Traditions Crocket: historically accurate?

[Jay Gardner]

Not that it really matters but is the Crocket Rifle representative of guns used at that time? They appear to be very similar to the Vincent Ohio Half-stock. Opinions?

Thanks.

 

Not hardly. Nor are some of the rifles touted as being exact copies of the "rifle owned by Crocket" offered by some companies that actually know better.
Crocket was a politician and business man who actually hunted for "stress relief". A mill owner, congressman senator and many times mayor of his home town before leaving for Texas seeking political refuge from the Jackson Democrats that ran TN.
Rifles were plentiful in his life. He may have had some favorites, but they were working and sporting tools that were used up, traded off or sold when necessary. Many were gifts from admiring citizens, that were soon sold to gain money for needed projects. Just like modern professional shooters often sell their "prizes" from shooting matches. Another gun is just something else to store. They were "owned" by Crockett just long enough to give them a couple of dollars more value. The TN State museum has one he allegidly traded for a horse.
The rifle Crockett took to Texas was a percussion half stock Derringer rifle, presented to him while in congress. He describes it in his autobiography and speaks of ordering 5,000 percussion caps for his journey.

 

[Jay Gardner]

Regardless of the guns owned my Mr. Crocket, himself, I was wondering about guns used in the midwest at that approximate time period. Does anyone think that they are representative in terms of materials used and configuration?

 

[Birddog6]

IMHO, No. The Traditions Crockett is just a name they stuck on the rifle & has no reference to any old rifle, other than it is steel, wood, and is designed for BP. Putting the Crockett name to the rifle is just a sales gimic same as the T/C Hawken. It also has little resemblence to the original Hawken rifle, except it is wood, metal & has a barrel designed for BP.

I am not cutting either rifle, and lots of fellers own them & love them, just making a point.

 

[Doc Arroyo]

Doublegun-

The Traditions Crockett has a decent profile, and that is what they sell. But a good rifle of the period has castoff to the stock, and more roundness to the wood in cross-section. Traditions/CVA/Jukar all have a rather flat plain stock that IMHO has no "feel". But then again, I have see some of them that are really good shooters. But not for me.

If you are looking for a really authentic rifle for a CVA price tag, well, good luck. They are hard to come by.

Are you looking for historical accuracy to start reinacting? For 1820 to 1835 I would lean toward a Lancaster pattern trade rifle, but I typically portray a hunter type character in most reinactments that I do. What character are you trying to represent? Figure out the character, and then buy or build the stuff that he would own.

Good luck with your search!