Constructed and signed by contemporary gunmaker Brian Turner this Kentucky smoothrifle features brass furniture in the style of Peter Berry, Dauphin County Pennsylvania. Stocked in cherry the wood has been stained a medium brown with reddish undertones. The cherry does have some areas of open grain, which is common to cherry wood. With an overall weight of 7.3 pounds and a trigger reach of 13-3/4" this longrifle is perfectly setup for today's average sized shooter. This smoothbore is said to be unfired, but has a number of strikes on the frizzen face from sparking.
The .53 caliber smoothbore Long hammock octagon-to-round barrel is 46" overall. The 7/8" octagon breech is 12-1/4" with a single wedding band to round. The .53 caliber smoothbore is bright and ready to shoot. The barrel is fitted with a browned steel front sight soldered behind the muzzle. The rear sight is 11-1/2" ahead of the breech. The barrel is signed B Turner, between the breech and rear sight.
Stocked in cherry with a reddish undertone. The buttstock is fitted with a tall buttplate with a gentle curve. A metal patchbox with openwork acorn finial head. The patchbox is hand engraved with a folk art style on the head and side panels. The door has a cam over center spring revealing a cut cavity for shooting accessories. The stock does display some open areas of grain, which are common to cherry. This top view shows the flats of the brass buttplate. From the comb the wrist sweeps up to meet the flared tang of the breech plug. A panel of incised carving surrounds the straight tang breech plug.
The toeplate helps to protect the fragile toe area from dents and dings. The toeplate is mounted with two blued steel screws with slightly domed heads. The triggerguard bow is accented with folk art style engraving. Forward the ramrod is retained by two forward pipes and one entry pipe, holding the 3/8" wooden ramrod in position. The ramrod has an brass tip that is treaded 8-32 to accept your loading and cleaning attachments. Viewed from behind the brass sideplate and simple cheek of the rifle can be seen. The lock is held in position by two lock bolts that pass through the stock. The sideplate is finished to match the other brass furniture on the rifle. The buttstock is shaped with a square cheek in rifle fashion and decorated with incised carving. The stock does have some areas of open grain.
Sure-fire ignition is provided by a large Siler flint lock. Finished to match the barrel, the lock plate has a hand forged appearance, and has a matte textured non-glare surface finish. This smoothrifle will not shine, or glare in the field. Our photography tends to exaggerate the matte texture of the surfaces. We recommend our 3/4" knapped English flints, #FLINT-ENG-6, for best performance in this lock. The double lever double set triggers are properly tuned to fire from the set or unset position. You may cock the lock before or after setting the trigger.
Fast ignition is assured by the stainless vent liner, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.
In excellent condition this Kentucky smooth rifle will be a joy to own and shoot. The 28 gauge bore will make it a great hunting piece. With a mirror bright bore and stock that is in very good condition this longrifle would look good on the wall, in the cabinet or at the range.
