J Young Kentucky Rifle Octagonal Barrel - The Firearms Forum

tombrown · 11-10-2010, 01:58 PM

I have this old J Young Kentucky Rifle , I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything about it and what it is worth. I may be interested in selling it. It has an Octagonal barrel approx 38 inches long. The rifle is 53 inches overall. The firing mechanism is L. Davidson and Co. ? It is .385 approx octagonal bore. J Young is on the barrel. It has one patch opening in the butt. I think it is Tiger Maple stock. It is in good condition.

Jim K · 11-10-2010, 04:00 PM

My sources show several men named Young as gun makers, but the most likely seems to be Joseph Young of Harpers Run, WV, listed as a maker of full stock percussion rifles. No dates are given, but there is a T. Davidson & Co. listed as a lockmaker in Cincinnati, OH, 1850-1854, which seems about right for your rifle.

If you care to remove the barrel from the stock (very carefully, please) you might find the name of a barrel maker on the bottom. By that time, there were few "whole gun" makers; almost all bought barrels, locks, furniture and semi-inletted stocks and were essentially custom assemblers, like custom gunsmiths today.
There is a rifle with the Davidson name shown here:

http://www.prices4antiques.com/firea...r-D9944833.htm

but it seems to be of a different style.

Jim

tombrown · 11-10-2010, 04:59 PM

Here is picture of the J Young. Thanks for you information

ghrit · 11-10-2010, 06:49 PM

This is a business directory circa 1855 which indicates a J Young, machinist in Detroit. I searched "J Young riflemaker" on google, this is the only thing that jumped out.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Lht...page&q&f=false

11-10-2010, 01:58 PM	#1
tombrown Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 2	J Young Kentucky Rifle Octagonal Barrel I have this old J Young Kentucky Rifle , I was wondering if anyone can tell me anything about it and what it is worth. I may be interested in selling it. It has an Octagonal barrel approx 38 inches long. The rifle is 53 inches overall. The firing mechanism is L. Davidson and Co. ? It is .385 approx octagonal bore. J Young is on the barrel. It has one patch opening in the butt. I think it is Tiger Maple stock. It is in good condition. Attached Images --> Last edited by tombrown; 11-10-2010 at 02:27 PM.. Reason: Add Picture

11-10-2010, 04:00 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: J Young Kentucky Rifle Octagonal Barrel My sources show several men named Young as gun makers, but the most likely seems to be Joseph Young of Harpers Run, WV, listed as a maker of full stock percussion rifles. No dates are given, but there is a T. Davidson & Co. listed as a lockmaker in Cincinnati, OH, 1850-1854, which seems about right for your rifle. If you care to remove the barrel from the stock (very carefully, please) you might find the name of a barrel maker on the bottom. By that time, there were few "whole gun" makers; almost all bought barrels, locks, furniture and semi-inletted stocks and were essentially custom assemblers, like custom gunsmiths today. There is a rifle with the Davidson name shown here: http://www.prices4antiques.com/firea...r-D9944833.htm but it seems to be of a different style. Jim

11-10-2010, 04:59 PM	#3
tombrown Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 2	Re: J Young Kentucky Rifle Octagonal Barrel Here is picture of the J Young. Thanks for you information Attached Images

11-10-2010, 06:49 PM	#4
ghrit V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Endless Mountains, PA Posts: 89	Re: J Young Kentucky Rifle Octagonal Barrel This is a business directory circa 1855 which indicates a J Young, machinist in Detroit. I searched "J Young riflemaker" on google, this is the only thing that jumped out. http://books.google.com/books?id=Lht...page&q&f=false __________________ .30-06 - Billions served There are two kinds of ships. Submarines and targets. www.survivalmonkey.com