I have stumbled across a very interesting find in regards to David Crockets "Old Betsy",
It pretty much explains most of the mystry behind the rifle and how it came to be the rifle it is today.
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The writer, Mr. Barnett tells an interesting tail of how he came to own the rifle, give up the rifle and then regain possession of the rifle again. He must have been well aged as he met Col. Crockett as a boy, fought in the civil war and replied to a letter from John W. Crockett in 1910. I can imagine he was interesting to visit with.
thmbsup Awesome find Micanopy. Really brings it to life.
Stumbled across it and a ton of great close up pictures of the rifle and some measurements as it was being examined at the Alamo.
To borrow n expression from Old Salt... SWEEEET!"
Yeah buddy it sure is!
Good read. Thanks for posting this.
I'm havin trouble with reading this thing. rdfce Could some one make a transcript and post it?
I too had trouble reading it but the second time through it made more sense. Like a lot of folks in those days, he wrote like he spoke and spelled like it sounded. At his advanced years I think he did pretty well, I have trouble recalling yesterday.
Mark
Pics, pics, pics, pics........
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also
All those pictures and you didn't get to shoot it! bunkr I think ya was robbed! wtch
Seriously, Thanks for the research wish I had paid more attention when I went through the Alamo in the 70's
HA! I wish, Thanks. Well sir, in 1970 we had other things on our one tracked minds if I recall correctly.......
Hello to all, my first post here with a great big thank you to Micanopy for bringing this to light! I have been smitten by David Crockett and his tale's since a boy. Can give credit for my passion with muzzleloaders and such from this great American hero. To see the actual artifacts of his are candy to my eyes. I had the privilege of visiting the Alamo back in '74 during my stint in the USAF. Today, I do not even have the faintest memory of seeing this rifle back then. Is this rifle the one I have read about that was signed by J. Dickert? I know Crockett really liked a gal named Bessy at one time, for he named more than one rifle after her! I have pictures of another given him back in I believe 1834 in Philadelphia. It was a percussion with a back action lock which Davy named "Pretty Bessy". This rifle is now in the hands of a private collector. Then there is the Flintlock piece that was his first rifle. I also have pictures of it. It has been copied by several gun builders including a fine copy by Freddy Harrison. Freddy also made and sold plans for this one.
Welcome aboard and glad you liked the pictures. This rifle was made and signed by James M. Graham of Kentucky. It was presented to Davived Crocket in May of 1822 from his constituants in Tennessee. Fasinating rifle. I am not sure it was in the Alamo when you where there.
Thank you for the welcome Micanopy! I posted above about Crockett's first rifle, saying that it was copied and reproduced by Freddy Harrison. Actually meant to say "Houston Harrison" not Freddy. Sometimes it takes a whole day to get the brain files sorted out! Anyway, the original rifle and it's copy by Houston have been on the cover of Muzzle Blasts magazine some time back.
Yep, several great copies have been made, including a non functioning one from Franklin Mint. Truely a very keen rifle. I am working on making a close as I can copy of it. I hope any way. It may wind up looking like something completely different with all the great luck I have,,, lol.