Vincent Rifles

[Mark Herman]

Dphar,
Rifles, like the Vincent's, with a deep crescent butt plate are not shot from the bicep or shoulder. These rifles are meant to be shot with the but plate "between" the bicep and shoulder.

 

[RonRC]

I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a Vincent-Ohio style rifle. The rifle was started years ago by James Tawney (of New York State) who was very well known as a high quality builder of guns.
The .45 cal barrel is a very heavy 15/16 diam 32" long, has 7 lands and grooves.
According to people who shot the rifle before me: This rifle is designed to be shot off hand and not off the shoulder like a shot gun or modern rifle. If shooting off a bench, shoot in a more upright position - build up sandbags higher to support the fore stock arm against the table.

Most of these images were taken by the individual I bought it from:

Ron

 

[F.G. Ford]

Fred,
Have not received your pictures yet. Will send pics of my Bryner Vincent later today.
Mark

Hello Marc,
I sent the Vincent pictures to Marc Adamcheck, I will gladly send some of these pictures to you.
I will send a private message to you to get your email address.
Fred

 

[Marc Adamchek]

I was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a Vincent-Ohio style rifle. The rifle was started years ago by James Tawney (of New York State) who was very well known as a high quality builder of guns.
The .45 cal barrel is a very heavy 15/16 diam 32" long, has 7 lands and grooves.
According to people who shot the rifle before me: This rifle is designed to be shot off hand and not off the shoulder like a shot gun or modern rifle. If shooting off a bench, shoot in a more upright position - build up sandbags higher to support the fore stock arm against the table.

Most of these images were taken by the individual I bought it from:

Ron

WOW! Nice stick of wood on that! But she's a beauty all around, that's for sure. You're a lucky man to have come across this this to add to your battery.I'll bet this rifle shoots like a dream as well.

 

[RonRC]

It does shoot well and I never tire of looking at the wood of the stock!
Ron

 

[maranpa]

Anybody know much about these and/or can point me to a good source book on them?

Anybody know much about these and/or can point me to a good source book on them?

Hi Marc and Greetings from New Zealand.
I am also a fan of Vincent Rifles and have one which I built approx 10 years ago from a TOW kit.
Its .45 cal with a 13/16th" x 36" barrel. I have installed a Marbles Long Bullseye Rear sight and a Blade front sight to help my aging eyes . This gun has proved to be both reliable and accurate as well as light weight. I am currently building another but this will be a Flintlock with a full stock. Not a copy of an original Vincent but inspired by their style .

 

[Mark Herman]

Maranpa,
Interesting that you chose to build a full stock flint. There have been rumors over many years that the Vincents built some full stock flint rifles but no one has ever come up with a bona fide example. If one exists it would be the holy grail of Vincent rifles.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Why were halved stocking rifles so popular in the first place?

 

[Mark Herman]

As the population moved west the type of rifles need changed due to different type of game being encountered, difficulties in travel and certainly security from native Americans, and others. Larger calibers were needed than in the east which required larger barrels and the aforementioned conditions required durability. Hence shorter barrels and half stocks evolved. Powerful, durable and easily handled under most conditions. IMHO.

 

[tenngun]

That’s often brought up, but I always have to wonder about it. Jagar rifles were often short and large caliber. And there were plenty of elk, moose and eastern buffalo to hunt out east. Lots of horse back travel out east to, and could be some thick growth to travel through.
The 03 harpers ferry was a half stock designed before the western lands being open. England started turning out half stock fowling guns and soon sporting rifles at about that same time. New England too started playing with small bore half stocks before Jake and Sam were making their western guns.
Sometimes I think it was just a style change, the same way clothing shoes or furnishings changed.

 

[maranpa]

Hi again Marc,
Thought this old info may be of help to you in researching the Vincent Family of Gunsmiths.
"
In the September 1943 issue of MUZZLE BLASTS there is a story on the Vincents by Claude Nicewanger
there is also a picture of J.C.Vincent standing in his shop door with a flintlock rifle he made in his latter days picture was taken in 1915 by W.C. Nicewanger. The same pictureis is in OHIO LONG RIFLES VOLUME 1 and in OHIO GUNSMITHS & ALLIED TRADESMAN VOLUME V. But say nothing about it being a flintlock rifle."

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

As the population moved west the type of rifles need changed due to different type of game being encountered, difficulties in travel and certainly security from native Americans, and others. Larger calibers were needed than in the east which required larger barrels and the aforementioned conditions required durability. Hence shorter barrels and half stocks evolved. Powerful, durable and easily handled under most conditions. IMHO.

But there are many guns that are lightweight and of light caliber with halved stocks.

Maybe just a trend?

 

[tenngun]

Well we do see a general graceful movement in gun building. In mid to later eighteenth century we see broad butts, up to two and a half inch thick. Then we see even big bore Hawkens at about a inch and a half, Leman guns at about a an inch and three eights.
Some of the full stock SMR would go to as small as an inch.
Between the revolution and the opening of the west we see the development of the super graceful Pennsylvania guns super lite and and the increased use of inlays.

 

[Bub]

I have one of Larry’s too. He made it pre-1980 and my dad had it for years. Beautiful curly maple. I cannot find any number on it. Just he name engraved on top of the barrel.

 

[Mark Herman]

Larry normally numbered his rifles on the left top side flat. I think mine is #32.

 

[Bub]

I will look again. Talking to his son and he said this was his dads early stuff. Maybe no mark on it?

 

[Mark Herman]

Don't know if you're talking with Mark or Brian, say hello for me. I think Brian has the last rifle Larry made.

 

[Dphar1950]

Dphar,
Rifles, like the Vincent's, with a deep crescent butt plate are not shot from the bicep or shoulder. These rifles are meant to be shot with the but plate "between" the bicep and shoulder.

Well if its past the should joint its the ARM anyway. I don't recall "bicep" being in my post. AND its going to be up the shooter and his stance. This slo-mo is me shooting a 16 bore English style rifle with a large "fowler" buttplate. The other is a 54 caliber FL Hawken with a crescent.

 

[Col. Batguano]

I have no evidence to present as to why half-stocks became popular, but it seems a great many of them are done as hooked breeches using wedges. I've never seen a hooked breech Vincent (maybe they exist?), but maybe they were made this way as a slimmer and maybe cheaper (because of the pin vs wedges and no hooked breech) version of the plains rifles. Just a theory.

I know for sure that wedges are. a TON more work than pins, and because of their visibility, alignment is much more critical.