"Traditional" Kentucky Rifle?

[starman]

When somebody is referring to a "traditional” Kentucky rifle, such as one used in Daniel Boone's day, does that mean a flintlock or precession rifle? Thanks.

 

[Pete G]

Usually flint, but a lot were later converted.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Daniel Boone would have used a flintlock.

Percussion guns are much later, think 1830s and beyond.

 

[Zonie]

For what it's worth, the Muzzleloading Forum considers any muzzleloader type or style that was made before 1865 as a "Traditional muzzleloader".

 

[olskool]

I have heard that a lot of the mountain men stuck with the flintlocks even after the cap locks came on the scene, because they could pick flint up off the ground, but when they ran out of caps or they got wet they were left with a club,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[LuVerne Schumann]

Kentucky Rifle is a very vague term, which really doesn't have a precise definition.

They were mainly made in Pennsylvania.

I'd think you could call either a percussion or flint gun a Kentucky Rifle and be ok.

 

[hanshi]

I've always preferred the term "longrifle" for all of them.

 

[Col. Batguano]

The proper or more generic term is "American Long Rifle", but the term "Kentucky rifle" has been espoused by the popular press of the time to romanticize the rugged spirit of the people of the westward expansion and the arms carried there by them. The term stuck.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

A possibly ignorant question then: is the southern mountain rifle, which I've always heard as a form of American long gun, just a Virginia form (perhaps a little less fancy) than the Pennsylvania style? Are these styles cousins, as it were?

 

[EC121]

A "southern mountain rifle" is usually a rifle built in the South(Va. and below) up in the western mountains away from the coastal areas and even into Tenn. and Ky.. They are plainer and of a different style than coastal built rifles. Because the builders moved in from other areas, the Piedmont and coastal rifles favor the more traditional styles. The SMRs were developed by the local builders, blacksmiths, and others. There were some elegant rifles built, but they don't fit into the Pa./Ky. style. Bill Ivey's book has some great examples to study. They don't all look like the generic Tenn. rifles we see for sale. Mel Hankla's new book has some great pictures of the real Kentucky schools of building.

 

[tenngun]

There is a lot of variations and modern rules old timers didn’t follow.
Early made rifles tended to be bulkier. Virginia rifles tended to be plainer then Pennsylvania rifles, rifles from north Carolina plainer still
Later guns tended to slim. Ohio guns became very dainty.
Brass was popular on early guns, Iron became popular in the south. Silver became popular north and south after 1800.
Many outgrown rifles were brass and silver mounted. Few Pennsylvania guns were in iron. Few guns mixed metals.
Robust guns would reappear for western fur trade and movement. Some of these guns were dainty
Where ever you see a ‘rule’ you will find exceptions.
Saying ‘Kentucky Rifle’ will Mark you as a ‘green horn’ as it’s well known that Kentucky rifles were made in Pennsylvania..... except the large numbers made in Kentucky although Boone’s rifles came from Pennsylvania or Virginia or maybe Maryland.
And we almost ignore Delaware and Connecticut made rifles.
Half stocks would become popular after 1800, full stocks made through the whole of American rifle making.
You can scream augggghhhhh now and start pulling out your hair.
Me after years of studying American rifles