Need picture of "Burden" half stock caplock rifle
Does anyone have any idea as to where i can get a picture of a Burden half stock caplock rifle made in Nicholas County KY by the Burden family? I think I have one but need some pics to compare. These rifles were made right prior to the Civil War and long afterwards. The family also made many smooth bore as well including SxSs. Any info as to what direction to look would be gratly appreciated.
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown
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What You're asking for is'nt going to help You very much...Guns made in the period you discribe virtually all looked the same...What you need is a Collector that is well versed in 1/2 stock kentuckys to look the gun over and ascertain wither or not its a Burden made Gun...and then theres no guaranty...I have an extensive Libruary and countless books on Flintlock and Percussion Guns of the Era...But can find No maker with the name of Burden listed....I'll research it further this afternoon....Maybe I missed the name in my haste......
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
Capt., my reference library is no where near as extensive as yours, but I went through it forward and backward and cound not find any reference at all to Burden.
Any chance of a mistake on the spelling???[;)]
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Burden rifles were made in a small community of Headquarters in Nicholas County Ky. Here is a bit of data on them but the web site is iffy at best as to working!
"Carlisle, Kentucky: Nicholas County Historical Society, Inc., 1976 ... unit was known as "The Burden Rifles.". These Nicholas County made rifles can still be located ... "
I will try later to pull up the whole site and copy over to this the particulars on the rifles. There is a KY Historicial marker as to the Man named Burden who made them at the site near Headquarters KY. I finally got the site to come up so here is the link and info from it:
http://frontierfolk.org/aw-jun01.htm
Here is the info from the site as to the maker:
"Edmond Collins Burden
Edmond Collins Burden was born in Nicholas County, July 20, 1826, grandson of Charles Burden (17763-1836) and the son of James Burden (1793-1888) and Elizabeth Collins, who was a granddaughter of Mark Kenton, Jr., an older brother of Simon Kenton. [Elizabeth Collins was the daughter of Edmond Collins and Sarah Kenton, and the sister of Matilda and Mariah, both of whom married William W. Wells, and Lucinda, who married Daniel Wells.] He lived in the community of Crayton where, at an early age, he became an expert gunsmith and long before the Civil War was producing his famous rifles, each marked on the top of the barrel: "E. C. Burden."
He married on Oct. 17, 1850, in Nicholas County, Nancy Wells, daughter of Uriah Wells and Esther Pollick [sic], and later transferred this gun-making establishment to Carlisle. His youngest brother, James Madison Burden, became his apprentice. In 1852, he was elected Jailer of Nicholas County.
Burden's excellent craftsmanship was always in demand and brought him recognition far beyond his own county. An Ohio county history book records that during the Civil War, a group of Ohio hunters formed a militia unit. Because each man was armed with his own Burden rifle, the unit was known as "The Burden Rifles."
These Nicholas County made rifles can still be located in Nicholas and surrounding counties. Having been handed down for several generations, the writer possesses one of these muzzle loaders. It has a thick, octagon-shaped, long barrel and is very heavy; but, when placed to the shoulder, the balance is so remarkable that the heaviness disappears.
In Feb. 1879, Burden and his married children moved to Kansas and settled near Hutchinson. His eldest son, Dr. William C. Burden, was a practicing physician until his death in 1903.
Edmund C. Burden died in Feb. 1913, while living with relatives in Arkansas. His wife, Nancy, had died in 1904. Both are buried at Rogers, Ark. -- by Karl Rosenberg, Apdo. 5-472, Guadalajara, 5, Jal., Mexico.
Cutler, William G. History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas, 1893.
Rice County, Part 7 Raymond"
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown0 -
Just goes to show that you never cease to learn. Glad you got the site up and copied out the info.
I logged into the site and managed to get it after 3 unsuccessful tries.
Having lived in KY some back in the early 70's the reference to Headquarters didn't rign any bells, but after reading the piece Carlisle does.
I think the case is that he, like so many other highly talented regional gunsmiths, was known and very highly regarded in his region, but virtually unknown on a larger scale.
Perhaps the Capt. with more research or another member with an extensive reference library can find you some more info. In fact I hope they do so I can learn more about this fella.
As for your rifle being by him, I got the impression from the writeup that he clearly marked the top of the barrel so even after all of these years and associated wear, etc., you should be able to make it out. And here is another thought ... it may not be one of his, but by another person in the area that greatly admired and studied his work.
Sure would love to see some pictures of it. If you have some, but need help with posting, please contact me.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
I will post some pictures later of it but right now it is in Ohio at a friends home. It has one ramrod thimble that is loose so my friend is resoldering it back on. He is also making a new nipple for it. The nipple is a full 1 inch long! As to caliber, the end of the barrel is crowned out to a larger caliber to ease loadin then it steps down to a smaller caliber! The rifleing is really deep as well. We are thinking it is between 32 and 40 caliber with the probality being it is a 38 caliber. I will post a few pics in a couple of weeks.
As to marking the barrel, as I read it his brother did not mark his barrels and I am wondering if it could be one of his brothers rifles who apprenticed under him. I could be very interesting as to finding out. It has a really heavy barrel that does come up top fit real well. Can't wait to find out exactly what caliber so I can shoot it.
I also found a Manton caplock SxS shotgun as well. The locks are marked Manton but that is all. We are researching to see if just the locks are Manton or the whole SxS is. I will post pics of it as well in a couple of weeks.
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown0 -
No offers to buy, sell or trade allowed on the Ask the Experts Forum.. 0 -
FrankDrebin, have no idea as to what was posted but if it was "are they for sale", NO! If they were I would run them through the GB auction but I bought them for my personal collection and was asking for info. Thank you Capt. for the edit if indeed that was the case.
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown0
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