Tennessee Mountain Rifle

My apologies for the terrible photography, just can't get the hang of it.
I really like these guns, so I made one. 50", .50cal Bobby Hoyt barrel, L&R small Manton, modified lock, DST triggers, Black walnut wood from a blank. The rest I fabricated. The bag and horn seemed fitting for the gun, dunno.
Any comments pro or con would be appreciated.





Thanks,
Robby

You know, it's always hard to make statements about handmade rifles because seeing a picture versus actually handling a firearm and seeing it up close are two entirely different things. That said, from a general sense, I really love the gun and it appears that you did a great job. It's very beautiful with very nice lines yet understated like a Tennessee rifle should be. Good job.

Really fine, sleek looking rifle! Love the buttplate.

That thing's a beauty!

No appologies required.

You sure know your way around the shop. That's simply a beautiful rifle.

Lookin' fine. I would love to hold.
Wat is your opin of the L&R lock? On this forum, I seem to stand alone in liking them.

I had to go out and try it, even though its terrible windy, and not steady, lots of gusts!!!
I'm in love! it holds and shoots great.
The target shows the first five shots from a rest. First shot at one hundred yards was at a milk jug, it exploded beautifully. :grin:

Got to go clean her up.
Robby

:thumbsup: I like it.

Now if I was to change it I would have less height in the wrist (taken from the top) and a smaller back lock bolt side piece. :v

That's a great looking rifle !! :thumbsup: Wood & finish looks very nice, buttplate is very nice. I also would have taken more of the top of the wrist to make it more slender & the nose of the comb more prominent, 2" shorter rail on the triggerguard, and longer RR pipes, and more slim on the Rear lockplate. However, you made it the way You wanted it & that is what is the most important thing.

But it is a beautiful rifle for sure. Ya did a nice job on it. :wink:

Keith Lisle

Here's an original fullstock Southern rifle in percussion. Sorry for the flash on the top, it made me jump too. :shocked2:

Very similar to yours. As you can see, the wrist is flatter on top, like the guys were describing, yet the wrist is not as slender. I think the slender wrist is much nicer looking.

Beautiful rifle you have there. :thumbsup: Bill

Robbie
I can't imagine a negative comment on that rig! :thumbsup: [and it's even built "right sided"]
Macon

Thanks for the comments fellows, both + and - :grin: . Some of the things mentioned I did address while in the process. The side plate I made did look to big to me and I made another out of an index card that was proportionately smaller, for some reason I decided to go with the larger one and regretted it as soon as it was inlet, but these are the decisions we make. Kieth, thank you for the kind words and I have to say it was seeing a couple of your guns that helped pushed me over the edge in making one of these guns. On the grip rail, I did think it would have looked better if it was shorter, but I made the gun for me and the way I hold it, the return at the end of the rail is right at the edge of the palm of my hand and I figured if I made it shorter it would dig in upon recoil, so I opted for the longer version. I really did enjoy beating that steel around in the making of the guard and butt plate, and gained some something in the process that I would not have if I had bought them.
While shaping the area from the breech to the nose comb I think I had two things in the back of my mind that probably had a bearing on how it ended up the way it is. The weight of the barrel versus my lack of confidence in the strength of black walnut. If I hold the gun up and view it in silhouette, from the side straight on, there is a good clean, proportional transition through the area, if i tilt it a little, like shown in the photo's, it does look kind of heavy and clumsy.
After all the guns I have made I have to say removing wood is still the toughest decision making I do.
I'm not taking issue with Roy or Kieth, because I agree with them, just trying to give a little insight to my decision making along the way. I have the greatest respect for both of your abilities and really appreciate your critique. I'm going to live with it a while and decide later on if I might take that down, it wouldn't be the first time.
Thanks again!!
Robby

It is a beautiful rifle, no doubt about it. You did nothing wrong..... just others may have done a few things differently. :idunno: No different than mine... People look at them & say "Oh I like this or that, but would have changed this or that". And I like that, as it opens my eyes to other options & ways of doing things I may not have thought of.

Also, everyone is now allot more lenient on the styling of TN & Southern rifles than they used to be, since so many old rifles have come out of the closets in the past 5-10 years. It is amazing how many of these old rifles were hid away &finally some of them are now being seen at CLA, Norris, etc. And it really inspiring to find they were NOT all Bean or Bull or whatever & if they don't look like them, they are wrong. No, they are not wrong, they are different. There are hundreds of variations of them & really opened my eyes to what was really made, rather than just what few were in books.

Keith Lisle

Looks great Robby :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I love everything about it. Especially the long grip rail, and bow. It really makes the wrist seem longer, and more slender. That 50' barrel also adds to it. Almost a bit Soddy in appearance. Gonna have to add you to my list of Contemporary Southern gun makers, since I own guns by Keith, Bookie, Ken Guy, and Hershel House. Now ya just have to learn how to put an English lock on the right side for a right hander. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Bill

Thanks Bill! I'm thinking this is probably my last left handed gun. Thank to all of you for the good words. Other than family and a few people at the range, you guys are the only ones that see these guns, so this is very encouraging to me!
Robby

Love the gun :bow:
I was told by the eye doctor that I am left eye dominate even tho I am right handed.
I may have to try a left hand ML some time.
Since the Wife is left handed it wouldn't be a waste of money and a good reason to buy another muzzleloader :thumbsup:

How did I miss this post??
Robby, I cannot imagine a negative response to this rifle. WHat a beauty!! But what to expect from you, nothing less than that.

Add me to the "like it" group. :thumbsup:
the long barrel lends a nice look.
/mike

:thumbsup: :hatsoff: