Alfred Gross was a gunsmith and farmer in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He was born there in 1822 and lived until 1902. The 1860 census lists Gross as a farmer who owned $2300 in real estate and personal property valued at $500. In 1863, he enrolled in the Owen White's Company of Sullivan County Reserves. In addition, he was an ordained Deacon of the New Bethel Presbyterian Church in 1882. The rifle features a full octagon barrel with a brass front sight with silver blade. Buckhorn rear sight. The barrel is inlaid with a coin silver rectangle on the top flat engraved "A.F.G." The long barrel tang extends to the comb and terminates in a point. This rifle is featured in a 1970 presentation paper titled "Tennessee Rifles" by Robin C. Hale at a meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors at Houston, Texas. It is shown on page 16 with 3 different views. According to Louie Parker's notes, the rifle was featured on the Today Show in 1962. This very ornate East Tennessee rifle has a full octagon barrel with swamped muzzle and a silver 5/16" band inlaid across all flats about 1/2" behind the muzzle. On each flat in front of the band, there are engraved triangles. The brass sight block features a silver blade, sight has been moved forward, and there is an empty dovetail behind it. The notched rear sight has a 2 - 7/8" silver inlay on the top flat engraved with a hand reaching for a flintlock rifle. Behind the sight there is a massive 8" silver inlaid plaque that reads "MADE*BY*ALFRED*F*GROSS*WARRANTED*IF*WELL*USED". The barrel tang extends all the way to the buttplate tang and is inlaid with 6 spaced silver bands. The flat lock has a rounded tail with stamp-engraved designs and is marked "G. GOULCHER" in the center. The rifle has double-set triggers. The silver furniture includes a 3-piece patchbox with a pierced heart on the finial. Silver sideplate with engraved border and foliate motifs in center. Silver ramrod ferules, nosecap, buttplate, and toeplate. The trigger guard, unique to Gross, is iron with a thick sheet of silver that was soldered and riveted to the iron. There are 32 silver inlays in total, excluding the silver furniture. Most of the inlays are engraved. One of the most interesting is the man under the moon inlaid on the left side of the cheekpiece, engraved with a face and jacket line. Other motifs include hearts, a cross, and half moons. There are inlays on each side of the barrel tang, toward the breech. Figured maple stock of classic East Tennessee architecture. Complete with an original wooden ramrod.
CONDITION: Barrel retains a pleasing brown patina; barrel markings and inlays are excellent. Lock retains a brown patina and appears to be a very good professional reconversion and has been replaced, as it is pictured in 1970 with a different lock. All silver inlays retain a pleasing soft patina. Stock retains its original finish and wear beneath a later coat of finish. A small piece above front lock tang has been replaced. Inlay above lockplate on right side of barrel tang is a replacement. Patchbox lid dented. A very important, impressive and well-documented ornate rifle signed by an important Tennessee maker.
From the Louie Parker Collection.
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