Advice needed. Tennessee rifle.

[BillingsDave]

My first post here. Great forum! It's time to build another rifle. I have built two rifles. One representative of a 1890 LeHigh Valley, and and also an early Lancaster Valley rifle. This time I would like to build one representative of what my great great grandfather might have carried when left Tennessee to move to Southwest Missouri in 1852. I know it it impossible to know exactly what he might have carried. Here is some background. He was born in Lincoln county Tennessee (south central Tennessee on the the Alabama border) in 1832. When we was 17 he volunteered for service in the Mexican war and served under General Scott during his push to Mexico City. In 1852 when he was 21 he, along with his wife and child, joined a wagon train from Lincoln county bound for Missouri. He eventually settled in Christain county Missouri.
Again, I know that it is impossible to know exactly what he might have carried, but if you were going to build a rifle representative of what he MIGHT have carried, what would it be? Thanks

[gunmaker]

Your correct, no way to really know just what he might a packed.  Perhaps a Tennessee "Hog" rifle, walnut full stock, forged iron trim, English cap lock, or flint--maybe it was his pappy's gun ? set triggers.  Or a Hardware store rifle, 1/2 stock,  a trade rifle type, leman, Henry, Dimmick ??
 Make what you like....Tom

[Rocklock]

A SxS shotgun would be a good guess.
TC

[Hanshi]

Welcome to our camp, BillingsDave.  

[pa dutchman]

He may have carried a rifle by one of the gunmakers from the Lincoln County area by the name of Bearden. Jerry Noble, in his books on the Tennessee rifles show several Bearden guns. My wife's family also left Lincoln Co about the same time as yours and settled in north central Arkansas. She is actually a Bearden descendent, though not thru one of the known gunmakers.
Mark Poley

[BillingsDave]

He may have carried a rifle by one of the gunmakers from the Lincoln County area by the name of Bearden. Jerry Noble, in his books on the Tennessee rifles show several Bearden guns. My wife's family also left Lincoln Co about the same time as yours and settled in north central Arkansas. She is actually a Bearden descendent, though not thru one of the known gunmakers.
Mark Poley

Thanks Mark. I have been doing some research since I first posted and discovered that Alfred Bearden and my GG grandfather lived within 2 miles of each other. They were also both Freemasons as I am, and Bearden was actively producing rifles during the correct time period. So after I do a lot more research a Bearden inspired rifle it will be.

[ridjrunr]

Looking forward to see what you build.

[Riley/MN]

Howdy Dave Welcome!

Keep us posted on your shooter build!