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. Antique Southern Mountain rifles are often trimmed in hand forged iron furniture, with hardware store locks. This rifle is fitted with an L&R Durs Egg percussion lock and double set triggers. New, unfired this rifle was assembled by contemporary builder G. B. Nelson and is signed on the top flat of the barrel. This rifle is stocked with a 13-3/8" trigger reach, for an average size shooter. This trim longrifle weighs only 7.2 pounds, and will be a pleasure to carry afield.

The .54 caliber 42" swamped octagon barrel is thickest at the breech for strength, tapers to a narrow waist to reduce weight, and flares at the muzzle to align the sights. The bore is cut rifled with six radius bottom grooves with a slow twist for shooting patched round balls. Colerain rifle barrels are the favorite choice of today's best muzzle loading gun makers, because knowledgeable shooters demand Colerain's accuracy, inside and outside. Colerain rifle barrels are drilled from solid steel, cut rifled with six "round bottom" grooves. 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. A tall flat top rear sight is dovetailed 8-1/2" ahead of the breech. A nickel silver blade front sight set in a brass base is dovetailed 1-1/2" behind the muzzle. The barrel is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. The top flat is signed G.B. Nelson and CXXIV just behind the rear sight. The long lollipop tang of the breech plug has two bolts that pass through the stock to engage the long trigger plate below, sandwiching the wrist and adding strength. The slots on the two tang bolts are neatly aligned with the barrel. Three small keys retain the barrel to the forearm and pass directly through the stock without the use of escutcheons.

The maple stock is finished to a warm brown with a hint of golden undertone. This mountain rifle is a full dress Tennessee rifle with buttplate, entry pipe, and muzzle cap. All of the iron furniture is finished brown to match the barrel. The rifle is fitted with a handmade buttplate with a long comb and deep curve to engage the shooter's shoulder. The braze line at the joint of the heel can be seen, a nice historical touch. The buttplate screws are neatly aligned with the barrel. The patchbox has a small brass release catch at the top of the door that pushed up to reveal a cut cavity for storing jags or other accessories. The stock is shaped with cast-off for a right hand shooter. Cast-off places the right hand shooter's eye directly behind the line of sight, making it instinctive to point and shoot. This rifle comes up naturally with quick sight alignment.

The triggerguard has a hand forged appearance and is securely mounted to the stock with a screw and pin in traditional fashion. Two steel screws retain the long toeplate. The toeplate protects the fragile toe area, which is otherwise often susceptible to dents and chips during loading and cleaning. The forearm has slender shaping that wraps the barrel all the way to the muzzle. The end grain is protected with a browned steel muzzle cap. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip threaded 8-32 for loading and cleaning accessories. The opposite end is fitted with a brass collar and the ramrod is decorated with a barber pole design. The lock bolt is mounted through two separate tear drop shaped sideplates in classic Tennessee fashion. The buttstock is shaped with a square cheek piece.

Ignition is provided by the L&R Durs Egg percussion lock. Finished in brown, the lock plate has a distinctive English styling, correct for use on Southern rifles of this era. The lock has a strong mainspring, stirrup link, and fly detent, all nice internal features. The Davis double lever double set triggers are tuned to fire the lock set, or unset. The lock and triggers may be cocked or set in any sequence. The trigger plate is very long, extending through the wrist, accepting two tang bolts from above. 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, for accurate aimed shooting during pleasant weather. The handmade early style percussion pan breech with integral flash fence is threaded to the barrel. A brass flash cup surrounds the hardened iron 1/4-28 nipple for No. 11 percussion caps.

This fully dressed Southern rifle has a bright clean bore that is ready to shoot. In new condition, this .54 caliber longrifle has a modest weight and will be a joy to carry on your next big game hunt. It shoulders quickly and will be a pleasure to shoot off-hand. 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.