What era is ToW's Tn. Mt. Rifle?

[bnail]

I noticed that Track is selling their TN Rifle kit with keys instead of pins. how does this feature affect the rifle's era. Just curious, but is this L&C? 1812? or is it more likely Alamo era?

 

[Okwaho]

Bruce, these rifles are hard to date since there is so much similarity in their architecture and mounts.It appears to be from the upper East Tennessee school although it has a little more drop in the butt than I would expect to find in a rifle from this area and the guard is somewhat atypical in its depth of the bow.As to wedges, I have seen very few Tennessee guns with them unless the guns were ornamented more than usual.As to dating the gun illustrated that too is difficult but I will hazard a guess that it reflects a period of Ca.1825 to Ca.1860.At least it has an English lock instead of a Germanic lock a combination I have never seen on a Tennessee rifle although all too many builders and those selling parts/kits still use them.I hope I haven't confused the issues too much and as always I welcome responsible opposing comments.
Tom Patton

 

[bnail]

Thanks Tom. :hatsoff: I guessed between 1820-1840, but that was completely uninformed, and based solely on the wedges.

 

[MSW]

Okwaho-

Thanks for clearing up a nagging question about English (i.e. L&R Durs Egg) v. Germanic (i.e. Large Siler) locks on Tn rifles. I've been working on one off and on for a while now and, although i'm not overly concerned about being P.C., it's nice to know that detail is more or less accurate.

Thanks again!

msw

 

[longrifle78]

Wedges cant be used as a dating feature they go way back.While i agree with the others on the dates for the rifle shown, if you go to a 1812 event with one i doubt anyone would throw ya out of camp fer packin it. so if thats the gun you want go fer it.

 

[bnail]

I may eventually put one together, but not now. Actually, I was just curious if Dixie still had their Poor Boy, which got me to wondering what was available from ToW. looks like it might be a fun/economical kit to put together.

 

[srottman]

Dixie has only a few poor boy kits remaining, left handed only. their supplier from where they were getting them burned down and they are not going to rebuild the factory I believe they said they were being made in Japan

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I believe Miroku built them, but I never heard that their factory burned down, and they are still building guns for other labels.

 

[tg]

" and they are still building guns for other labels."

Yes, I heard they are making a variety of early 18th and late 17th century miltary guns and shipping them through India,to Canadian and US vendors....... :shocked2:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Yup. But they don't drill the vents--they lost their drill press in the fire. The stocks make great 2x4s though.