Questions on inlays?

[50cal.cliff]

I apologize if this is not the appropriate forum and trust it will be moved if needed. However this is a question involving the building of a rifle and what is appropriate for it!

I have been doing research for a build/rebuild of my .50 St. Louis style Hawken, that the stock got busted on.

My intent is too build a rifle using my parts and doing a complete scratch stock. Hopefully when done I will have a much closer representation on an original St. Louis Hawken.

I have noticed that I see very few inlays on the original Hawkens. We use the Hunter's star, the crescent moon,weeping heart, crosses,etc., etc.

So where do these symbols originate from???

I mean there are obvious meanings to most of them but in trying to research the origins of these symbols, I have found little, if any documentation to make the assumption that a buyer would have requested that such a symbol was added to his rifle at purchase!

Would it have been done at purchase or maybe something the owner added at a later time?

I would like to do something with this build to make it uniquely my own but at the same time I want to keep it in the proper character of the time period!

So what are your thoughts to using an inlay on such a rifle????

 

[54ball]

You'll see inlays in late Golden Age to post Golden age rifles. It can be said that Inlays replaced carving as decoration on rifles. Some earlier Golden Age and Southern rifles can be found with carving and inlays.

The Golden Age as referred to id 1790-1825. Another way to put it; is inlays as decoration are from the late flint to early percussion period.

Early on there may have been lots of symbolism involved with Inlays. As time progressed to the late percussion period inlays became meaningless decoration.

From the 1970 Gun Digest by Major R.O. Ackerman

Unseen markings as seen on the underside of Beck and Beyer rifles. Many have INRI engraved on the bottom flat covered by the stock. You may remember IRNI as the sign above Christ on the cross. It's Latin abbreviations for Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. Also found on some Becks is J Deo Beck. J. with God's help Beck.

Also below the front sight on the bottom of the barrel you sometimes find an X or cross. This is a hex mark to prevent evil spirits from contaminating the barrel. Hence Hex Barrels.

Eight Pointed Star...

Hunters star, many theorys, thought to be the Star of Bethlehem that guides the hunter through the wilderness.

Crescent Moon...

With face or without, Early Christian symbol for the Virgin Mary also Gods Creation. The points of the moon should point downward meaning a wet moon. A wet moon is rain or mist at night meaning the hunter can slip quietly through the woods.

Bird or Distlefink...

Pennsylvania Dutch for thistle finch or good luck bird. This bird makes it's nest in thorny thistle. Early Christian sign for the Crown of Thorns.

Fish mostly post 1800...

Fishers of men, ancient Christian symbol. Oldtimers believe the fish help the rifle shoot straight. The fish should always point upstream or to the muzzle.

Eagle...

Post 1790 is the American federal Eagle. Before it could be the German or Prussian Eagle.

Heart...

Could mean love of God and family. The twisted or weeping heart represents the fifth wound of Christ. This inlay is commonly on the wrist and covered by the shooter's hand symbolizing protection.

Acorn...

Strength

Flower...

Could be just decoration by the 1800s.

Tulip...

Escape from persecution of the Old World. Maybe nostalgia for Holland or the Low Countries. Like the Shamrock for the Irish.

Scroll...

Implies letter or message. The ball is the message.

Squirrel deer turkeys ect...

Animals hunted

Teardrop and Diamond...

Easy to draw and make as decoration.

Serpant...

Christian symbol of the devil or the resistance of temptation. Rev War times it means " Don't Tread on Me.

Dolphin...

Christian symbol of resurrection and salvation, sometimes found on a patch box.

Shell...

pilgrimage or travel.

Fleur de Lis...

Emblem of the King of France.

Daisy...

Seen on patch boxes, resembles the wild rose symbolizing innocence.

Thistle...

Earthly sorrow and sin, also the heraldic emblem of Scotland

Skull...

Only as an inlay, macabre meaning, dubious owner.

Torch...

Bringing light into the wilderness

Pineapple...

Seen on English guns and copied.

Sword or knife...

Christian martyrdom or military owner.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Wow, I am impressed. That is quite possibly one of the best and most complete synopsis of the symbols I have ever seen! :thumbsup: Quite helpful as well!

I also like how you summed up the use of the symbols.

The time period explains more about why the period I was talking of has few to none on the rifles I have looked at!

If anything I think I remember seeing a couple with a medallion on them, and those could have been a presentation type piece. I only remember seeing one with an actual inlay and it had a crescent moon if I am remembering correctly!
Thanks for the info!

