A pair of Kentucky Rifles

troutcreek · February 15, 2013, 10:17 PM

The original rifle was a gift to my grandmother from a long time family friend. The story is that the rifle was shortened and given as a gift to a young man as his first rifle. The rifle was converted from flintlock to percussion at the same time.

The second rifle was built by my father as a gift to my mother many years ago. As you can see the he was inspired by the original. The barrel length was extended and he went back to the original flintlock ignition. While the pull is a little short it is still comfortable to shoot and reasonably accurate. My mother preferred light charges of FFF (40 to 50 grains) feeling that it improved ignition. I doubt that it made much difference, that said she shot it extremly well and lock time was quick and reliable.

Thank you for looking, I hope you enjoy.

Bishop Creek · February 15, 2013, 11:05 PM

I did enjoy. Both the original and copy are beautiful rifles. I really love percussion and flintlock Kentucky style rifles. Fun to shoot and a joy to handle.

Sarge · February 15, 2013, 11:09 PM

Those are beautiful, Troutcreek. Thank you for posting them.

the Black Spot · February 16, 2013, 01:17 AM

Very nice!

TurkeyOak · February 16, 2013, 01:36 AM

Outstanding guns with a great story. Nice to see these classics instead of a bunch of black plastic tactical stuff for a change.

tranders · February 16, 2013, 05:21 AM

Good looking rifles.
Thanks for sharing

Doc Hoy · February 16, 2013, 06:47 AM

The provenence is a good ingredient to the overal picture.

Pilot · February 16, 2013, 07:56 AM

Those look just like Pennsylvania rifles to me.

Hawg Haggen · February 16, 2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Those look just like Pennsylvania rifles to me.

Pennsylvania/Kentucky, same thing.

Those are very nice rifles.

troutcreek · February 16, 2013, 01:09 PM

I used the term Kentucky Rife in it’s generic term. The following link is an excellent write up regarding the name. http://johno.myiglou.com/kyrifle.htm
Thanks for the interest in the rifles.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · February 16, 2013, 01:27 PM

Rifles are very nice. And the history you've written is indeed interesting. Curious about one thing troutcreek. Do you have an idea when these events happened?
A ball park answer concerning the dates would be more than sufficient. I like a good old time story like everyone else here. But when there dated. Sir that makes it even more interesting for us history buffs._

Shotput79 · February 16, 2013, 11:16 PM

I agree. Those are very nice rifles troutcreek. Think you for showing them.

BirchOrr · February 17, 2013, 09:26 PM

Beautiful! LOVED the story.

Loved the curly maple stocks too!

Birch

troutcreek · February 17, 2013, 09:42 PM

Rifles are very nice. And the history you've written is indeed interesting. Curious about one thing troutcreek. Do you have an idea when these events happened?
A ball park answer concerning the dates would be more than sufficient. I like a good old time story like everyone else here. But when there dated. Sir that makes it even more interesting for us history buffs._
__________________

Good point Sure Shot...
I don’t recall all the details but I’ve been Investigating.

The original rifle was owned by John Shaw (the young man). I met Mr. Shaw when I was quite young in the late 50’s, he was elderly at the time. He seemed ancient to me but I was 6 or 7 years old so my perspective may not have been the best. Like I said before he was a good friend of my Grandparents. My Grandmother in particular who helped and befriended him. I believe John passed away in the early 60’s but don’t know the year. I don’t exactly know why but I believe that Mr. Shaw was born and raised in Michigan (I’m trying to confirm this now). The rifle ownership passed to my Grandmother in the 60’s then to my parents in the early 70’s.

The flintlock version was made by my father Raymond Taylor sometime between 1976 to 1980 and my gut feel is that it was made in 1979.

Take care, I wish I knew more..

Rifleman1776 · February 18, 2013, 10:59 AM

Look like nice rifles. Wish the photography was better.
Great heritage in both.

February 15, 2013, 11:09 PM	#3
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 4,349	Those are beautiful, Troutcreek. Thank you for posting them. __________________ Visit us at The Sixgun Journal or the archive, at http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/

February 16, 2013, 01:36 AM	#5
TurkeyOak Member Join Date: February 10, 2011 Location: North Georgia Posts: 52	A pair of Kentucky Rifles Outstanding guns with a great story. Nice to see these classics instead of a bunch of black plastic tactical stuff for a change.

February 16, 2013, 06:47 AM	#7
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 3,340	Yes... The provenence is a good ingredient to the overal picture. __________________ Doc My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. Thomas Jefferson

February 16, 2013, 07:56 AM	#8
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 3,153	Those look just like Pennsylvania rifles to me. __________________ Pilot

February 17, 2013, 09:26 PM	#13
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 204	Beautiful! *LOVED* the story. Loved the curly maple stocks too! Birch __________________ “A man who opens a case in hunting camp and lifts out a single-shot BP rifle makes a statement about himself. It may be quite unconscious, or it may be pure egotistical one-upmanship, but it does project the image of a superior marksman and a hunter of above-average skills.”

February 15, 2013, 11:05 PM	#2
Bishop Creek Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Posts: 195	I did enjoy. Both the original and copy are beautiful rifles. I really love percussion and flintlock Kentucky style rifles. Fun to shoot and a joy to handle.

February 16, 2013, 01:17 AM	#4
the Black Spot Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: arkansas Posts: 93	Very nice!

February 16, 2013, 05:21 AM	#6
tranders Member Join Date: December 5, 2001 Location: Frankfort Indiana Posts: 41	Good looking rifles. Thanks for sharing

February 16, 2013, 01:27 PM	#11
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Need to know basis only Posts: 922	Rifles are very nice. And the history you've written is indeed interesting. Curious about one thing troutcreek. Do you have an idea when these events happened? A ball park answer concerning the dates would be more than sufficient. I like a good old time story like everyone else here. But when there dated. Sir that makes it even more interesting for us history buffs._

February 16, 2013, 11:16 PM	#12
Shotput79 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: NC Posts: 171	I agree. Those are very nice rifles troutcreek. Think you for showing them.

February 17, 2013, 09:42 PM	#14
troutcreek Member Join Date: August 10, 2012 Location: Southern Washington on the Columbia River Posts: 59	Rifles are very nice. And the history you've written is indeed interesting. Curious about one thing troutcreek. Do you have an idea when these events happened? A ball park answer concerning the dates would be more than sufficient. I like a good old time story like everyone else here. But when there dated. Sir that makes it even more interesting for us history buffs._ __________________ Good point Sure Shot... I don’t recall all the details but I’ve been Investigating. The original rifle was owned by John Shaw (the young man). I met Mr. Shaw when I was quite young in the late 50’s, he was elderly at the time. He seemed ancient to me but I was 6 or 7 years old so my perspective may not have been the best. Like I said before he was a good friend of my Grandparents. My Grandmother in particular who helped and befriended him. I believe John passed away in the early 60’s but don’t know the year. I don’t exactly know why but I believe that Mr. Shaw was born and raised in Michigan (I’m trying to confirm this now). The rifle ownership passed to my Grandmother in the 60’s then to my parents in the early 70’s. The flintlock version was made by my father Raymond Taylor sometime between 1976 to 1980 and my gut feel is that it was made in 1979. Take care, I wish I knew more..

February 18, 2013, 10:59 AM	#15
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,836	Look like nice rifles. Wish the photography was better. Great heritage in both.