Mulebrain, thank you for posting about this rifle. I recall reading about it in your previous post, Log Cabin Rifle, A Fascinating Piece of History. I was actually thinking about this remarkable weapon a couple of days ago, and the update is appreciated. I know the previous thread generated a lot of speculation about the stock finish. Have you figured out what was used?
I had not noticed that unusual lock panel before, and I find it interesting that your research turned up another rifle with similar carving. Do you know where the rifle on Guns International was made?
We have several original rifles in the family collection, including four from the hills of Tennessee. None of our rifles are flintlocks, although a couple are probably conversions. All of the civilian rifles in our family collection have double-set triggers, and out of the ten or so pieces, I think one had a fly in the tumbler. None of the mountain rifles had a fly. All of these were without a half-cock notch in the tumbler, and I believe they all have single-phase double-set triggers. This means the triggers must be set to fire the rifle, and must be set to cock the hammer. The hammer has two positions: Full down, or full cock. It sounds as if your log cabin rifle has a similar arrangement, which I believe must have been common.
The hashmarks may very well be a tally of some sort. In his memoir, Forty Years on the Frontier, Granville Stuart mentioned a rifle that had a tally of deer killed, marked on the inside of the patchbox lid:
Anyway, I like everything about your log cabin rifle. I'm glad it is in the hands of someone who appreciates it. I'm sure we all look forward to hearing more as this rifle's story unfolds.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
I had not noticed that unusual lock panel before, and I find it interesting that your research turned up another rifle with similar carving. Do you know where the rifle on Guns International was made?
We have several original rifles in the family collection, including four from the hills of Tennessee. None of our rifles are flintlocks, although a couple are probably conversions. All of the civilian rifles in our family collection have double-set triggers, and out of the ten or so pieces, I think one had a fly in the tumbler. None of the mountain rifles had a fly. All of these were without a half-cock notch in the tumbler, and I believe they all have single-phase double-set triggers. This means the triggers must be set to fire the rifle, and must be set to cock the hammer. The hammer has two positions: Full down, or full cock. It sounds as if your log cabin rifle has a similar arrangement, which I believe must have been common.
The hashmarks may very well be a tally of some sort. In his memoir, Forty Years on the Frontier, Granville Stuart mentioned a rifle that had a tally of deer killed, marked on the inside of the patchbox lid:
Anyway, I like everything about your log cabin rifle. I'm glad it is in the hands of someone who appreciates it. I'm sure we all look forward to hearing more as this rifle's story unfolds.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
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