Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: Lady of the Woods on September 22, 2008, 09:37:28 PM

Title: Here she is!
Post by: Lady of the Woods on September 22, 2008, 09:37:28 PM
Greetings Gentlemen and Ladies,
My new baby has arrived! She is a Homer Dangler authentic reproduction of an Early Virginia rifle from roughly the 1780s. She's a .50 caliber with a 42" swamped octagonal colrain barrel with a 1-66" twist. The lock is a Siler, assembled by Walter Cain. The lock plate is a Peter Barry style and is now engraved with her name: Lady of the Woods. The carving is exquisite! You won't be able to see the folk art, but it is gorgeous and Mr. Dangler tells me the cow birds are very typical of the southern style as is the very large flower on the patch box. She really is an heirloom!
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll124/Ladyofthewoods/IMGP2697.jpg)(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll124/Ladyofthewoods/IMGP2664.jpg)(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll124/Ladyofthewoods/IMGP2713.jpg)
I will of course submit a field report once I get her out to the range.
I had the great opportunity to talk with Mr. and Mrs. Dangler for about an hour or so Sunday evening when I picked her up and they are lovely lovely people. I am quite certain that the rifle is well worth far more than I paid for her. Not only for the incredible workmanship, quality and beauty, but because of the fine man who built her.

Suzanne Dennis
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Post by: Chairslayer on September 22, 2008, 09:39:33 PM
Let me be the first to say WOW! and congratulations.
If the "lady of the woods" shoots as good as THE LADY OF THE WOODS, she'll be a tack driver!
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Post by: Spotted Bull on September 22, 2008, 09:41:57 PM
Congratulations, M'Lady!!!!And let me be the second to say WOW!
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Post by: jbullard1 on September 22, 2008, 09:51:25 PM
HHHOOOOOWWWWEEEEE
Now that's a beauty  :shake
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Post by: Elksong on September 22, 2008, 10:17:21 PM
very nice!
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Post by: deadfallpaul on September 22, 2008, 10:23:44 PM
Beautiful work!!!
You should be proud of that one!!
Good Luck with her and be sure to let us know how she shoots.
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Post by: butterchurn on September 22, 2008, 10:46:26 PM
Marvelous, Zan, a real piece of art!  You will cherish her for years to come.
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Post by: oomcurt on September 23, 2008, 12:15:09 AM
Man oh man!!! I am impressed! That is about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! I wish you all the luck and enjoyment in the world using that rifle.

All the Best,
Curt
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Post by: Indiana on September 23, 2008, 12:30:30 AM
I expect to see (shoot ;) :P )
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Post by: Uncle Russ on September 23, 2008, 12:33:04 AM
Nice, exceptionally nice!

Congratulations on owning such a fine, fine gun.  :shake
I have never owned a really nice rifle, and I suspect if owned that little jewell, I would just end up baby'n it to death, and never get no real use out of it!

Uncle Russ..
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Post by: R.M. on September 23, 2008, 12:43:02 AM
I just can't expand on what everyone else has said, but is really is a beauty.
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Post by: melsdad on September 23, 2008, 06:40:20 AM
All that is left to say is, that is a fine looking rifle. And I am extremely jealous. :lol:
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Post by: Gambia on September 23, 2008, 06:40:59 AM
Congrats Zan, that is a once in a lifetime event, at least on my budget it is a once in a lifetime event. I would be too afraid to walk out side the house with such a beauty, I have her all scratched and one heck of a mess. great piece to pass down to the next generation also. Congrats again ya' lucky lady.
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Post by: Roaddog on September 23, 2008, 07:10:50 AM
Zan I'm very happy for you. I know you'll do Laddy Of The Woods proud at the raing and on a hunt.
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Post by: snake eyes on September 23, 2008, 07:20:31 AM
Suzanne,
              Lady,I sure can't add much to what has been said
already. I like Griz would be very reluctent to take such a
beautiful piece of atristry out of the house,let alone into the
woods.It is beautiful! Congratulations on owning it.
snake-eyes :shake
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Post by: Buffler Razz on September 23, 2008, 07:22:33 AM
Verrrrry Nice! I hope she brings you luck and shhots as good as she looks.
Razz
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Post by: Sneakon on September 23, 2008, 08:29:59 AM
That is a sweet gun!  I'm envious.  For sure you will be good for each other.
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Post by: Riley/MN on September 23, 2008, 09:28:42 AM
Sweet!
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Post by: BEAVERMAN on September 23, 2008, 11:08:21 AM
DROOL!!!!!!!!! Very nice Zan, your one lucky Lady!
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Post by: Captchee on September 23, 2008, 05:02:25 PM
nice peice . bet you cant wait to shoot it  ;)
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Post by: riverrat on September 23, 2008, 07:02:11 PM
Beautiful Gun!!  That Pensylvania folk art always send my mind a wondering.  Shoot it in good health!
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Post by: Chairslayer on September 23, 2008, 07:04:04 PM
What you guys want to bet Zan's at the range right now?
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Post by: Pitchy on September 23, 2008, 07:15:31 PM
She`s a beauty.  :)
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Post by: Mule Brain on September 23, 2008, 09:49:46 PM
That is a really nice rifle!  I look forward to you posting some more daylight photos of that beauty!
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Post by: Lady of the Woods on September 23, 2008, 11:32:20 PM
thank you all! Yes, she is all you said and more! Nope, still haven't been out to the range yet... 48 hours and counting. I swear I could just about sleep with it!
You can be she aint a wall hanger at my house! I told Mr. Dangler that she's my "go to" rifle, I'll hunt with her, take her to rendezvous and you can bet I'll compete with her. He seemed to like that. Said there were enough wall hangers out there.

