Source of nice Lehigh rifle?

[SimonKenton]

A few months ago somebody posted a picture of a really nice Lehigh Valley (Rupp?) with either a curly cherry or reddish stained curly maple stock. It had some carving a bit of wire inlay. I was wondering who had built that one.

Ray

 

[tg]

TVM?

 

[aeatwood]

This one? Christian Springs by Steve Zihn:

 

[Stumpkiller]

John Donelson built mine - a Rupp style but in flame cherry with swamped 44", .54 cal. L.C. Rice barrel. It's iron mounted - no evidence Rupp ever did such a thing and it was my request, but I really like the look.

More images of her on his website.
http://www.donelsoncustommuzzleloaders.com/longarms.html

 

Allen Martin is the best of the best. Here's his site http://www.allenmartinrifles.net/ I own three of his guns, including his 1999 best of show at Dixon's, Known as the "Flyrod" for it's custom A weight 38 cal. barrel, and also one I'm trading back for a new build in 52 Cal. with a 52" barrel Late Ketland Chambers lock, and a lot of chip, and incised carving. Allen's guns have to be rated up with Eric Kettenburg, Hershel, and Frank House, and a couple of humble guys on this site.

Bill

 

[SimonKenton]

LOVE the Schreit rifle. Looks good for early Revolutionary period and not out of place in F&I being simpler than some.

Ray

 

[SimonKenton]

A Rupp, for me, would be a .32 caliber "A" weight with a 44" swamped Rice barrel. Good squirrel gun for walking the woods. The Schreit would be something a Colonial militia rifleman might have carried at the start of hostilities.

Ray

 

[szihn]

I would post some pics of a Rupp I made for the Rocky Mountain nationals a few years ago, but photobucket is requiting "more information' and it seems to be getting a bit invasive so I don't use them anymore. Is that anyone out there that can show me another way to post pics on this site?

 

[Dean2]

Image Shack

I use these guys to post pictures on here. Easy to do and they are way less invasive than Photobucket.

 

[ADK Ephraim]

I have to second Allen Martin as the master of the art of LeHigh rifle craftsmenship. Over a year ago, I had an opportunity to acquire one of his earlier (#49) rifles, which had been a collectors 'cabinet queen' for over twelve years and had never seen a ball or powder charge. After close consult with Allen at Dixon's, I swore to shoot it - and what a shooter she is!-.50 cal, 47 in Getz tapered and flared barrel, superb hard curly maple stock with Allen's especially talented raised carving and a silver Allentown style cheekpiece hunter's star. A keyholeing shooter at 35-40 yards. A contemporary longrifle masterpiece by him - certainly expensive, but what craftsmanship isn't,these days. Save for a while, then indulge yourself for a lifetime heirloom rifle!!

 

[SimonKenton]

I'd like a Rupp with a 44" Rice "A" weight in either .32 or .36 but I think that's a flimsy barrel for a .36 maybe? In CT you have to have no larger than .36 for small game but a .40 would make a GREAT varmint and long range (100 yd) rabbit gun. A .36 might tend to tear up the tree rats so I think maybe .32 for a "woods walking gun" to take the odd bushytail.

As for the Schreit I would have that in .50 with a "B" weight Rice barrel about 42 or 44" long as an early American long rifle of the late F&I or early Revolutionary period. I can see one of Dan Morgan's riflemen with a Schreit.

Ray

 

[Dane]

Simon,

The Lehigh is a very difficult rifle to capture. The architecture is quite unique. No straight lines, lots of differing arcs. I've built several. Allen Martin is the best. He is also my mentor and advisor. NO ONE does a Lehigh like Mr Martin.

If you'd like, I can send some photos of some of my work, and you can make the call your self. Let me know.

 

[szihn]

Dane,
Please post some pictures here. We all like to see good work.

I am working on posting a few myself, but I am not very "cyber smart" so I have a lot of problems with the computer. I am working on it now.

 

[hanshi]

That's the one! :slap:

 

[szihn]

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1205/rupp99wrist.jpg[/IMG]
By szihn at 2012-04-08

By szihn at 2012-04-08

By szihn at 2012-04-08

By szihn at 2012-04-08

By szihn at 2012-04-08

 

[Mike Brooks]

If I wanted a lehigh I'd go with Al Martin.

 

[SimonKenton]

Was Michael Mann's interperetation of Killdeer a Lehigh or Allentown?

Ray

 

[Dane]

Neither, the Killdeer was an abomination that followed tangents from the Lehigh style. Allentown and Lehigh kind of covers the same territory. There were dozens of builders in that area called Lehigh's .

 

[SimonKenton]

THAT is sweet!! It would make a great pure deer rifle with a "B" weight Rice barrel in .50 caliber. I like the ones with the classic Rupp patchboxes too. I have recently come to appreciate the elegance of form following function and grace of that school. I do still love my Appalachian Bean rifle though and want a nice early Dickert some day. The Dickert's are not clumsy or unwieldy but he used HEAVY barrels.


Ray

 

[Mike Brooks]

Was Michael Mann's interperetation of Killdeer a Lehigh or Allentown?

Ray

It was pure fantasy.