Texas Rifles ?

[TexasMLer]

I was wondering if there were any well-known Texas rifle makers between 1800 and 1865 that were building flintlock and/or percussion guns.

We have all heard of the Pennsylvania Rifle ("Kentucky")and the Tennesse Rifle and I have heard of a California Rifle, but never a Texas Rifle.

I assume that there were no well-known Texas rifle makers because I have been unable to find any information on the web about them.

Do any of you know of a Texas rifle maker or, better yet, a Texas Rifle? Just curious...

Thanks!

 

[Stumpkiller]

Battle of the Alamo 1836

1845 Statehood.

1861 Secession

1863 Forceably readmitted.

No iron, no trees for coal, no water for water powered drop hammers, not on the way "to" anywhere for trade goods. I don't think there were any Texas gunsmiths.

Here's a clue, a used book: Dance & Brothers - Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy by Gary Wiggins - 148 page hardback Currently out of print and autographed $130.00

 

[Zonie]

The John Henry Dance & Brothers company made pistols for the Confederacy in the state of Texas.
These look kinda like the 1851 Colt with a square backed trigger guard, but they didn't have the bulging "recoil shield behind the cylinder that the Colt, Remington, Whitney, Starr guns had. The frame in this area is flat on both sides.
These Dance pistols AIR were some of the few Confederate pistols which had iron frames.

I think Pietta Company has produced a reproduction of these pistols. In the 2003 Dixie catalog the .44 caliber steel frame pistol was part number RH0344 and they were asking $250 for it. The frame is color case hardened.
If they are still selling them, I would bet the price has gone up.

 

[arilar]

As being located in the Kingdom of Sweden its hard for me to judge who you consider "well-known" among Texas gunsmiths and I am not that familiar with different citys in Texas. I do know Houston belongs to Texas and from that city I have found these to fellows:
G. Erichson, Houston, Texas. Active around 1855.
E. Schmidt, Houston, Texas. Active around 1860, also known as "[censored]amp; Kosse".
I have just had a quick look in my source so I am sure more are to be found.
ARILAR :: :thumbsup:

 

[arilar]

I got a name censored . Maybe misspelled by me. I try again.
Lets see now.... Also known as "Schmidt & Kosse". Will this get through? ::
ARILAR :hmm: :: :thumbsup:

 

[broken arrow]

Charlie,
Can you tell us more about watcher holdin in the pitcher?

 

[Stumpkiller]

'Taint me. That's a guy named Clayton Bailey.

What he's holding is an original Civil War era pop-gun that fires a cork using a percussion cap.

He is (to my knowledge) the world's leading authority on pop-guns.

 

[TexasMLer]

Thanks very much for the good information! The pistol is interesting.

I want one of those pop-guns! That would make a fun project and my little nephews would love to have one.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I would like to take this opportunity to declare that I hold no personal grudge or animosity towards Texas or Texans. I beg the forgiveness of those Texans I have insulted or offended in the past and wish to assure them now that it is not my intention to single out any geographic or cultural region of this country for ridicule. I make every effort to be even handed in my satirical and often insulting form of humor. I also make a real effort to provide information or positive feedback whenever I take a dig.

I am sorry if I have offended Forum members.

 

[rayb]

quote:
"No iron, no trees for coal, no water for water powered drop hammers, not on the way "to" anywhere for trade goods. I don't think there were any Texas gunsmiths. Here's a clue, a used book: Dance & Brothers - Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy by Gary Wiggins - 148 page hardback Currently out of print and autographed $130.00 ".

As best i know much of the small arms from the Republic of Texas days consisted of "Bess" type flintlock muskets, captured from the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto. There is a book "Arms for Texas" (I have a copy stored away) that describes the small arms inventories, purchases, dealings et. Evidently the Mexicans bought the muskets from the Brits after the Brits upgraded to something els, i don't remember exactly what.

I think i got the book through Pioneer Press/Dixie gunworks, but don't remember for sure.

Stumpkiller is correct in that there were few, if any arms manufacture in Texas before the civil war.

He is, of course, wrong about water, trees, etc. but that depends on where you are standing in our great state. ::

Maybe he has only seen hollywood movies, filmed in California and got his ideas from that source :winking:

rayb

texan bred, born brought up, and i'll be buried here, now that i've seen a lot of the rest of the world (including new york city) ::

 

quote:
"No iron, no trees for coal, no water for water powered drop hammers, not on the way "to" anywhere for trade goods. I don't think there were any Texas gunsmiths. Here's a clue, a used book: Dance & Brothers - Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy by Gary Wiggins - 148 page hardback Currently out of print and autographed $130.00 ".

