Smoothbore "Rifles"

[Flinter 2]

Talk to me about smoothbore flintlocks, sleek, graceful, light, have front and rear sights, and mounted into rifle stocks, usually in smaller calibers from .36 ~ .54 calibers, but also in .58, .62, or bigger.
I've been thinking about having one for along time, but the urge is getting stronger, back in the early seventies I bought (I live in MA. one of the first states along with RI. to have a Muzzle Loading primitive deer season) a T/C .56 cal. SB rifle to hunt in my state as well as in the neighboring state of Rhode Island (rifled barrels were not allowed), at the time I already owned a T/C Hawken in .54 cal. and a T/C Seneca .36 cal., my favorite of the three was the Renegade .56 Smooth Bore rifle, it was actually more accurate than my rifled T/C's, for some reason I couldn't miss with that gun, anything within a 100 yds. that I shot at got hit.
Eventually all my percussion guns except two got traded off or sold when I found flintlocks, and both of them I kept because I built them, I have a couple of smoothbore fowlers that I really enjoy, and I have a half dozen flintlock rifles, two of which I rarely use, all are flinters and all are customs, both beautiful guns, I thinking maybe of trading or selling one or both to fund a new custom smooth bore rifle.

So, who's got 'em and likes shooting them ?

 

[rich pierce]

Here’s an original Lancaster smooth rifle

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[tenngun]

Called rifle mounted fusils back in the day, I do like mine, Sitting Fox kit, tracks Isaac Hines plans

 

[tenngun]

Target was my sighting in at fifty yards, low group, file sight on target

 

[Stantheman86]

About to solder a rear sight onto my Pedersoli 1777 Charleville, a repro flip sight that was used on .69 conversions.

 

[roundballman]

I am still working on my Kibler colonial kit in 58 smoothbore. Looking forward to shooting balls and shot. Should be good for everything from small game to big game.

 

[4575wcf]

My mentor is now mid-eighties, and lives a few miles down the road. He is still the last word on Kentucky rifles and such. According to what he told me 40 or more years ago, a great many of the plain Kentuckies were originally built as smooth bores for the harvest of small game with cast, cut, cubed shot or solid ball. I personally have a penchant for the Hudson's Bay Trade Musket, so my sporting smoothie, other than my DB shotgun and Charleyville, should I tackle it, will be one of those in a 20-28 gauge.

 

[Keb]

Here's a smooth rifle I made last fall. It's a .54 cal. x 48" oct/rnd barrel, lg. Siler lock, plain maple stock, no butt plate or entry pipe.

Here's another one I made after the one above. Same barrel but 1" shorter, sm. Siler lock, ash stock, no butt plate or entry pipe.I don't have a full view of it with the finish on but you get the idea.

 

[4575wcf]

Very nice work sir.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Not as fancy as those and bravo but my 45 repro ain't going no where.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Here are some pic's of my Kibler .54 smooth rifle.

 

[Ed Pilkington]

Wonderful

 

[excess650]

"Smooth rifles" were more common than most folks think. They have the attributes of a rifle-cheek piece, patchbox, trigger guard, rear sight-but simply lack rifling.

original, about 45cal, click to expand