kings mountain rifles

[olskool]

being a born and life long resident of SC I love the story of the battle of Kings mountain. I plan to go there this fall to the park. what would have been the style and caliber of rifle the over the mountain men would have used? dose anybody know what Robert young's rifle "sweet lip" that he used to kill Ferguson with was? is that rife around anywhere,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[tenngun]

Wow! That’s a toughie.
The true SMR would be a future development. I would gamble that the most of them would resemble a Virginia style. Lots of Iron to be had in the south so I would bet most were plain and iron mounted. About fifty caliber average I THINK.
As to Sweet Lips, I don’t know what became of her. Will look forward to te answers you get.

 

[rich pierce]

Very few Virginia rifles had iron mounts until after the Revolutionary War. There are some known exceptions but I’d estimate over 19 of 20 Virginia rifles pre-1800 were brass mounted.

Many people rely on suppliers catalogues as sources for “what was”. Those offerings are more “What sells” than “what was”.

The high popularity and numbers of Woodbury school, iron mounted rifles, often of early styling, has led many to think such guns were common in Virginia in the colonial and Revolutionary War periods. Not so. Woodbury school rifles have all been made in the past 50 years.

They are some great and creative guns. The ones if earliest styling seldom reflect historical pieces.

Prevalence of iron does not mean it was used to make mounts. Forging and finishing a guard takes the better part of a days work for many contemporary smiths. Finishing a brass casting and readying it for inletting takes an hour.

“Well, what if they couldn’t get brass?” Money talks and anyone who could get a made lock could get a made brass casting.

 

[Stophel]

I have always wondered to what extent rifles from Pennsylvania (primarily Lancaster) might have been "exported" to other areas. A merchant might contract with a gunsmith, or go on a buying trip, buy a bunch of guns, and haul them south and west for sale.

 

[rich pierce]

Accounts of Kings Mountain mention “Deckherd” or some such spelling. Some think it may mean Jacob Dickert. Cannot be resolved of course v

 

[rp77469]

One source to contact for info may be the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. They also have a fb page. Overmountain Victory Trail Association - Home They recreate the march to Kings Mountain from Sycamore Shoals each year, stopping at many schools along the way.

 

[George]

Try this article from the National Park Service. It seems to have a lot of info about Ferguson rifles, but may have other more useful stuff, too.

http://npshistory.com/series/popular/12.pdf
Spence

 

[Stophel]

We know there were rifles in the southern colonies just prior to the Revolution. Obviously, since many, perhaps even most men at King's Mountain had them... but where did they come from? South of Virginia, gunsmiths seem to have been few and far between (while Pennsylvania was absolutely chock full of them). I expect, but I don't know, that they were being shipped south and towards the Western frontier.

Rifle barrels were imported from Germany and England, and stocked here, and no doubt this was done in the Southern colonies. There are a few existing guns that follow the same general lines as this one...

A gun made by a gunsmith of English extraction, rather than German. This is the type of gun everybody would expect to have been made in the Southern colonies (though, it could just as easily have been made in New York....).

 

[William O.]

My ancestor my have participated in that action indirectly, as a spy for the militia but we don't know for sure. What we do know is that his brother, my 5th great uncle, established a farm within sight of King's Mountain, which really is more of a rise than a mountain. I had a horn made to commemorate the battle, which you might find interesting. I don't know which rifles were primarily carried though.

 

[Brokennock]

I also recall some quotes in period references that mention "Dikert" rifles, spelled various ways, as being brought to King's Mountain by the "over the mountain men," those from west of the mountains.

I also seem to vaguely recall reading somewhere of some western settler/s (western being west of the appalachians, Kentucky and such) returning east to Pennsylvania and bringing back rifles for sale and/or trade.
Just as the rifles in the hands of folks in South Carolina and Georgia, "had to come from somewhere," so did the folks.

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

I know many of the Tennessee Longhunters bought Dickert rifles or whatever they were considered before they went to Tennessee, and assume that a year or two later they still had them.

 

[Many Klatch]

Ferguson's body was full of holes. Several men claimed to have shot him. Any flintlock rifle of the proper time and place will suit.

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

According to a British officer's account, the average ball size at king's mountain was approximately .52

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

According to a British officer's account, the average ball size at king's mountain was approximately .52

Col George hanger said: "I never in my life saw better rifles (or men who shot better) than those made in America; they are chiefly made in Lancaster, and two or three neighboring towns in that vicinity, in Pennsylvania. The barrels weigh about six pounds two or three ounces, and carry a ball no larger than thirty-six to the pound; at least I never saw one of the larger caliber, and I have seen many hundreds and hundreds. I am not going to relate any thing respecting the American war; but to mention one instance, as a proof of most excellent skill of an American rifleman. If any man shew me an instance of better shooting, I will stand corrected."

 

[olskool]

My ancestor my have participated in that action indirectly, as a spy for the militia but we don't know for sure. What we do know is that his brother, my 5th great uncle, established a farm within sight of King's Mountain, which really is more of a rise than a mountain. I had a horn made to commemorate the battle, which you might find interesting. I don't know which rifles were primarily carried though.

I like the horn! I was thinking of doing one myself. there were 10 patriots fighting there with the same last name as my mama's maiden name. there was one with the same last name as mine, my daddy's family was from close by that area in NC, LOL makes you think,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Southernfi]

There would have been no Ferguson rifles at King's Mountain. They had all been retired by then. All of the 100 or so British Loyalist with rifles at the battle would have been issued P1776 rifles, if they didn't provide their own. Ref: DeWitt Baily "British Military Flintlock Rifles"

 

[Terry Jack]

I like the horn! I was thinking of doing one myself. there were 10 patriots fighting there with the same last name as my mama's maiden name. there was one with the same last name as mine, my daddy's family was from close by that area in NC, LOL makes you think,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Terry Jack]

My great grandfather ( 6 generations back), Jeremiah Jack was in that battle. A few years ago the National Park Service set up a monument to him.

"Jeremiah Jack Sr. fought in the OCTOBER 7, 1780 Revolutionary Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina and Boyd's Creek, Tennessee. He fought under the command of his friend, neighbor and fellow church member Governor John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee. Jeremiah Jack Sr. also served as a Justice of Knoxville, Tennessee."

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

My great grandfather ( 6 generations back), Jeremiah Jack was in that battle. A few years ago the National Park Service set up a monument to him.

"Jeremiah Jack Sr. fought in the OCTOBER 7, 1780 Revolutionary Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina and Boyd's Creek, Tennessee. He fought under the command of his friend, neighbor and fellow church member Governor John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee. Jeremiah Jack Sr. also served as a Justice of Knoxville, Tennessee."

being a born and life long resident of SC I love the story of the battle of Kings mountain. I plan to go there this fall to the park. what would have been the style and caliber of rifle the over the mountain men would have used? dose anybody know what Robert young's rifle "sweet lip" that he used to kill Ferguson with was? is that rife around anywhere,,,,,,,
Google the "old holston rifle." Rumored to have been at King's Mountain. Ian Pratt has made some similar rifles. Try the Contemporary Makers site for some Photos.

 

[olskool]

My great grandfather ( 6 generations back), Jeremiah Jack was in that battle. A few years ago the National Park Service set up a monument to him.

"Jeremiah Jack Sr. fought in the OCTOBER 7, 1780 Revolutionary Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina and Boyd's Creek, Tennessee. He fought under the command of his friend, neighbor and fellow church member Governor John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee. Jeremiah Jack Sr. also served as a Justice of Knoxville, Tennessee."

WOW! very cool,,,,,,,,,,,,,,