Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Smooth Rifles & other flintlocks

What is the best resource to learn about smooth rifles and 18th Century flintlocks? I like the idea of buying a quality smooth rifle in that I have never played with one.

Also, in my mom's family, some type of long rifle that is full octagon with badly oil stained curly maple has been passed down. I would like to get some measurements and pictures and research the history on that rifle. Given that family's history, it could have been used in the Revolutionary War and carried in Texas during the days it was a Republic. The rifle is in really poor condition, but it would be good to find something that replicates its style.

If you are interested in the architecture and a bit of history I'd start with Kindig's "Thoughts On The Kentucky Rifle In It's Golden Age". Book is a bit dated but IMHO still a damn good resource! Lots of pics of lots of long guns!

These are timeless classics


https://www.shumwaypublisher.com/mobile/category.aspx?catid=2

I gotta ask because I don't know. What is a smooth rifle?

I'm guessing a smooth bore. No rifling.

Yes, and some English bore guns I've looked at even have invisible rifling.

Here is an original flint to percussion conversion "smooth rifle" I own. This one, as many, probably started out life with a rifled bore. But with consecutive "freshening" outs left it as about a 24 gauge smoothie. Some smooth rifles began life as smoothbores. They generally all have a rear sight and rifle like architecture. As opposed to Fowler architecture.

Reading about these old rifles with a 5 beer buzz and CDB's Legend of Wooly Swamp on youtube repeat tells me I'm having a damn good evening.

americanlongrifles .com is a builders' site but will have alot of helpful information and contacts for guys who can answer your questions and build what you want.

Not trying to be a s$$rtarse but I don't believe there is such a thing as as smoothbore "rifle". Didn't the rifle get its name from the riflings inside the barrel? Aren't we talking about a " musket"?

Zengela,

What you are saying in many instances is fact. The Term "Smoothrifle" is really a collectors term for this type of firearm. To differentiate between rifled and non-rifles firearms of the same basic schools of architecture.

Not much different than a "musket" as You suggested. When speaking of smoothbore muzzleloaders there are other characteristics that can determine a firearm type. Musket, musketoon, carbine, Fusil, fowler, [bleep],etc. etc. Doesn't really mean a lot unless your a collector, or anal reenactor. Some were military, some were for trade, and some for hunting. Has to do with bore diameter, size of gun, all kinds of different parameters.

Like I said. Doesn't mean a lot

Wow! Filter bleeped F u k e.

No. A musket is a specific type of gun, such as a Bess, Charleville, or trade gun. A smooth rifle is a gun with rifle architecture and an unrifled barrel. Check out this link:

http://flintlocks.com/rifles03.htm

I thought a smooth rifle was a smooth bore with rifle sights, but i don't know much.

I didn't mean to start a controversy but now I know what a smooth rifle is. I'd never heard the term before.

I don't think anyone started a controversy. A good question was asked. And good discourse followed.

I think all the answers that were given are good individual interpretations of the term.