youngod Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 http://www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms/young.htm I am almost certain I know the answer to this question but I am going to ask it any way. The above rifle is very likely from my family in the 1700s. We are 98% certain of this. We've done our genealogy research. I don't know if I can put this as a direct descendant, just a family member. A few years ago an exhibition came to the TN state museum here in Nashville. A banker friend of mine invited my wife and I to go on opening night. It was an early TN history exhibition. As I rounded one corner I came upon a TN rifle from Jacob Young. I do know that Jacob is a direct ancestor. I almost crapped when I saw it. Long story short I convinced the museum curator to contact the owner to see if he would be willing to sell it......He contacted me. Yes! $60K . I have been wanting a Brown Bess and really saving my pennies to get one. Now this comes along. My question is buy this rifle which is likely family (not 100% sure) or wait and buy the Bess 1st or 2nd model? I am pretty sure both will increase in price over time, but which one the most? I would rather have the Bess if this wasn't family. That small % of doubt is killing me. Here is info on Jacob http://www.americanhistoricservices.com/uploads/1/0/3/4/10348480/kra_bulletin_spring_2014_v13_1to11_lres.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wish2no Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 If you can afford it without sacrificing other needs or obligations and its something you value as much I say go for it. If it has family history to you it is worth more to you than anyone else. As an heirloom to YOU it is priceless. Is this something your children will cherish as much as you when you are gone or will it be something they sell off at a loss? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meh77gmc Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Wow! That is cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NONEYA Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 That is a heck of a piece of history. I do not know the value of such rifles. The price seem high to me. But with the history behind it, it could be worth it. You could search for years and not find another one like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngod Posted August 18, 2018 Author Share Posted August 18, 2018 If you can afford it without sacrificing other needs or obligations and its something you value as much I say go for it. If it has family history to you it is worth more to you than anyone else. As an heirloom to YOU it is priceless. Is this something your children will cherish as much as you when you are gone or will it be something they sell off at a loss? Great question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbe Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 If you've got the coin and want to spend it on this, who are we to tell you no? Just make sure you bring it to the next Armory Appleseed shoot next year so you can show it off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gshayd Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 lol....We are not the right people to ask if you should buy a rifle. How did the guy come at this valuation? Has anything similar been sold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel74 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 (edited) Anyway to find out if there is a true family connection? I'd think you could find someone who does genealogy to see if he was an ancestor. My thoughts are that if he is a true ancestor and you have the money then go for it. Maybe, contact the gentleman selling and see if he'd sell for less. I've seen these listing stay on Ambrose Antiques for years. Depends on if he needs the cash. Secondly if you can't verify you're an ancestor I'd pass it by and continue looking for the Brown Bess you want. JMHO Edit: Didn't see the date posted. I see the price is "Hold" on the site. Does this mean you put in an offer? Edited December 14, 2018 by Joel74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpo Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Nice rifle and great story. That is a lot of money for a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retcop Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 55 minutes ago, Joel74 said: Anyway to find out if there is a true family connection? I'd think you could find someone who does genealogy to see if he was an ancestor. My thoughts are that if he is a true ancestor and you have the money then go for it. Maybe, contact the gentleman selling and see if he'd sell for less. I've seen these listing stay on Ambrose Antiques for years. Depends on if he needs the cash. Secondly if you can't verify you're an ancestor I'd pass it by and continue looking for the Brown Bess you want. JMHO Edit: Didn't see the date posted. I see the price is "Hold" on the site. Does this mean you put in an offer? This is exactly what I was thinking. You need further research try and settle the question of whether or not that rifle was owned and used by one of your family. If this can be determined to a certaintanty that will always that almost never be 100%, it would greatly influence my interest in buying it. The frank question of w"ill it matter to anyone in the family beyond you?" is a very valid and extremely important one. As it is, the rifle seems to be in very good hands, and it is being loaned out for display to people who can appreciate its providence. It does not get much better than that. I wonder what the asking price would be if the seller was not aware of the family connection ? Maybe you can set up private meeting with the current owner to view the rifle and get to know each other as men. Having specialized in American History, your confirmation is most likely to come from something your family member wrote about ordering or taking delivery of the gun, gunmakers notes or order forms, information from the engraver if that was commissioned separately, or a mention of the gun in a letter or journal entry of family members, friends, manufacturers, a fellow soldier, etc. The seller himself may have the final pieces of the puzzle you need, but in my opinion there is much more to consider than whether or not to purchase the piece. Good luck, my friend, John John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apex556 Posted September 25, 2019 Share Posted September 25, 2019 I traded a brand new 2500 dollar .22-250 Remmy 700 for my Grandfather's M1917 Enfield from a relative of mine. No regrets, whatsoever. And it's still a tack driver! If you can find out if it's your ancestor's rifle, get it. That's my .02 cents for what it's worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recondo 101 Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) I can tell you one thing the rifle in the article is not. It is not a Kentucky Rifle. It is a PA rifle or of PA origins. 99% of KY rifles are iron mounted and most are made for a farm, so in appearance is like comparing that elegant rifle to a boat oar. By the picture, I would say Young made the lock not the gun. The maker might be stamped on the top or bottom of the barrel or his signature could well be etched in script on the barrel. Makers bought locks by the wood keg. Over, over and over the same mistake in identification, name on lock mistaken for the maker of the gun. That rifle would probably need to have the barrel removed and examined to ID the maker, unless a magnifying glass could bring up the markings on the barrel without removal. The gun maker did not ID himself on anything that could be removed unless he also made the part. Be very careful in paying any real money for what could be a surplus sale military gun, Brown Bess, from Bannerman’s. They sold surplus guns for decades, modified and originals. Edited March 17, 2020 by Recondo 101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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