I'll be sure to post pix as I get them. thank you for your kind words. She deserves it all! (me - I'm just a carrier at this point) ha ha.
z
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Post by: WhiteBlanket on September 25, 2008, 10:39:37 AM
That's truly lovely rifle, Madame! I have no doubt but that she will be deadly accurate in your hands.

M. Etienne de la Haye

Whiteblanket
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Post by: sse on September 25, 2008, 02:09:21 PM
Wow.  Such a great acquisition.  Maybe you can take some more pictures of the piece so we can get a better look at all the unique qualities.  I hope you get her shootin dead on...!
Title: here she is!
Post by: Lady of the Woods on October 06, 2008, 09:51:39 PM
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll124/Ladyofthewoods/CopyofLotWfirstshots.jpg)
yep, she shoots purty good!
I love her more now than I did before, and I didn't think that was possible!
z
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Post by: Spotted Bull on October 06, 2008, 10:05:20 PM
I wish I could shoot that well......


great job, M'Lady!!
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Post by: Chairslayer on October 06, 2008, 10:49:21 PM
Nice shooting. Whats that one off to the left? Mosquito bite you in the ear just as you squeezed her off? Must have been something like that because I've seen you shoot. :lol:

Duh. Forgot to ask what kind of load you were using.
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Post by: Roaddog on October 07, 2008, 06:38:48 AM
It looks like you shoot purty good too. I'm gld to see you tow are getting along so well.
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Post by: jtwodogs on December 30, 2008, 10:57:38 AM
These rifles that I see so often on here are not just for the most part shooters. But actual works of art in every sense of the word.

I have my share of plastic and stainless steel. To me these are tools. Something like the "Lady of the woods", is IMHO to be taken in like a fine piece of art. Does that sound crazy, oh well call me crazy.
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Post by: Captchee on December 30, 2008, 11:14:11 AM
Quote from: "jack simpson"
These rifles that I see so often on here are not just for the most part shooters. But actual works of art in every sense of the word.

I have my share of plastic and stainless steel. To me these are tools. Something like the "Lady of the woods", is IMHO to be taken in like a fine piece of art. Does that sound crazy, oh well call me crazy.
no not really jack . the point however though is not only are they art  but they are also  working guns .
i  know the ones i make  are intended to be used , it actually saddens me when they are not .
 The thing about these rifles is they IMO actually grow more graceful  and pleasing to the eye with age and use . Its almost as if they grown  with knowledge . While at the same time one that never gets used , always looks brand new . We can woooo and ohhhhh over them but  we  cant really wonder at all they have seen .
 Kinda like picking up  an old original SXS  that’s in poor shape . While the lines are still there and we can tell that at one time she was a  wonderful piece , we also  stand in aaaaahh at the possibilities of all its life experiences . The things is has seen , gone , experienced .  We wonder at all the different people who may have held her , used her . The things those people experienced saw ??? Its all there .
 While it to is still a work of art . That art takes second seat to  her  history that’s hidden within its life.


Lady of the woods rifle will be one of these .
 Many years down the road  her granddaughter or grand sons  may wonder at this rifle .
100 years from now  maybe her great grand children will  see its grace and patina. Maybe heft it and feel the warmth of the stock  and thus  wonder about lady of the woods and who she was .
  Maybe 100 years from now the  rifle will be in poor shape , maybe the   quality of art will be  mostly lost  . But to  those of  us with the  feelings for these rifles . If such people  still exist 100-150 years from now . They will pick her up and  feel her spirit  just as we today pick up an original rifle from  150-200 years ago .
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Post by: medbill on December 30, 2008, 09:45:44 PM
She certainly is a beauty and well said Charles!  Enjoy and best of luck with your fine rifle.
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Post by: Swamp on December 31, 2008, 12:24:05 AM
She has your eyes Zan!  :rt th

Well said Capt! I totally agree with your statement.
Title: Re: Here she is!
Post by: Renegade on January 06, 2009, 07:39:27 AM
I have 2 words  AWE SOME
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Post by: jerry on January 06, 2009, 05:22:41 PM
Now that looks like a mighty fine rifle you got there little Lady. My best opinion she'll make you proud whenever you take her out for a spell. Good luck with Her and congradulations..
Jerry
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Post by: pathfinder on January 07, 2009, 05:33:56 PM
That is one fine rifle!!! I've had the pleasure of shooting and talking with Mr. Dangler for a great number of years in Tecumseh. A finer gentleman you'll not find. ALWAYS helpful if you have gun questions or just shoot the breeze over a bowl of Hack's bean soup! You'll love the gun :shake
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Post by: Lady of the Woods on February 09, 2009, 10:27:36 PM
Thanks again for the nice compliments, she's a shooter alright, not a wallhanger!

you are sure right Pathfinder! Mr. Dangler is a true gentleman and a pleasure to work with! I honestly feel that the hour or two he spent with me after I bought her made it even more special to me.

My only regret is I just can't seem to get out and shoot her enough! time sure is a tough commodity to come by aint it!
Zan