E. Stillman Long Rifle

danno · 09-07-2011, 08:43 AM

I am looking for any information regarding this long rifle. This is a family gun that resides back in North Carolina and am curious to it's background. I have done a prelim search on E. Stillman and have not found anything significant. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

danno · 09-07-2011, 09:07 AM

.. more photos

danno · 09-07-2011, 09:08 AM

.. and a couple more

BETH · 09-07-2011, 12:49 PM

looks like an oldie but goodie hope u get some info on it

oakridge · 09-11-2011, 07:15 PM

From American Gun Makers by Gluckman and Satterlee:

Ethan Stillman, Burlington, Conn., musket maker. In association with his brother Amos of Farmington, contracted for 500 muskets under Act of July 5, 1798. Completed deliveries with 25 stands excess by June 10, 1801.

On Sept. 4, 1808, Ethan Stillman contracted for 2,200 muskets to be delivered over a period of five years. Of these 825 were delivered by Oct. 7, 1812.

Ethan Stillman was born at Westerly, R. I. in 1768. After working as a youth in the New York Iron Works at Stonington, he worked for a while as a shoemaker. In 1798 he moved Farmington, where with his brother he obtained and completed the contract of 1798, on which he cleared a profit of $1,000. In 1803 he moved to Burlington, where he established a gunsmith shop. It was here that he undertook the 1808 contract which he apparently fulfilled after considerable difficulties with the government. Upon completion of the contract he moved to Brookfield, N. Y.

oakridge · 09-11-2011, 07:19 PM

So, I think what you have here is a smoothbore musket from Stillman's second contract. It was obviously converted to percussion at some point.

rhmc24 · 09-12-2011, 05:43 AM

Unfortunately, a source of max info, picture of the lock is omitted.

Buffalochip · 09-12-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhmc24

Unfortunately, a source of max info, picture of the lock is omitted.

What more would a full picture of the lock tell you? It is dated 1812 (means it was originally a flintlock), is a percussion (means it was converted from flintlock), lock held on by two screws rather one (means it was converted from flintlock).

rhmc24 · 09-12-2011, 04:52 PM

It would give some idea of who did the conversion. An arsenal conversion might indicate being updated by/for the US military. A drum conversion might indicate conversion for use by Confederate forces. A bubba conversion --> ??

Buffalochip · 09-13-2011, 11:37 AM

Gottcha!

09-07-2011, 08:43 AM	#1
danno V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 109	E. Stillman Long Rifle I am looking for any information regarding this long rifle. This is a family gun that resides back in North Carolina and am curious to it's background. I have done a prelim search on E. Stillman and have not found anything significant. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Attached Images -->

09-07-2011, 09:07 AM	#2
danno V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 109	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle .. more photos Attached Images

09-07-2011, 09:08 AM	#3
danno V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Midwest Posts: 109	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle .. and a couple more Attached Images

09-07-2011, 12:49 PM	#4
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle looks like an oldie but goodie hope u get some info on it

09-11-2011, 07:15 PM	#5
oakridge Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 21	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle From American Gun Makers by Gluckman and Satterlee: Ethan Stillman, Burlington, Conn., musket maker. In association with his brother Amos of Farmington, contracted for 500 muskets under Act of July 5, 1798. Completed deliveries with 25 stands excess by June 10, 1801. On Sept. 4, 1808, Ethan Stillman contracted for 2,200 muskets to be delivered over a period of five years. Of these 825 were delivered by Oct. 7, 1812. Ethan Stillman was born at Westerly, R. I. in 1768. After working as a youth in the New York Iron Works at Stonington, he worked for a while as a shoemaker. In 1798 he moved Farmington, where with his brother he obtained and completed the contract of 1798, on which he cleared a profit of $1,000. In 1803 he moved to Burlington, where he established a gunsmith shop. It was here that he undertook the 1808 contract which he apparently fulfilled after considerable difficulties with the government. Upon completion of the contract he moved to Brookfield, N. Y.

09-11-2011, 07:19 PM	#6
oakridge Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 21	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle So, I think what you have here is a smoothbore musket from Stillman's second contract. It was obviously converted to percussion at some point.

09-12-2011, 05:43 AM	#7
rhmc24 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ardmore, OK Posts: 518	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle Unfortunately, a source of max info, picture of the lock is omitted. Last edited by rhmc24; 09-12-2011 at 05:52 AM.. Reason: typo

09-12-2011, 04:52 PM	#9
rhmc24 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ardmore, OK Posts: 518	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle It would give some idea of who did the conversion. An arsenal conversion might indicate being updated by/for the US military. A drum conversion might indicate conversion for use by Confederate forces. A bubba conversion --> ??

09-13-2011, 11:37 AM	#10
Buffalochip Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 754	Re: E. Stillman Long Rifle Gottcha!