Caywood's Crockett.
"I had by this time got to be very fond of the rifle, and had bought a capital one. I most generally carried her with me wherever I went, and where they shoot for beef."A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee
GUNS November issue featured a review of two very fine smoothbore flintlocks by Caywood Gunmakers of Berryville, Ark. In connection with Col. David Crockett, it's worth noting that Caywood also offers a detailed recreation of Davy's first rifle, a magnificent .48-caliber, brass mounted, relief carved longrifle.
"There's an iron-clad paper trail for this rifle right back to Crockett's hands," Danny Caywood explained as he recounted the decade long process of bringing this project to fruition. Caywood obtained permission to disassemble the priceless original rifle in order to make a complete set of dimensioned drawings as well as reams of notes.
"We took it down to the last screw, pin and wedge," Caywood explained. "When they handed me that rifle, the chill bumps went up on my neck so thick you could have cut them off with a Bowie knife," he laughed.
The process of recreating the Crockett rifle is an arduous one. It requires roughly 12 times the man hours just to profile the stock and execute the liberal relief carving and decorative moldings as compared to fabricating a standard Caywood stock. And that's just the beginning.
Mike Rowe supplies the lock, which is painstakingly hand polished to a satin finish, with all surfaces flat and true. The barrel is likewise finished, a process which must be done by hand and with great care. Nor is it good enough just to make a beautiful rifle. Each of the Caywood Crockett rifles must be as identical to Davy's original "capital rifle" as it is humanly possible to make.
The rifle is furnished in a locking hard-case, with full documentation of the original rifle's provenance, David Crockett's autobiography, and a beautiful set of curly maple-handled bag mold and turnscrew.
When asked why he undertook the recreation of Crockett's rifle, Caywood explained:
"Well, of course it's a truly unique historical piece with its link to Crockett, but it also happens to be an exquisitely beautiful rifle. And I think we all grew up with that romantic notion of Davy Crockett, which makes this something to which a lot of people will truly relate."
Caywood's Crockett isn't for everyone. Given what it has taken to bring the project this far as well as the lavish amount of work involved in building each rifle, it's very expensive at $12,500. Certainly the original rifle was a tremendous outlay for the young David Crockett. Caywood's rifle is built exactly as the original was when Davy took it from the scarred and stained hands of a gunmaker so long ago, and thus it's something like shaking hands with history.
For more information on the Caywood Crockett as well as their entire line call [870] 423-4741, or see the Website: www.caywoodguns.com.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Publication: | Guns Magazine |
|---|---|
| Date: | Jan 1, 2004 |
| Words: | 503 |
| Previous Article: | The most famous rifle of Texas! Recreating Colonel Crockett's rifle at the battle of the Alamo. |
| Next Article: | The Savage Cub. |