 

[Billnpatti]

Really outstanding presentation of the meaning of the various inlays. Extremely informative and I will use it to select my inlays in the future. In fact, I have a rifle on which I plan to put some German Silver inalys and will use this information to guide my selection.

However, I do have one exception. You said: "Also below the front sight on the bottom of the barrel you sometimes find an X or cross. This is a hex mark to prevent evil spirits from contaminating the barrel. Hence Hex Barrels."
Actually, the term "hex barrel" came from the fact that the barrel has 8 sides and is hexagonal in shape.

Having said that, I applaud your presentation.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Travis drew that information from the article he sited in his post.

No offense Bill, but I have but I have heard various "hex barrel" theories before also (including the one where they placed their newly made barrels in a flowing creek to "wash the spirits out"). That being said, and with the many "hex signs" on display here in the home of the longrifle, unless I see it written in period documents otherwise, I am more prone to believe they were "hexxing" their barrels before I believe they referred the "octagon" shape of the common barrel as a "hexagon". These are a God fearin' but superstitious lot, we are. :wink:

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

A hexagon is a polygon with 6 sides and 6 angles.

An octagon is a polygon with 8 sides and 8 angles.

I'll have to agree with J.D.

 

[54ball]

Bill,
You kind of prove the point. As J.D. says the barrels are Octagon with eight sides not Hexagon with six sides.

Through the years the meaning of hex has been lost and through the years hex or hexagon was thought to mean the shape, not a hexed octagonal barrel.

 

[jerrywh]

the term hunters star is just a modern secular term for what was originally the star of Bethlehem. Most of the original Pennsylvania gun makers were pretty religious. Some were real fanatics
I doubt if any of these inlays were put in by the original makers of Hawken rifles.

 

[50cal.cliff]

Well like I said now I understand more about the time period that inlays were mostly used I realize now why they don't appear in the time period of the St. Louis Hawken.

I will have to come up with something else to make this build uniquely my own.

This thought of inlays came to mind after the idea of an inlay hit me. So then I had to ask why do I not remember seeing them on rifles of that period.

So in effort to inform myself and not getting the answers I was looking for with Goggle I came to the faucet to get a drink. If you know what I mean!

There is a lot of collective information on this site when everyone gets involved! :bow:

 

[Zonie]

The Modena Hawken had a full, pierced, 4 piece patchbox with 5 stars inlayed around it.

Although inlays were not as popular as they had been in earlier years, they never went totally out of favor with gun owners.

Most cap boxes installed into the butt were also far from little round containers with plain round lids.
Many of them were quite fancy.

This is why I have no problem with seeing stars, crescent moons, eagles and similar inlays on the butts of rifles that represent the mid 1800's.

The one fancy thing I've never seen on mid 1800's guns or earlier is wood carved deer heads, squirrel's, elk heads or rampaging big horns.
Those, I would avoid at all costs.

 

[54ball]

As Zonie says I see no problem with a few tasteful inlays on a plains rifle.

 

[jerrywh]

some percussion era guns has a lot of inlays.

 

[George]

This is the Atchinson original Hawkens, ca 1836...

Spence

 

[LaBonte]

This is the Atchinson original Hawkens, ca 1836...

Spence

And those inlays include silver and mother of pearl

 

[50cal.cliff]

Dang they went hog wild on that one!! The materials, Silver and mother of pearl would have been considered precious metals/materials even back then! So it has too have a real story to it!

So what is the story on that rifle. A presentation to some one or .........?

I tried to Goggle it but am not getting anything that seems to be about the rifle!!

 

[msuspartan]

Not only that but consider the cost to make. Inlaying that much takes time.
Really nice toe plate!!! And the upper extended butt plate piece is exceptional too. Very nice.

Cheers, DonK

 

[George]

So what is the story on that rifle. A presentation to some one or .........?

This rifle was discussed in previous threads.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/265571/post/1099692/hl//fromsearch/1/
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/265575/post/1099747/hl//fromsearch/1/

Spence

 

[LaBonte]

Dang they went hog wild on that one!! The materials, Silver and mother of pearl would have been considered precious metals/materials even back then! So it has too have a real story to it!

So what is the story on that rifle. A presentation to some one or .........?

I tried to Goggle it but am not getting anything that seems to be about the rifle!!

As Spence noted in one of those links the article is in the April 1981 Muzzle Blasts - I've got a copy somewhere and as soon as I can find ti I'll scan it and post it.