Most of the old frontier rifles I've seen here are halfstock plains style in 40-50 caliber. I think they were mainly made in the east and carried here but the Germans first settled in Central Texas in the 1840's and they definitely brought gunsmiths along. I have seen a few old German target muzzle loaders that are 1830-1850 vintage, which were still used into the early part of the 20th century.

Ray, most Yankees are surprised when they visit here. They think the whole state is desert. However, it's OK that they are jealous - after all, we have Big Bend Park, South Padre Island, Schlitterbahn, Austin City Limits, Shiner beer and Blue Bell Ice Cream plus all the cows think Brenham is heaven...

All the Texans will understand and the rest of you will just have to make a pilgrimage here one day and find out for yourselves. :m2c:

 

[TexasMLer]

Stumpkiller,

No need to apologize for anything. You haven't offended me at all. I find it hard to be offended by ignorance and jealousy. :crackup: :crackup: Joking, of course.

 

Fellers. Stumpy is not apoogizing, if you look really close at the post. He is actually explaining that he insults all persons equilly!!!

:crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

Fact of the matter is that some of us wish that Texas was still independant so we would have a fit place to go live.

I can not for the life of me figure out why anyone would rather be the President of the United States than the Governer of Texas!

:imo:

 

[arilar]

TexasMLer, I must admit that this was harder than I thought. ::
Gunmakers Erichson and [censored]in Houston seems to have been involved making Derringer. So did Jacob Labadie
in Galveston, active 1869-75. Also little late (after 1865) you find A. Brock in Galvstone, active 1867-75. I dont know which guns he made but he is mentioned in the book "Small Arms Makers", by Robert Gardner from 1963.Unfortunately I dont have this volume in my possession. Maybe someone has the book and can give the answer?
ARILAR :: :thumbsup:

 

[arilar]

Now I am censored again!! :what: . Can someone tell me why you cant print a poor gunmakers name that starts with Sch and ends with midt? :: And I that have been told "General Interest" dont has any moderators, or who is it that is creating the censoring? Just curious.
ARILAR :hmm: :: :thumbsup:

 

[Slowpoke]

It's not done by any of the Mods, I don't think. But I think it's kinda like a spell checker. Every word anyone types to be posted is screened in order to catch foul mouth people like yourself.. hahahaha :crackup:

I'll try it and see it it does me the same way... here we go.... schmidt

 

[Zonie]

slowpoke is right. The forum computer is set up to scan for words Claude selected as being unsuitable for the site.

Sence the computer censored the word, is it possible you forgot to poke the "mid" in "Schmidt" and ended up with [censored]?

Aha! That [censored] eating grin on your face tells me something! :: :: :crackup:

 

[brushbuster]

I would like to take this opportunity to declare that I hold no personal grudge or animosity towards Texas or Texans. I beg the forgiveness of those Texans I have insulted or offended in the past and wish to assure them now that it is not my intention to single out any geographic or cultural region of this country for ridicule. I make every effort to be even handed in my satirical and often insulting form of humor. I also make a real effort to provide information or positive feedback whenever I take a dig.

I am sorry if I have offended Forum members.

good save stumpy :applause: :applause: :crackup: :crackup:

our skins are pretty thick down here so don't worry
it takes a lot more then thet ta git us mad

 

[arilar]

Zonie, lets see if I have understod this right. I am as usual sitting here with my english dictionary and struggling to produce an answer. Bit, hit, sit, schist, Schmidt, [censored]. What will pass? According to my dictionary everything except the last word. Can I write: "Schm-idt happens?" Or : "You are all talking a lot of Schm-idt!"? The very near future will tell. By the way, is anyone interested in the gunmaker from Galvestone named A. Brock? I would appreciate any information.
ARILAR :: :thumbsup:

 

[TexasMLer]

Arilar,
Thanks for the information. You got a lot farther than I did that's for sure and I appreciate it.

Between the anti-Texan bull[censored] and all of the other talk of [censored], this thread has become funnier than [censored]! :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: Sorry, Mods, I just couldn't resist. I will refrain from talking [censored]
from here on out. :crackup: Holy [censored] that's funny!