Mtn- Man2u.....Weapon of "The Patriot"

[Flintshooter in Indiana]

Mtn-Man2u asked about the rifle Mel Gibson carried in the movie The Patriot. I found the article like I said I would, just took me awhile, but here it is. I found it in the Nov/Dec 2000 issue of Muzzleloader Magazine. The article was posted by Randy Wilkins and was titled "Proper Enough for a Gentleman Farmer". Anywho's, the rifle was of Southern architecture, based on a rifle carried by militia Colonel, John Thomas. Frank's adaptation of the gun was a 46", 50 cal Getz barrel with a hand forged lock (by Frank)using L&R innards. He custom built the rifle from a blank of curly maple and hand forged the iron furniture. He also built (from kits) two pistols used in the movie. Roland Cadle made the Carolina banded horn and Frank's wife, Lally, did the powder horn strap. If you can get a hold of the issue of Muzzleloader, there's some nice pictures of their work in it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Zonie]

Thanks for the input. I knew I had seen the article and spent some time looking for it without success.

Whan yer a youngster like me ye gots so many thins on yer mind ye can't always remember whar ye put 'um. Ah knew ah wasn't a goin crazy tho an yer a findin the story proves ah ain't any crazier than ole Mooskeetman. Ats fer shur!

 

[tg]

Was the original which inspired the movie gun iron mounted or was that a "House" option?

 

[Flintshooter in Indiana]

Don't know if the article mentioned that or not. I'll look tonight. I do remember Frank mentioned that for the period, brass or iron would be appropiate. I also read somewhere that Frank and another feller did the weapons for the movie that's got that Austrailian feller in it. Can't remember the name........... Just remembered, Master and Commander with Russell Crowe. Frank's gettin' kinda famous doncha know. Ain't tipped with him fer awhile. Need to look him up one o' these days.

 

[tg]

Yeah I have heard a lot of how brass or iron were proper in the south, but have yet to see any evidence of iron untill much later, it is very popular with some builders today, and many go by their word due to reputation alone, but I would like to see some references to existing originals from the period with iron.I think the House boys have their own "school" very nice guns but I really think they have re-written history just a bit.

 

[Flintshooter in Indiana]

I looked at the article again last night and Frank was supposed to have said that brass or iron was period for that time. He also said due to the location, (Carolinas), and the English influence in the area, the gun most probably would be iron mounted. It really makes no difference to me. It's a beautiful piece and the acoutrements :: are also. As for me, I prefer iron mounts.

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Mel Gibson like Russell Crowe is from Austrailian. Rocky /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

Being origionally from Tennessee, and a museum geek, I can attest that many of the southern origionals were iron mounted. Early guns are about 3/1 iron to brass with most of the brass mounted guns comming from PA schools and the iorn mounted guns from VA and the Carolinas. Locally made guns are almost always iron, espically after 1800 when the Bean school took dominance.
The House boys build typical Carolina "Poor boys" with a Bean triggerguard thrown in once and awhile to confuse folks.
Hershal and Frank both build better knives than guns! I've never picked up a House made knife that wouldn't take a razor edge it's entire length, with minimul work, and hold the edge till eternity was over. Some of us were lucky enough to get some of the House made gear back when they were just starting out. God I miss that Woodburry event they put on each spring!

 

[tg]

it is intersting how Schumway and Kindig and the others who have written about the early guns missed all the "early" pre-1780 iron mounted guns...I suspect that many are of a post 1790 date if there were so many early iron guns some would be known by the above mentioned people,This has been kicked around the Longrifles forum which has some of the top people in gunbuilding and collecting and none will make any claims about iron mounted guns before about 1790. If there are some early dateable iron guns out there someone should get some evidence as it would really be of interest to the folks who write the books.