Signed A BEARDEN, Alfred Bearden, Lincoln County, TN ca 1840

The Bearden, Smith, and Compton familes came to the Lincoln County area from South Carolina. All were gunsmiths and intermarried. The Beardens were the most prolific with only one signed Franklin Smith rifle and one BH Compton (whale box) rifle known. This example is rare because it is one of the few half-stock southern rifles in original flintlock condition. The lock is marked J Steatham.

The 39 inch rifled barrel is about .38 cal. The curly maple appears to be quite good however, the wonderful dark patina obscures most of it. The iron under rib of the barrel has a short section (about 3 inches long) in front of the cap that is different than the remainder of the rib. I beleive it was made this way; it has never been a fullstock rifle. The ramrod was broken and repaired with a section of a bamboo fly rod. It has its original worm intact. Picture of Alfred off ALR owned by Wayne Elliott.

SOLD 6/25