Shown here is a previously unpublished John Davidson rifle. It was made for a farmer in Rockbridge county and is still in the family. While the rifle is the victim of a very poor restoration job many years ago, there is still considerable artistic merit to the rifle.
The rifle is mostly intact. The original nose piece is missing as is the trigger guard. The guard on the rifle now does not belong by any stretch of the imagination. It was just stuck on there so there would be a guard. Missing wood in the forearm and around the lock and tang was replaced with body putty, but the thimbles appear to be original as does the lock plate with a period conversion from flint to percussion. The best part of the rifle, the butt stock, with the wonderful engraved patchbox and unique cheek side carving, is intact.
Rather than further describe the rifle, I will let the photographs speak for themselves. I do have to beg your indulgence for any deficiencies in the photographs. They were, by necessity, taken at the owners house, outside, on a sunny, windy day, in the partial shade of a large tree. It is amazing they turned out as well as they did.
PDF Data Sheet for John Davidson Rifle
Excel Data Sheet for John Davidson Rifle
