Tennessee rifle?

[Rat]

We own an original rifle that is much like a "poor boy". It's history is quite well documented...the barrel was indeed shortened at one time, but it's even known when that happened. Barrel is now 33.25", and the gun is in shooting condition. When my father in law first showed me the rifle about 20-30 years ago it had a ball loaded in the barrel without powder, (he even knew who had done that) and we got some powder under the ball and shot it out.

It is stocked in oak. Yes, oak. !! Ramrod thimbles are some kind of sheet steel or iron. It has a "German Silver" trigger guard, but a brass, very curved butt plate. It is a very slender rifle, and in about .38-39 calibre. A patched .375" revolver ball seems to be a perfect fit.

There is no nose-cap, side plate, or anything like that. very plain. Don't know if it had a nose cap when it was still a long-rifle. It does have double-set triggers.

It missed going with the Donner party by two weeks, and was used in some of the "Indian wars" in or around the Oregon territories.

Even with all the known history on the rifle, it's not known where it was made or who made it. (maker's mark is "PB") When it came into the family, two oxen were traded for it. It was obtained from people on a wagon train travling west...so it could have come from Tennessee...??? At any rate, it is very close to what are now called the "Poor boy" rifles.

Rat