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Earl Williams muzzleloader

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Anyone ever heard of him. Mountain man from Tennessee is the word I got. Helping a fella move today I seen a home build ML leaning in the corner. Peaked my interest... I asked a few questions and this guy and his uncle helped build Earl a garage back in 1986 and payment was this gun. Guy isn’t a gun guy and couldn’t tell me much about the gun beyond that. Knew plenty about the guy and his prior military service, but nothing about the gun itself. I enjoyed the talk and being able to handle the gun.

Anyways, he leaves this thing just leaning in the corner. I told him it deserves hung up or put in a safe.
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Not sure if you can see it or not in the pictures, but this gun has been in this corner for years! Long enough that the paper is worn off the drywall.

Here are closer pics.
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B33F09AB-A02F-4684-B7FB-B31C24E23AB3.jpeg
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C8151AF6-A4AE-4F86-AD7D-083D17293A08.jpeg

Yes, that says number 14.
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
Many years ago i used to go squirrel hunting with a buddy who had either a .32 or a .36 caliber rifle. We would only put 20 or 30 grains of powder in it with a patch and round ball. It only kicked like a .22 caliber rifle...I guess because of the small charge combined with the weight of the rifle. It was a lot of fun. Now you got me wanting to go buy a small caliber black powder rifle! Lol
 
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jagermeister

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Many years ago i used to go squirrel hunting with a buddy who had either a .32 or a .36 caliber rifle. We would only put 20 or 30 grains of powder in it with a patch and round ball. It only kicked like a .22 caliber rifle...I guess because of the small charge combined with the weight of the rifle. It was a lot of fun. Now you got me wanting to go buy a small caliber black powder rifle! Lol
That would be a lot of fun. You couldn't help but feel like a frontiersman hunting in the Ohio River valley in the 1800's.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
To add more to the story. This Earl guy drove a car up the mountain 67’ something and hasn’t left since. Once he finished his military service, he said he’d never leave the mountain again. As far as this guy knows, he never did. Pretty damn cool. Made ML’s and other primatives for people to make money. His son went to town for him for anything he couldn’t get from the land.
 

brock ratcliff

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That's a small fraternity. I know a guy that made a living as a mountain man. I guarantee he will know Earl and the mountain he lived on in TN. The fella I know put on mountain man shows all over the world, made guns and knives for Hollywood and did shows at Dollywood for years. He'd hike the Appalachian trail with just a flint knife for amusement... they are a strange and small fraternity for sure. lol
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
That's a small fraternity. I know a guy that made a living as a mountain man. I guarantee he will know Earl and the mountain he lived on in TN. The fella I know put on mountain man shows all over the world, made guns and knives for Hollywood and did shows at Dollywood for years. He'd hike the Appalachian trail with just a flint knife for amusement... they are a strange and small fraternity for sure. lol
Exactly what I was thinking! Someone knows this guy. In AK, this group of guys is also well known and a very small group.
 

CJD3

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14,629
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That’s a very cool story!
I appreciate you tagged me. Very much enjoyed the read an picts. Thanks!
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Any guesses as to what this might be worth? I’d love to take it out into the fresh air and daylight a couple of times a year. Let it hang on my wall.
 

brock ratcliff

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A guy selling it out of his house to you makes it worth x. You take it to Friendship Indiana and sell it to a buyer with real appreciation for it and it will be worth xyz!
 

brock ratcliff

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Giles, I see Roger Dillard often, but not daily. If you want the to stop by his house to ask him about this gunmaker I'll be glad to give you directions. Warning: you'll need an hour or two to talk.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Giles, I see Roger Dillard often, but not daily. If you want the to stop by his house to ask him about this gunmaker I'll be glad to give you directions. Warning: you'll need an hour or two to talk.
I’ve got plenty of time right now. I’ll swing by your shop one day this week. Actually came by yesterday around noon with my boys...ended up eating a whopper😂.