Myron Carlson

A brass tinderbox, a decorated steel, a tow holder and flint, all on a chain. Myron made the set and gave it to T.C. Albert years ago.....

Myron was well known for his work building and restoring southern mountain rifles and was friends with many collectors and builders. He specialized in hand forged iron southern rifle furniture, but made other neat stuff too, like this tinderbox, which he copied from an original.

The brass was annealed in salt brine and pressed into hand made forms with a press to seamlessly shape the top and bottom of the box. The dust seal was soldered in, and the hinges formed and pinned. The steel is hand forged and decorated, including a brass and silver inlay and punch dot work...the german silver tow holder is decorated with scalloped edges the chain is hand made, and the black flint is an old arrow head wired to the chain.

The whole set is quite small, and fits into the palm of your hand. Its a real treasure from the finest craftsman and nicest gentlemen you could ever hope to meet.

Photos supplied by T.C. Albert.

Original That Inspired Roger Sells

Thought you might like to see these and I'm sure Roger wouldn't mind me showing you - he based that sweet little rifle, especially the hardware, on this original that I used to own. Roger got it from me about 4 years ago and is in the process of restoring it to original length and reconverting it.

Over the years that I owned it I showed it to Myron Carlson, and Hershel and Frank House, and all of them thought it to likely be a Bean, and fairly early (1820-30 period). Myron examined it closely several times and said he felt certain of the Bean attribution.

The barrel is swamped, and had been cut by about a foot or so at the breech end and moved back. Maybe to make it easier to carry on horseback or under a wagon or buggy seat. The square tail lock was originally flint and marked "AW Spies Warranted". Unfortunately, the original nosecap and forward thimble were lost when the barrel was moved back, and it has a simple poured lead or pewter nosecap now - the original was probably iron two piece brazed.

The original has a more angular shape to the rear of the lock panels and flat look to the stock through the trigger area, which looks really neat with the square tail lock. But Roger's reproduction really looks great too.

Copy and photos by Guy Montfort.

Contemporary Makers Portraits: Andy Mock

I first started making rifles in 1978. These first Rifles were basic Leman style pieces. My mentor was a wonderful guy that most people really liked. His name was Bill Keel. Both Bill and I had a strong interest in Hawken rifles, and that is what I wanted most to build. Then suddenly my interest changed in about 1980 to Tenn. rifles and then about ten years ago I began to primarily focus on rifles and pistols of John and Elisha Bull. Right now thats where I am, my production is very low and I still have an interest in Hawkens. My favorite rifles to recreate are in the style of the Bulls. My rifles are not copies, but rather pieces that I try to make look like they came from the Bull shop. I am currently finishing up a John Bull and then I am planning to take a break and then start a Baxter Bean style rifle. I got my basic training from Keel, but I am one of these people who enjoys learning new ways to do things. Some other people whom I  have learned from were, the late Myron Carlson, Cliff Gilbreath, and other generous guys who have shared information on how to make and do things-in the historically correct way. Having old rifles to study has been invaluable, of course.

This is the rifle Andy is holding. More pictures of this rifle can be seen here.

More of Andy's work can be seen here.

Copy by Andy Mock with photographs taken at the 2012 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show by Jan Riser.

Mike Brooks

A Squirrel rifle, sports a 48" .25 cal swamped Ed Rayl barrel. A Chambers late ketland lock and Davis triggers. All hand forged iron hardware made by the late Myron Carlson. Stocked in a very hard Sugar Maple. The gun weighs right at 8 lbs.

Copy and photos supplied by Mike Brooks.