new flinter

[BadHorse]

i got this rifle a couple days ago and i got questions. its a Bethlehem style (which ive never heard of) and would like to know more about. second have any of you heard of a builder named "T. Williams"?

this is the gun in question

 

[GANGGREEN]

That's a repro, right? If it's an original (and even if not), it looks sweet.

Can't answer your questions though, sorry.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Bethlehem is a school of gun builders in Pennsylvania, that date back to the late 18th century. Check George Shumway's books to learn more about the various schools, and the names of the gunbuilders that are considered members of each school. Je Kindig, Jr., book ( Published by Shumway)Thought son the Kentucky Rifle n its Golden Age, lists A Verner, the Angstadt Family,Feder, Rupp, Moll, Pannabecker, Albrights, and a J.D. as members of this " school". There are pictures of representative works from each of the builders mentioned.

I don't know of T. Williams, but you can sometimes identify builders by checking with Track of the Wolf. They sell a lot of guns on consignment or gun makers, and may know who this person is.

 

[BadHorse]

That's a repro, right? If it's an original (and even if not), it looks sweet.

Can't answer your questions though, sorry.

lol,,,,,,more of a recreation so im told, and one heck of a shooter!

 

[GANGGREEN]

Glad to hear that she shoots, that thing's a looker.

 

[Ron_T.]

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... a sweet-lookin' rifle !~!~! :hatsoff:

 

[BadHorse]

heres a few more of Savannah

 

[bioprof]

Whoever the builder is, they knew what they were doing. Very nice piece. Congratulations! :thumbsup:

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Beautiful rifle. I'm glad you posted the second batch of pics. The first one just didn't do the carving any justice. Congratulations on picking up a fine rifle!!

 

[Tom Compton]

Pretty gun. What size bore?

 

[BadHorse]

shes a 50 cal

 

[Stumpkiller]

Kind of Bethlehemish. The lines of the butt-stock are straighter and the toe-piece longer than a Moll or Rupp, though they are a more a subset (Lehigh) of the Bethlehem school. The patchbox is fairly typical but the sideplate is kind of Bedfordish. REALLY nice work on the engraving and carving/reliefs/silver ribbon. Very tastfully done IMHO. Not uncommon for a modern builder to work their own preferences of the designs they like into a rifle rather than make an exact copy. Nothing wrong with that and, in the case of yours, it all fits together beautifully.

It's a nice piece and looks to be well made . . . as you note it's a shooter so that counts for double!

 

[Palatine]

T. Williams could be Terry Williams, new owner of Early Rustic Arms?

 

[hanshi]

What you've got is an heirloom rifle that you can use and then pass down through the generations of your family.

 

[rf50cal]

What Joe Kindig considered the Bethlehem school covers rifles made in Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks and eastern Berks Counties. All located to the northeast of Lancaster Co. where the longrifle is to have originated.

That's a very nice rifle, good carving, engraving and a stunning piece of wood.

Is it my imagination or is that a sheet metal screw below the patchbox?

 

[BadHorse]

Is it my imagination or is that a sheet metal screw below the patchbox?

im told, the screw (which works as a latch) is period correct for this particular style of rifle. one side of the head is flat

 

[45flint]

whats the feather things near the rr pipes ?

 

[MSW]

great looking rifle- congratulations!

 

[Ketchakah]

Hey Brother,
The screw is a field modifacation for a broken latch. But it wont open by accident for sure. :wink:

 

[BadHorse]

whats the feather things near the rr pipes ?

well the "feather" things at the thimbles are scalp locks (yes real human hair). goes well with my persona at rendezvous, and other living history events. and back in the day both white man and native american would decorate everything from there clothes, to there lodges/cabins to the tack on there horses. so its not a stretch to adorn the rifle with a couple