The unique style of Southern Mountain rifles originated from the Western Carolinas into Eastern Tennessee during the late 18th and early 19th century. This used Southern Mountain rifle is stocked in maple and trimmed in hand forged iron furniture finished to a dark textured brown. Antique Southern Mountain rifles are often trimmed in iron furniture, with hardware store locks, and double set triggers. This rifle is fitted with a Jim Chambers' late Ketland flintlock, and R.E. Davis double lever double set triggers. This nice example of a Southern Mountain rifle features slender shaping with a traditional hand scraped finish. Attributed to contemporary builder J. Schell this unsigned rifle is stocked with a 13-1/2" trigger reach, for an average size shooter. This trim longrifle weighs only 7.5 pounds, and will be a pleasure to carry afield.

The .36 caliber 44" Green Mountain barrel has a swamped profile, thickest at the breech for strength, tapering to a narrow waist, and flaring at the muzzle to put the sights on the same plane. Cut rifled, the bore has eight equal size lands and square grooves with a slow twist, for patched round ball. Green Mountain Muzzle Loading Rifle Barrels are machined from high quality American made bar stock, A.I.S.I. 1137 modified, stress relieved, annealed, certified rifle barrel quality steel. All barrels are drilled from solid stock, reamed to a high degree of smoothness, then optically checked for straightness. Very close tolerances are maintained. The bore is bright, clean, and has been well maintained. The exterior is finished to a dark textured brown and is unsigned. The rear sight is dovetailed 13-1/4" from the breech. Shooters with "older" eyes or corrective lenses will generally benefit from the extra distance. The nickel silver blade front sight set in a brass base is dovetailed 2" behind the muzzle.

The maple stock has a traditional hand scraped finish and is stained to a dark brown with a hint of golden undertone. This mountain rifle is a full dress Tennessee rifle with buttplate, muzzle cap, and patchbox. All of the iron furniture; buttplate, triggerguard, ramrod pipes, are finished to the same dark textured brown as the barrel. The buttplate is formed from sheet stock with a brazed joint at the heel, just like an antique rifle. The long patchbox door covers a deep cavity for storing shooting accessories. The barrel is fitted with a long lollipop tang that extends the length of the wrist.

Two small steel screws retain the toeplate. The toeplate protects the fragile toe area, which is otherwise often susceptible to dents and chips during loading and cleaning. The hand forged triggerguard is made from two pieces. The guard is securely mounted to the stock with screws, traditional for this region, the two screw heads are polished bright. The forearm is neatly shaped with a slender profile and a pewter muzzle cap that protects the end grain of the stock. We note two small cracks in the pewter from when it was poured. Two ramrod pipes secure the 5/16" diameter ramrod to the rifle. The ramrod is fitted with an iron tip threaded 8-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. We note the ramrod is 1" short of the muzzle, and it is fitted with a .36 caliber cleaning jag that extends 1/2" pas the muzzle. Two lock bolts are mounted through separate tear drop shaped sideplates. We note the forward lock bolt is a little long and lifts the frizzen spring slightly. The buttstock is shaped with a square cheek piece that is decorated with a brass moon inlay.

The 1810 to 1820 era Ketland flintlock is perhaps the most popular style of flint lock found on fine original antique American longrifles. This attractive medium size rifle lock is based on our best Siler internal lock parts. The tail of the lock plate is slightly lower than the raised panel that forms the lock plate, separated by an attractive molding. The frizzen glides over a roller bearing on the frizzen spring, which is retained by a hidden mounting screw. The Ketland family of lock makers were quick to incorporate the best new features in their rifles, fowlers, and flint locks. We recommend our 3/4" knapped flints for use with this lock.

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. Below the lock a set of R.E. Davis double lever, double set triggers are installed. The triggers are properly tuned to fire from the set, or unset position. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure.

In excellent used condition, this .36 caliber longrifle has a modest weight, snappy Chambers lock, sturdy maple stock, and well fitted hand forged iron trim. This rifle will be a joy to shoot at the range or in the deep woods on your next small game hunt. 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.