Presented by: Jessi White, MTSU Center for Historic Preservation
MESDA Summer Institute 2012
e Lure of the Great Smokies f
The descendants who filled the Virginia valleys and the beautiful big blue hills of North Carolina and spilled over the high dam of the Smokies were almost literally born with long rifles upon their shoulders Almost from the time a boy was able to shoulder one of these deadly, heavy shooting weapons of the Decherd, or Leaman of Charlottesville, North Carolina or of the Bean or Duncan type, he was learning how to fire with pin-blank (point-blank) aim. e Robert Lindsey Masons f
 Early 19th century- emergence
of distinctive long rifle style in Upper East Tennessee.  Rifles served a functional purpose as a hunting device and means of protection.
Patch box
Tang
Rear sight
Front sight
Ramrod Set triggers Stock Butt plate Cock Flint Frizzen
Pan Lock plate
 1820-1830 construction date  Cigar- shaped patch box  64 long  Extended heel on the butt plate  Full-length iron octagon barrel ( suggesting that it  Set Triggers is a smooth bore rifle)  Molded cheek piece  Curly maple stock  Minimal decorative  Iron mounts engraving
Banana patch box
Scrolled trigger guard Elongated heel plate
Molded cheek piece
Set Triggers
Rice Duncan (1775-1831)
Washington Co.
Alfred Duncan (1804-1852)
Sullivan Co.
George Rice Duncan (1813-1847)
Sullivan Co.
Charles Russell Bean Sr. (1820)
Charles Russell Bean, Jr. (1835-1919)
 Established mid-1790s by Colonel James King
 Located on the Southeast side of the Beaver Creek
Knobs where the Steele Creek Empties into the Beaver Creek  Produced bar iron  Distributed bar iron to local merchants.  Bar iron from Beaver Creek could have been used to construct the guns parts.
George Rice Duncan Beaver Creek Iron Works