This attractive Southern Mountain rifle is stocked in very curly maple with a deep cherry red stain and patina finished hand forged iron furniture. Often referred to as a Tennessee style, antique Tennessee flint rifles were often equipped with imported English locks, this Southern rifle is fitted with a late Ketland flintlock by Jim Chambers. The R.E. Davis double lever double set triggers are tuned to fire set, or unset. The Rice Barrel Company 42" swamped octagon barrel gives this longrifle a modest weight without being overly muzzle heavy. This handsome rifle weighs 7 pounds and a has a 13-5/8" trigger reach to fit today's average size shooter.
The .45 caliber swamped barrel by Rice Barrel Company is thickest at the breech, tapers to a narrow waist, and flares slightly at the muzzle. The bore is cut rifled with square bottom rifling. Twist is 1 turn in 48 inches, ideal of a tightly patched round ball. After the rifling has been cut, each bore is "ball burnished". A carbide bore-sizing die is pulled through the barrel, to insure bore dimension uniformity, eliminating any tight or loose spots inside the barrel. This critical procedure leaves the top of the lands smooth and polished, equaling the traditional lead lapping procedure. Rice barrels do not require lapping or extensive shooting to break-in.
Rice Muzzle Loading Rifle Barrels are set between centers and milled octagonal, insuring a centered bore, concentric with the exterior, with no "run-out". Each barrel is stress relieved in an atmosphere controlled electric furnace, to eliminate work hardening or barrel warp, and to dampen harmonic vibrations or barrel whip. The barrel is dovetailed with a flat top rear sight 11" ahead of the breech. Shooters with "older" eyes or corrective lenses will generally benefit from the extra distance. A brass blade front sight is dovetailed behind the muzzle. The top flat is signed L. Wise # 13
This curly maple stock is stained to a deep cherry red with golden undertones to best display the closely spaced figure over the length of the stock. Curly maple is a very correct choice for stock wood, often found on original Tennessee rifles. The stock is fitted with a crescent buttplate with a modest curve to engage the shooter's shoulder. The buttplate is neatly hand forged with a copper joint at the heel. The figured maple stock has been drilled with a grease hole instead of a patchbox, which is traditional for a Southern Mountain rifle. A wax or tallow has been used to fill the grease hole. The breech plug extends down the wrist with a long lollipop tang secured with a domed head tang bolt that engages the triggerplate below, and a wood screw to secure the end of the tang. The slender iron triggerguard is shaped with rounded ends and has been screwed into position in traditional fashion. The forearm ends with a shoulder at the ramrod entry pipe, in typical fashion for rifles of this region. The muzzle end is fitted with a muzzle cap and the stock is shaped to provide easy access to the ramrod. Three 3/8" diameter ramrod pipes secure the ramrod to the rifle. The ramrod is fitted with a steel tip with 10-32 threads for loading and cleaning accessories. The lock is secured with two lock bolts through individual sideplates. The forward sideplate is a washer style, while the rear is a regionally correct lozenge style. The square cheek piece is shaped with a molded edge and gives the shooter a comfortable place to align the sights.
The rifle is fitted with a late classic Ketland lock by Jim Chambers. This attractive medium size rifle lock is based on large Siler internal lock parts. The plate is shaped in the style of popular imported English flintlock from the 1790 to 1820 era. The tail of the lock plate is slightly lower than the raised panel that forms the lock plate, separated by an attractive molding. The raised panel is surrounded by a chamfered edge. We recommend our 3/4" knapped English flints for best performance in this flintlock. The R.E. Davis assembled double lever double set trigger is correctly adjusted, to allow the lock to be cocked, or the trigger set, in any sequence. You may fire the lock with the triggers set, or unset, for target, or hunting. Adjust the screw between the two triggers, inboard to reduce set trigger release pressure, our outboard to require a stronger pressure. The set trigger can provide very light release, perhaps an ounce or two, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather.
This flintlock longrifle is neatly fitted with patina finished lock, barrel, and hand forge iron furniture. 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.
