GRRW Custom LH Leman Halfstock for Trappers Rendezvous

[plmeek]

In the thread on Leman trade rifle question,

Dec 16, 2015 12:38:12 GMT -7 leatherstocking said:

In the day.....I mainly wanted to be different and as nearly everyone I knew either had a GRRW Hawken or a custom made gun.  The GRRW Indian gun just made sense to fit my needs............though to strain gnats, it probably wasn't the right gun for the period (1830's) but did suit my needs as far as hunting is concern.  I had originally ordered A "trapper's rendezvous" half stock from John Corn in Denver.....he having GRRW make his special edition of a half stock brass mounted rifle.  I wanted in the more common .54 cal. that my buddies had their rifles made in, but a mistake was made in the order and I received a .58.  However when I sold that gun to order a GRRW Leman fullstock flinter.....as I already had a .562 mold I went with a .58 again and confess I was never disappointed...

Leatherstocking mentions John Corn of Trapper's Rendezvous in Denver.  I never knew Corn, but know a few folks that did.  Trapper's Rendezvous advertised regularly in the BP magazines in the early 1980's.  Early on, they appeared to have stores in Denver, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Las Vegas, NV; and Rock Springs, WY.



By Nov 1980, that number was reduced to three.



This next ad from the Nov-Dec 1981 issue of Muzzleloader indicates the Denver shop had moved to the suburb of Arvada.



Here is a picture of John Corn at a rendezvous in the late 1970's.



Leatherstocking stated that Corn had "GRRW make his special edition of a half stock brass mounted rifle".  I found that little tidbit very interesting.

I have in my collection a very unique GRRW rifle.  First off, it is left handed.  This is only the fourth left handed rifle I have seen and the sixth that I know of, though the GRRW record book indicates that quite a few were ordered and made.  The rifle includes almost all of the custom options listed in their catalog for the Leman half stock rifle, plus some.



The particulars on the rifle are:  the length of pull is 14-1/4 inches and overall length is 52 inches.  The rear sight appears to be cast steel, the same as Track of the Wolf’s #RS-PA-15. The front sight is a silver blade in an iron base.  The barrel is 36 inches long and 1 inch across the flats, straight octagon.  The rifling has 7 equal width grooves and lands. The barrel is stamped “GRRW” over “ROOSEVELT, UTAH” on the top flat in front of the rear sight.  The serial number, makers mark (^D_M), and caliber (.58) are stamped on the left oblique flat above the drum and nipple.  The ^D_M makers mark is Don McKee’s.

The special order brass entry pipe and pewter nose cap give the forearm a shape similar to a Hawken and is slimmer than the typical GRRW Leman Trade Rifle.  The barrel is pinned to the stock with two pins in the forearm.



The nose cap is poured pewter and shaped nicely.



The rifle has a long wrist and straight comb like the originals—classic Lancaster features. The hardware consists of the GRRW proprietary Leman trigger guard and Leman butt plate that Phil “Bluejacket” Sanders developed while working at GRRW.  The slim lines of the forearm continue on through the lock panels to the wrist.  This is further enhanced by a higher comb rising above the wrist with more drop in the stock than commonly seen on the regular Leman Trade Rifle.



The extra fancy maple stock is highly figured with narrow tiger stripes along every inch.   The stock appears to be stained with Aqua Fortis stain rather than the chromic acid stain often used on rifles they made at this time.  It was finished with a hand rubbed oil finish, giving it the highly desirable satin look.



The standard GRRW Leman Trade Rifle normally had a beaver tail cheekpiece, while the full stock Leman Indian Rifle had a square cheekpiece.  This rifle, even though a half stock, was built with the more traditional square cheekpiece commonly seen on original Leman rifles.

The lock bolt inlay is brass and has a weeping drop or point.  The beauty of this particular piece of wood is easily seen in the offside lock panel.



The chatoyance and color of this fantastic piece of wood is best seen in these photos that were taken in direct sunlight.



