The unique style of Southern Mountain rifles originated from the Western Carolinas into Eastern Tennessee during the late 18th and early 19th century. This Tennessee Mountain rifle is stocked in maple and trimmed in browned iron furniture with a very light patina. Antique Southern Mountain rifles are ofter trimmed in iron furniture, with hardware store locks, and double set triggers. This rifle is fitted with a L&R Durs Egg flintlock, and R.E. Davis double lever double set triggers. This example is a very classic Southern Mountain rifle with a heavy barrel and moderate caliber for shooting from a rest, or "over the log". This rifle is stocked with a 13-1/2" trigger reach, for a average size shooter and weighs 9.5 pounds.

The Colerain .40 caliber cut rifled barrel measures 38" by 15/16" octagon. Colerain rifle barrels are drilled from solid steel, cut rifled with six “round bottom" grooves with a 1 in 48" twist. Called “radius groove rifling", Colerain eliminates the sharp inside corner that accumulates fouling. Radius groove rifling cutters are a bit more expensive to make, but Colerain's customers agree that the accuracy, easy loading, and easy cleaning are worth the cost. We recommend our .395" pure lead round ball, patched with .017" Ox-Yoke lubricated ticking for best accuracy. The muzzle is fitted with a brass blade front sight and a semi-buckhorn rear sight is dovetailed 9" ahead of the breech.

The maple stock is finished to a brown with a golden undertone. This mountain rifle omits the muzzle cap but does have the classic Tennessee style buttplate and patchbox. All of the iron furniture; triggerguard, ramrod pipes, are finished to a matte brown with just a hint of patina texture. The deep crescent buttplate is in the style of those formed from sheet stock on period guns. The buttplate screws are neatly aligned with the barrel. The barrel is breeched with a long lollipop tang that extends down the wrist. The long "iron banana" patchbox is similar in style to antique rifles by Bean of Tennessee. The door has a spring catch at the base and opens to reveal a cut cavity for storing flints, jags, or other shooting accessories.

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 triggerguard is securely mounted to the stock with pins. The ramrod entry pipe has a skirt and the forward pipes are plain, undecorated in typical fashion. The 3/8 diameter ramrod is fitted with a steel tip threaded 10-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. Two lock bolts are mounted through separate sideplates. The forward sideplate is a tipped tear drop, The rear lock bolt is a lozenge shape. The buttstock is shaped with a square cheek piece.

This rifle is fitted with a L&R Durs Egg flintlock. This lock is a fine London design. Cock jaws direct sparks into the semi-waterproof pan with rain gutters. The fancy frizzen pan cover flange seals the pan. The fancy “frictionless" tumbler and sear have raised bearing rings turned around screw holes, preventing moving parts from rubbing the plate or bridle. Sometimes called a “ghosted" lock, since you can see through the frictionless parts, when viewed from above. We recommend our 3/4" knapped flints for use with this lock. Below the lock a set of R.E. Davis double lever, double set triggers has been 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.

Fast ignition is assured by the stainless 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.

Used, but very well maintained this .40 caliber longrifle has a modest weight, snappy L&R lock, study maple, and well fitted iron trim. It is a very classic Southern Mountain rifle. 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.