples and maybe a smith or two who still made a rifle that was a shadow of the "Golden Age" of American rifle making.
It is best that you start reading some books if you really want to know. Kauffman's "Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rile".
http://books.google.com/books?hl=e...a=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1
Ned Roberts' "The ML Caplock Rifle" gets into the later guns and is required reading in my mind.
Kindigs book "Kentucky rifle in its Golden Age". Books about Riflemen in the American Revolution, books with basically nothing but photos of rifles. All these will give insight and the first three are basically required reading. You may be able to get these through inter-library loan.
Books by Dillon and others are out there and will build your knowledge base. The some info is dated or superseded by ongoing research so one cannot believe every detail but overall its required reading if you really want to know. I would start with Kauffman. You can read some of it on line at the above link.
Books are available from sources like Track of The Wolf, Log Cabin Shop and Dixon ML Shop all have web sites and/or online catalogs. There are others but these come to mind first.
Dan