New (To Me) Jack Garner Tennessee Rifle

[BigSkyRambler]

Well, I managed to fing a great trade for my Early VA rifle made by Jack Garner: A Tennessee rifle made by Garner! :grin: Fits me much better, both in length, drop and triggerguard shape. It has a 36" straight oct. barrel (Green Mountain, I think), beautiful tiger stripe Maple stock and browned fittings. I want to switch back and forth between perc and flint and have been told by Randy at Tennessee Valley Manufacturing that this should not be a problem, so long as it is the same size and make of lock. As the lock is unmarked, can anyone tell me by the pics what kind of lock it is? From tip to tip it is 5 5/16". I think maybe large Siler, but do not know enough to be certain. :idunno:

Also, besides the babana-style patchbox, what style would fit this rifle in the early 1800s?
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0985.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0986.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0989.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0984.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0983.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0987.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/IMG_0988.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/LOCK.jpg http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/rudybolla/My Tennessee/LOCK2-1.jpg

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Your lock certainly looks like a Siler and 5 5/16" is about right for a large Siler but lots of people have made "Siler" locks over lots of years so there is no guarantee that the lock you buy today will be identical to your present lock.
But another issue, when you say "switch back and forth" do you mean frequently? I ask because the nipple drum must be fitted up very tight against the barrel. Removing and reinstalling it once or twice will likely do no harm but each time it is removed it will not fit quite so tightly as before. It will soon become so loose that to turn it in tight will take the nipple past the hammer fall position. If you intend to switch a couple of times per year you might be better off getting a second barrel, one for flint and one for percussion. That would also give you the option of having two different calibers.
I have one T/C Renegade with four different barrels fitted, three percussion and one flint. Of course that is a half stock with hooked breech so switching barrels is a snap.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

CoyoteJoe:
Probably will switch very infrequently. Plan on using it as a flinter most of the time, but might hunt some in percussion mode. Just hope I can find the right lock that will not take too much tinkering to get working right.
BSR