An exceptional Indiana Tansel powder horn is inscribed with “James W. Dobson Presented by D. M. Dobson.” The Dobson names, along with other images on the horn, provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two important citizens of Owen County, Indiana, during its formative years.

A uniquely signed Tim Tansel powder horn survived major damage during its working life due to an exceptional repair to its spout. It was recently shown to the author, and he was captivated by its unique inscription and interesting spout repair.

Three Heath brothers were gunmakers at Scottsville in Allen County, Kentucky, just above the Tennessee state line. The oldest brother, William Meridith Heath, was the most prolific and best-known gunsmith of Allen County during the percussion era. The discovery of several new rifles by William now shows the development of his work during the years he worked in Allen County.

About 35 years ago, the author was told of a Kentucky era Tansel powder horn with an image of John Quincy Adams. He was given the owner’s name and phone number, contacted him, and was allowed to visit and photograph the horn… but it was not for sale. Years later the author was able to purchase the horn and discovered that in addition to its unique image of our sixth President, John Quincy Adams, it had a long family history in the Waddell/Waddill family.

A good quality rifle with hard-to-read barrel stamp has recently been identified by its owner and shared with the author. It was made by Reuben Mock of Kentucky and has a unique Kentucky history and surviving accoutrements. The gun belonged to the Settle family of Kentucky gunmakers, but instead of being a Settle rifle as old family members thought, it was made by Reuben Mock… a strange twist in its history.

A newly discovered Simon Settle rifle epitomizes most Settle rifles with its lack of inlays but attractive stocking with slim lines. The new rifle was probably a bit above average in its day with outstanding stock wood, an oval cheekpiece, and an attractive butt plate return. This rifle, like most Settle rifles acquired by the author, is destined to go back to a Settle descendant in Kentucky.      

Explanations for why screw tips were made include better esthetics, hornsmiths highlighting their talents, maintaining local traditions, and the most widely held reason… the removable tip served as a funnel for filling the horn. But a study of better-quality powder horns with both screw-tips and standard integral tips points to a totally different reason for screw tips.

A fine full-stocked rifle with superb curly maple had many features suggesting it was made in northern Kentucky near the Ohio River between Louisville and Cincinnati. But its elaborate cast pewter nose cap had not been seen before, throwing a monkey wrench into figuring out where it was made.

An interesting half-stocked rifle with unclear barrel stamp has created a buzz with its fine but unconventional iron work. It had details suggesting it was from Kentucky, but other details suggested the Carolinas. The gun was iron mounted by a gunsmith who was gifted in working iron, but its worn signature made the gun difficult to attribute. Was it from Kentucky, and if not then where?

The Renick family was instrumental in defining the Clark County School of gunmaking in Kentucky, a sub-set of Kentucky’s Lexington School. Abram Renick was documented as a Clark County School gunsmith, but his few known guns were from his later Missouri years. A newly discovered Abram Renick rifle ca. 1840 from his Kentucky years has distinctive Clark County School details. The gun is a major discovery, adding significantly to the few signed Clark County School rifles known to collectors.  

Kentucky’s best-known family of gunmakers was the Settle family in the Barrens area of southcentral Kentucky. Settle rifles were well-built, good shooters that earned a lasting reputation for being tough, accurate rifles in Kentucky. But while the guns had a reputation for accuracy, they never won a beauty contest. A new Settle rifle is a good example of most Settle rifles. It is well-made, half-stocked, and lacks enhancements, making it an ordinary looking rifle…but was it really?

Some American gunsmiths worked in obscurity with little information known about them and no guns to document their work. John G. Philips was that kind of gunsmith, with his last name often misspelled, hiding who he really was. Several fresh rifles by Philips have now verified his correct last name and show that he was an exceptional gunmaker in Kentucky and Missouri.

Fine rifles are better cared for than plain working rifles and survive in better condition. Benjamin Mills was known for fine target rifles, and most of his surviving guns are found in excellent condition. Recently a Mills rifle that had started out as a fine gun sold at auction. During its working life, it suffered a broken wrist, fell out of favor with its owner, and ended up in rough condition. But despite its damage and subsequent poor care, it was still a rare Mills rifle and deserved respect… and perhaps a bit of help.

A Lexington rifle was recently found that is hard to attribute due to several unusual features. The gun has an oddly shaped cheekpiece star that is unique to Lexington guns, an unexpected slight curvature in the butt’s comb and toe lines, and a Lexington style side-plate with a seldom seen “bottle shaped” tail. Despite its several odd details, the unsigned rifle offers hints on where it was most likely made.

Recently a plain, unsigned rifle sold at auction without any background information, but it caught the author’s eye. Its stocking indicated it was a Kentucky gun, but who made it? An analysis of the gun’s details lead to an exciting attribution. It was the work of Daniel Heath, a Kentucky gunsmith, but one whose work had not been seen before.  

A prior article, “Moses Dickson and His 1845 Freemont Expedition Rifles,” discussed Fremont’s 1845 visit to Louisville and purchase of eight Dickson & Gilmore rifles. New information on Fremont’s Dickson & Gilmore rifles, and a similar Dickson & Gilmore rifle with iron mountings, highlight this follow-up article.

Antique gun collectors buy guns that appeal to them and enhance their collections, usually with the thought that when later sold, they will make a profit. But researchers at times face the quandary of buying a junk rifle with no financial upside, just to document an important detail that adds significant knowledge to their work. A “junk” Louisville rifle fit squarely into that category for the author.

The Mountain Rifle School in southeastern Kentucky had backwoods gunsmiths who were mechanics, blacksmiths, carpenters, and millwrights who made guns in their spare time… and their guns looked like it. But a few gunsmiths in the southern part of the school were more highly skilled and made exceptional rifles that far exceeded the usual mountain rifles.

Francis Tansel’s horns from his first years as a horn carver are perhaps his most interesting work, and among those horns, examples carved a few years before and during the War of 1812 are fascinating., One horn in particular stands out for its superior condition, fine construction, and extensive artwork. The horn is signed “Fransis (sic) Tansel” and dated “1809,” and it is well worth taking a few minutes to study its many interesting details.

In the 1950s when American longrifles and powder horns were becoming more collectable, old leather hunting bags were often taken for granite. If bags had any dry rot, broken straps, or torn seams, they were often discarded. as worthless. Interest in their historic value grew slowly, and in the process many less-than-perfect bags were lost. Today bag & horn sets are highly collectable and damaged bags often restored and kept with their horns. Unfortunately, a few collectors and dealers still fail to recognize the educational value in damaged hunting bags… even when accompanied by a Tansel powder horn.