The letters “TR” are stamped on the top flat behind the rear sight along with some decorative engraving.  The GRRW records show that this rifle was built for Trappers Rendezvous owned by John Corn.



Obviously, this rifle was a special order, but I wonder is it the "special edition of a half stock brass mounted rifle" that Leatherstocking mentioned or did John Corn order several "special edition" GRRW rifles?

[leatherstocking]

Wow......so glad you downloaded this. This was John's "Trapper's Rendezvous" edition' rifle. My first GRRW I ordered from John was exactly like it except right handed. The addition of the weeping heart on the check piece was a custom addition as was the super fancy wood. Yes I believe Aqua Fortis was used and I recall a couple of guns had more of a "greenish" tint to them which if I also recall John said often happened with Aqua was used for staining. I still remember his shop on 6th Ave in downtown Denver. Shortly after buying this my first GRRW I moved to Springboat Springs Colorado where I fell in with the local rabble that at minimum included Carney Pace.....former builder at GRRW. Several months later I sold my Trapper's Rendezvous and ordered from GRRW a flintlock full stock "Indian Rifle" in a kit. Built in in my lap in the single wide trailer house we lived in "Dream Island" Trailer park and motel...............those were Shining Times!

Thanks again for the memories!

Doug

[plmeek]

Thanks for the confirmation on the John Corn connection, Doug.

Any idea how many rifles like this that Corn ordered from GRRW or was this a two-of-a-kind--this LH and your RH version?

I've met Carney Pace and a few other of the old GRRW employees.   Some are still building rifles.  I'll see Carney later this month at the Colorado Gun Collectors Show.

I've recently acquired another GRRW Leman Trade Rifle that is similar to the Trappers Rendezvous rifle, but not as fancy and it's right handed.  It also is a flintlock.





It does have the lower entry pipe and a Hawkenish pewter nose cap similar to the Trappers Rendezvous rifle.


I don't have much history on it yet.  I acquired out of Pennsylvania and believe it was built in 1980.  The makers mark on it is Bill McKay's.  The caliber is .50.

On the stain issue, I have a couple of GRRW rifles that have a green tint to them and know of another that is almost as green as grass.  I believe these rifles were stained with chromic acid.  The degree greenish tint with chromic acid in variable and unpredictable.  It probably depends on the wood itself, the strength of the chromic acid, the amount of heat blushing performed, the type of oil used for the finish, and the amount of sunlight the stock is exposed to over the years.  The stock on the rifle above appears a little greenish under florescent light, but is brown under natural light.  It may have been stained with chromic acid.

GRRW used several different types of stain over the almost 9 years of their operation.  Early rifles appear to have been stained with a reddish, orange commercial stain from a paint store.  They obviously experimented with acid stains and probably used some of the non-grain raising stains that were available in the 1970's.  I see a lot of variability from rifle to rifle.

Phil Meek

[leatherstocking]

I'm sure you're right about the stain....on my GRRW kit I used Birchwood Casey Walnut mixed with Colonial Red.........

The first time I met Carney was at a shoot outside of Hot Sulfur Springs Co. I had been invited by Bill Dickey who lived in Winter Park. I was there with my first muzzleloader, a Lyman Plains Rifle. Carney strolled up to me and asked to look at my rifle. I lowered my head, handed him my gun and started kicking the dirt in embarrassment. Stumbling over my words I explained it wasn't very "authentic" . Carney grinned and told me "it's a fine rifle" and said "we all started somewhere". Later while we were shooting a gust of wind came up a blew Carney's new straw cowboy hat down range. Suddenly everyone unloaded on it, until someone hollered "cease fire" upon which during all the hoots and laughter, Carney walked over and picked up the hat that was now full of .50 something caliber holes.............sat it on his head and grinned as though it was a trophy rather than just another "new straw hat".

Tell good natured Carney Doug Bennett said howdy............may not remember who I am......been a lot of water under the bridge since then.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and photos.

Doug