This elegant Tennessee longrifle is trimmed in iron, stocked in curly maple, and features a .50 caliber tapered barrel and Siler flintlock with rounded tail. This rifle has a great balance and is made for a shooter. Signed C.O. Jossens in stylized script on the top flat of the barrel, this rifle is well built and finished. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. Weight is 8.3 pounds and the trigger reach is 13-1/2" making this rifle well suited for the average size shooter.

The .50 caliber 42" tapered barrel is cut rifled with seven equal lands and grooves with a slow twist for shooting patched round balls. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The barrel measures just under 1" at the breech and tapers to 3/4" at the muzzle. This rifle holds steady for offhand shooting due to the tapered barrel. The maker's signature C.O. Jossens is engraved in script on the top flat, along with No. 24 surrounded by light floral engraving. The long lollipop tang of the breech plug is signed 1984 along with light floral engraving. The barrel is finished a smooth chocolate brown and has worn bright in areas frequently handled. A browned iron blade front sight is dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle. A flat top rear sight is dovetailed 11-1/4" ahead of the breech and features light engraving on the base.

The satin smooth oil finish enhances the dark stained curly maple stock with golden undertones. The stock has many small handling marks and we note two larger dents on the right side of the forearm near the muzzle. The buttplate is a classic Tennessee style and is finished to the same smooth chocolate brown as the barrel and the rest of the metal on the rifle. The browned finish has worn bright at the heel and in areas frequently handling on the rifle. The top view shows the lollipop tang and the two tang bolts that passes through the stock to securely engage the triggerplate below. All screw heads have been neatly aligned with the barrel. The barrel is retained to the forearm with four brass pins. The rear pin is surrounded by nickel silver oval inlays.

The bottom view reveals the iron toeplate. The toeplate is retained with three iron screws, fitted so that their slots align with the barrel, when fully seated. Light engraving decorates the toeplate and triggerguard. The slender triggerguard is retained by three screws. The 3/8" diameter ramrod passes through two round ramrod pipes and one engraved entry pipe. The ramrod is fitted with a brass tip threaded to accept 8-32 loading and cleaning accessories. An iron muzzlecap is installed to protect the end grain of the forearm. The square cheek is shaped with a molded edge and provides a comfortable rest when aiming this .50 caliber rifle. A single lock bolt passes through a classic Tennessee style nickel silver sideplate to engage the lock. This is a well dressed Tennessee longrifle, truly a piece of American folk art.

The large Siler flintlock tail has been rounded to resemble an imported English lock. Many antique Tennessee flint rifles were often equipped with imported English locks. The lock is finished the same smooth chocolate brown as the barrel and is lightly floral engraved on the plate and cock. It has a strong mainspring and sparks well. However, we note the frizzen spring is weak and the frizzen has a small amount of play. Fast ignition is assured by the stainless steel vent liner, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash. Double set triggers are correctly tuned to fire set or unset. You may cock the lock before or after setting the triggers.

This Tennessee rifle with its .50 caliber tapered barrel balances perfectly and will be a joy to shoot at the range or in the woods this Fall. The bore is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.