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Post by Beaver Hunter on May 17, 2012 19:56:49 GMT -7
What does anyone know about Tryon trade rifles? When did they first start making them? Are there any records of them being sent out west before 1840? Were they even very common?
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Pare
Mountaineer
Posts: 153
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Post by Pare on May 18, 2012 8:21:38 GMT -7
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Post by whitehair on May 18, 2012 9:22:28 GMT -7
Hey Beaver, First of all, please understand that the Tryons were a whole family of gunmakers and George Tryon was an associate of J.J. Henry. George Tryon's name appears as a gunmaker in 1811 in Philadelphia. The Tryon name continued to appear on the guns they made, sometimes as "Tryon," then "Tryon Son & Company" and finally as "Edw. K. Tryon, Jr. & Co.," until 1868. In addition to being well known gunmakers, they also sold parts to other gunmakers. And, just as an added note, Henry Leman worked for Tryon for about a year before starting his own gun company in 1834. So, did any Tryon rifles make it to the fur trade rendezvous? We can certain expect that they did. However, the only rifles traded at rendezvous that were generally mentioned by name were the Hawkens. The Tryon rifles were a bit plainer than the Henrys and, therefore, should have been available for a lower price. Some excellent pictures of original Tryons, both trade rifles and Northwest guns, are shown in the "Great Gunmakers for the Early West" by James Gordon.
And in 1831-32 Tryon suppied 1000 rifles to the U.S. government as Indian rifles. These were supplied to the Choctaws, Shawnees, and Senecas. That is taken from "Firearms of the Fur Trade." It is also stated in that volume how Tryon "sold subtantial numbers of Indian guns to both the fur companies and the Office of Indian Affairs." That is a rather general statement but it should certainly include the rendezvous era.
More interesting notes about the Tryons are found in Hanson's book "The Plains Rifle" and included is a photo of a fine Tyron percussion rifle with a back-action lock. It is probably a bit late for the rendezvous era while the other books show earlier rifles, fullstocks with flintlock ignition. Also in "The Plains Rifle" is a reproduction of a page from the old Tryon catalog showing parts, patch boxes and such.
The Tyrons make a very interesting study. Shoot sharp, Mike
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Post by Beaver Hunter on May 19, 2012 8:25:56 GMT -7
Thanks Pare and Mike! That is some great info. I have come across their name before, but didn't know much about them. The Henry's and Hawkens kind of overshadow those other makers.
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Post by Rod on May 19, 2012 10:13:23 GMT -7
As Mike touched upon, by the 1850s or so, Tryon was really big into producing parts for other makers, in addition to their own firearms production. You'll see patchboxes and other furniture that looks familiar on other maker's rifles--because they were buying it from Tryon. They even had a catalog of sorts showing what they made. This approach was pretty common, with various makers specializing in certain products. I can easily envision a rifle with a Henry barrel, Tryon furniture, and a Goulcher lock ---all put together by a gunsmith in Missouri.
Not unlike today, with Chambers, Rice, L&R, Knob Mountain, etc.
Rod
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Pare
Mountaineer
Posts: 153
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Post by Pare on May 19, 2012 11:50:34 GMT -7
I found this yesterday while searching for Tryon. He also supplied SE Indians with guns, which fits right in with what I usually search for. Here's one quote and the link. You will have to search Tryon in the little search box. "0568 1832 Miscellaneous (Emigration), George W. Tryon. Major Topic: Rifles." cisupa.proquest.com/ksc_assets/catalog/101100.pdfPare- |
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Post by Rod on May 19, 2012 12:34:08 GMT -7
Interesting stuff, Pare--Thanks.
The whole subject got me to digging through the books, and I guess I don't have to "envision" anything when it comes to a rifle made of parts from various manufacturers. Looking through Gale, 'For Trade & Treaty' on pages 169-174, is a rifle just as described--J.Henry barrel, Tryon furniture, and Golcher lock. To be honest with you, I couldn't say just who's shop it came from.
Also, digging through Hanson's 'Firearms of the Fur Trade', note the furniture on the Tryon rifle on page 384 and compare it to the Henry on page 385 and the Krider on page 386---note any similarities?
Rod
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