So, What pattern is my Longrifle? Virginia or PA? PICS

[Curt LaManna]

This was my 1st BP rifle, other than a couple of Spanish ones when I was a kid, that was a nice quality made piece. I was told, when I bought it that it is a Virginia Style of Rifle. Another guy at the BP Club, told me, "No way, PA style."
So, which is it? It was made by Golden Age Firearms, back about 15-20 yrs ago. Douglas 7/8" bbl. .45 cal. Shoots really well, with the new smaller diameter bullets and thicker patches.
It's nothing too fancy, as my James Gefroh Big Bore Jaeger .58, it's a nice working field gun, with great wood, and nothing special about it.
Thanks!

No, my Dog isn't dead, although she sleeps like she is sometimes.

 

[tg]

I do not see Penn or Virginia and it would be post 1800 with that barrel I would guess it to be something like a southern Mt or Tennessee from the trigger guard.

 

[rich pierce]

It doesn't follow a particular style as that guard, though in form of forged iron guards often found on rifles from Tennessee, is of brass, and that form was never in brass on originals. But it has fine lines and looks well made; you should get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

 

[roundball]

Nice looking rifle, and a beautiful piece of wood for sure
:hatsoff:

 

[wattlebuster]

No matter what it is, its a looker for sure :hatsoff:

 

[hanshi]

Definitely not a Virginia. Very nice rifle. It looks a bit like mixed styles. I agree it looks more "Appalachian" than anything else.

 

[Zonie]

My 1994 "GOLDEN AGE ARMS CO." catalog shows it as a "GOLDEN AGE CUSTOM MOUNTAIN FLINTLOCK FULL STOCK RIFLE".

At the time, their kit price with a Siler lock was $290.00. That price included a simple single trigger. A double set trigger cost about $31 extra.

Interestingly the catalog shows that trigger guard but it lists it (and the butt plate) as being available only in steel.
Of course most of the suppliers then and now have parts on hand that are not shown or described in their catalogs.

Based on my reference books none (or very few) of the Pennsylvania or the Virginia rifles used a trigger guard shaped like the one on your rifle. (None are shown.)

Most of the Pennsylvania and the Virginia rifles we know had a patchbox.
Without getting into the "some didn't" debate the presence or absence of a patchbox is one of the important characteristics that is noted when trying to figure out where a rifle was made or what style of rifle it represents.

That's a very nice looking rifle.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I'd say it's a bit like your dog, of mixed parentage, but that's not a bad thing. :haha:

 

[jamesthomas]

"Nothing very special about it" he says. Sir, that to me is a beautiful rifle!! You should should be very proud to own it.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm leaning towards an upscale Tennessee as well. Maybe Southern Mountainlike. Straighter lines and a "Beanish" trigger guard/grip rail finial.

Lovely wood!

 

[Renegade Dan]

Very nice looking rifle AZ :thumbsup:

 

[tg]

I did not mention it but it is a very nice looking gun and beautifull wood,anyone would be proud to own it, those barrels were and still are some of the best around, that gun is a keeper for sure, this gun comes from the time when "authenticty" was not as much of a factor as it is now and fewer knew what was or wasn't "correct" for a given type/style of gun, lately many vendors have raised the bar a bit with their products level of PC/HC as the knowledge and demand for such has grown much due to forums such as this where people can get honest answers (most of the time) to their questions about gun styles and details of authenticity when compared to the originals, I think in another decade there will be even more progress in what vendors are doing to supply proper guns for the names they are calling them, it is good to see this for those who are interested in the history of ML's IMHO.

 

[Ken Cormier]

nice weapon I wouldn't kick out of the gun rack

 

[DennisPollywog]

Southern-ish sort of style...PA wood
But, very pleasant to ogle :thumbsup:
Shreck

 

[Old Sarge]

Hey...I just figured out who you are. e-mail on the way. :grin:

 

[Curt LaManna]

I'd say it's a bit like your dog, of mixed parentage, but that's not a bad thing. :haha:

:grin: :grin: :grin:
Sort of a Mutt, just like me!
She's the product of a "Dog Fight Home". Sad tale, her Mother was abandoned in a foreclosed home and the "Animals" that lived there, left a pregnant Female Dog in the house. She gave birth to 4 pups, 2 survived, my dog and her brother. All 3 where adopted by members of our former Church. She was 12 weeks old when we got her. She's the best dog I've ever had! Mom is a Pit Bull, father was a Doberman. She's got a sweet disposition.
As for the type of Rifle, it's definitely not PC for 18th Century Rev War period. I saw one posted today on Track's site, that referred to this type as "Southern Mountain" as was pointed out. Either way, it's a fine made rifle and still one of my favorites!
Thank you all for the kind words of it's beauty!
She's a Keeper, just like my Dog! :thumbsup:

 

[Dausener]

I too say it looks to be a southern style rifle, and it's a beautiful one at that! :thumbsup: How does it shoot?

 

[hoochiepapa]

Very nice rifle.

 

[Curt LaManna]

The best I found for a small game load was using a .018" patch with a .433 RB and Ballistol Lube,40 grns. of 3FG from my truck window as a rest in the Desert, was 2" at 50 yards, confirmed with a Range Finder.
Thank you again, Gentlemen.

 

[Stony]

It looks very similar to my rifle, called a Frontier longrifle by Ron Orndorff. Folks here have put a timeline of 1800 to 1810 as for it's period. Your wood is great. (Sounds strange when you say it out loud!?)