Daniel had many rifles ,he used them up . He lost more than one to the indians. According to Draper's book he sometimes made his own black powder. He also did some gunsmithing re-stocking some broken guns.His brother Squire also did gunsmith work and made some tomahawks. One tomahawk that MAY be made by Squire belonged to a mr Goodman who fought at the battle of Boonesborough. This hawk is in a private collection. >From: "Joyce Reece" <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Subject: Fw: [BOONE-L] Daniel Boone carried a Kentucky Rifle >Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 19:31:12 -0500 > > > > > Carlis > > > > The Kentucky or "Hog" Rifle was originally built in Pennsylvania. These > > were black powder weapons as opposed to modern "smokeless" powders. > > Charcoal, salt petre and sulfur are the three ingredients needed to make > > powder. The barrells were usually a one/sixty-six twist and was a >round > > ball. Mini-balls weren't around until much later...apx the Civil War >era. > > The Kentucky rifle had anywhere from 38 to 42 inch barrels. The extra > > length was there so that the powder would burn completely before leaving >the > > muzzle which would give the lead round ball extra speed. Muzzle >velocity > > for these would average about 1500 to 1600 feet per second. This, >always > > regulated by the size/weight of the bullet and the amount of powder >used. > > Sights were normally a bead front site and a V-notch back site. They >were > > flint-lock rifles...the percussion rifle came along later. > > > > The flash pan was the apparatus that held powder. The Hammer of the >rifle > > held a piece of flint which struck a piece of steel which ignited the >powder > > in the flash pan. The spark or "fire in the hole" in turn burned thru a > > small apiture which ignited the black powder inside the barrell. This >fire > > was often what cause the shooters to have their beards burned and >scorched. > > The powder in the flash pan was usually a much finer grain. > > > > It was/is imperitive to keep your powder dry. Salt draws moisture. > > Wet/moist powder won't ignite. Thus the parting comment "Keep your >powder > > dry". > > > > To load this type rifle commonly known these days as a Muzzleloader, one > > followed these steps. A pre-measured amount of black powder (from the > > powder HORN) was poured down the barrell, a greased, round patch was >placed > > over the muzzleor crown, the round ball was placed on the patch (usually > > with the spew facing outward so it wouldn't obstruct the trajectory or > > bullet path, then the bullet was started with a "starter" (these were >made > > of several different things, mainly hickory wood), the bullet was then > > tamped & seated with the rod. (The patch grease was anything from animal > > tallow to bees wax.) > > > > They molded their own bullets from lead. As pure a lead as possible. > > Additives made the lead harder and heavier. Heavier would change the >bullet > > path. They all carried "possible bags". The bags had everything they > > needed plus spares in everything. They put everything they would >"Possibly" > > get/need in the bags. > > > > Their rifles meant survival to people of that time. The difference >between > > health and injury...life and death...eating or being hungry. They >treated > > them all with respect because they knew their worth. > > > > Keeping the barrels clean in order to prevent the salt petre from >corroding > > them was also a challenge. If they were fired and not cleaned within a > > reasonable amount of time the corrosion would ruin the barrel. A rusty > > barrel was useless. You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a > > pitted, rusty barrel. They normally cleaned them with boiling water and >lye > > soap. > > > > They didn't have the "blue" finishes on the barrels that we have today. > > They were browned. I know what they used to brown the barrels. If >anyone > > can guess I'll give them the MENSA award for today! *G* > > > > > > Joyce Gaston Reece > > Rootsweb Mail Administer for > > Meigs Co, TN, South East TN, North East TN, > > Raper, Gilbreath, Galbreath, Hembree, Knuckles > > Message Board Administrator for > > Gaston, Shields, Reece, Raper, Gilbreath, Galbreath, > > Hembree, Knuckles & Daugherty > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Carlis Wilson" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 4:30 PM > > Subject: [BOONE-L] Daniel Boone carried a Kentucky Rifle > > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > The rifle of the noted Daniel Boone was a Kentucky > > > Long Rifle; This firearm was about as noteworthy as > > > Mr. Boone himself was. > > > > > > "This rifle became the primary weapon of the > > > frontiersmen, especially in the then remote and > > > dangerous wilds of Kentucky. This extensive use in > > > Kentucky led to the adoption of the name "Kentucky" > > > for this rifle. > > > > > > Daniel Boone carried a Kentucky Rifle through the > > > Cumberland Gap." > > > > > > Quote taken from the Kentucky Explorer - Number 3, > > > August 2001. > > > A Short History Of The Kentucky Long Rifle. By James > > > Clell Neace. > > > > > > Do you have information on Col Boone and his weapons? > > > > > > Carlis B. Wilson > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Do You Yahoo!? > > > Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! > > > http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com