What do I have here?

[Branch906]

Hi_ I am new to this world. Recently started shopping collecting the old style pistol/rifle. This was a gift and is hung on my wall in my basement? What is it? It is extremely heavy, condition suggests old. But without the knowledge in this space I'm uncertain as to what it is. One suggested that it may be a backwoods, homemade rifle. Thoughts? Bottom rifle in combined picture.

 

[TreeMan]

I have no idea what it was/is other than it started life as a flintlock.

 

[Canute Rex]

It looks in the genre of a southern mountain rifle. I agree with TreeMan that it was probably converted from flint.

Iron trigger guard? What caliber bore?

 

[Robin Henderson]

I agree that this is very likely a southern rifle and that the lock looks like it began life as a flintlock.... not so certain that the rifle ever was. There is only one lock bolt on this rifle, but the lock plate has a hole in the forward part that would normally be where a forward lock bolt would be. This leads me to believe it was converted and repurposed for this gun. The trigger guard, imo, has a Virginia influence. What first came to mind was the "Bulls" who used one very similar to this style. Others did too, however. I don't count myself as an expert but just a person of interest. More detail, such as photos of the tang, entry thimble, toe, etc. would be most helpful in determining a possible identity. If you are familiar with the ALR forum you might post pics there. There are any number of fine folks on the forum that I consider very knowledgeable when it comes to these Southern guns.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I agree that this is very likely a southern rifle and that the lock looks like it began life as a flintlock.... not so certain that the rifle ever was. There is only one lock bolt on this rifle, but the lock plate has a hole in the forward part that would normally be where a forward lock bolt would be. This leads me to believe it was converted and repurposed for this gun.

That's a good observation, and maybe there is a weld line on the hammer, where the jaws were removed and a hammer head welded into place, during the conversion process?

So..., it's possible that this was a restocked, flintlock Southern Rifle, and the owner had the rifle converted to caplock during the restocking process, since there is no hole for a forward lock bolt in the actual stock? Why restock ?... likely an accident broke the stock so severely that a restocking was a must.

LD

 

[Branch906]

I agree that this is very likely a southern rifle and that the lock looks like it began life as a flintlock.... not so certain that the rifle ever was. There is only one lock bolt on this rifle, but the lock plate has a hole in the forward part that would normally be where a forward lock bolt would be. This leads me to believe it was converted and repurposed for this gun. The trigger guard, imo, has a Virginia influence. What first came to mind was the "Bulls" who used one very similar to this style. Others did too, however. I don't count myself as an expert but just a person of interest. More detail, such as photos of the tang, entry thimble, toe, etc. would be most helpful in determining a possible identity. If you are familiar with the ALR forum you might post pics there. There are any number of fine folks on the forum that I consider very knowledgeable when it comes to these Southern guns.

Thanks, This is what I am here to learn. Greatly appreciated. Additional photos

 

[Branch906]

It looks in the genre of a southern mountain rifle. I agree with TreeMan that it was probably converted from flint.

Iron trigger guard? What caliber bore?

bore size, digital caliper shows 0.4380

 

[Nor'Easter]

Can't add much, but the barrel tang and entry pipe appear distinctive.

 

[Tanselman]

Your gun looks like it probably came from eastern Tennessee, or southeastern Kentucky, that general Appalachian area of "hill country" that was very rural. A few guns like this also came from western North Carolina. Your barrel appears heavily rusted/pitted, but "just in case," is there any trace of a name or initials showing through the rust on the top barrel flat several inches behind the rear sight? Sometimes, if something is there, you can rub with a pencil erasure to remove loose surface rust and make a marking more visible.
Shelby Gallien

 

[AZshot]

Shelby, I was thinking definitely Eastern TN too, even before I saw that tang. The pointed lock rear and matching wood point, and entry thimble are signs it's early, I would say too.