"Durty Nelly"
Perhaps these photos will give you an idea of what my Southern Mountain rifles look like. Durty Nelly is my own personal piece and is so tall that I can rest my nose on her muzzle. She is what I call a "traditional" Bookout Tennessee rifle. We married into th' Beans and Blevins an' maybe this is where we lernt how to make guns. I think ol' Uncle Oscar would approve of her. .37 caliber, 6 lands and left hand grooves. 48" long and another inch with the patent breech. Great striped maple on this one and a very slim waist. Hand made irons and triggers under a Siler lock with my brass tail and cartouche. The side plate is unique to our family. (Nelly has 5 younger sisters. Patience, Maggie, Ginny, Miss Sally, and Abby Bear. If you git a chance to meet'em, you'll notice the family resemblance right off.) Hope you like her!
You'll never hear me claim to be an engraver, but this is the basic pattern for my Bookout family Southern Mountain rifles and the rifles I build in my family's style. The main difference between the two is thus: hand made or store bought irons and guts. Either way, you git a Bookout rifle!!