Holder rifles

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Tanglefoot

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My primary ML is a traditional sidelock longrifle made in the early '70's by Jesse Holder from Tellico Plains, TN. He is kin to my wife, and I had seen a few examples of his work owned by family over the years. One day while searching the internet for some information on him and his guns, I ran across one of his rifles for sale on GunsAmerica. Needless to say, I bought it and it has been my standby during the ML season ever since. Dead accurate with a patched .437 round ball and 60 grains of FF, it has dropped many a deer. A family heirloom of the very best kind.

I was wondering if any on here have ever heard of him or his rifles, or if anyone else is prowling the woods with one of Jess Holder's custom smokepoles. Would be interested to hear your stories. I understand his son Jerry continued in the gunmaking tradition, so there may be more examples out there with the Holder mark.
 
I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Holder. The first time I met him he was working at his shed where he made many guns. He kept bees along with his gun works. I sold him Ice Cream for many years and watched him work on several guns during that time. If I am not mistaken there was a segment of the Hartland series about him.
He had pictures of two different presidents in his store. Do you know which two presidents they were?
 
I have only been in the store on 68 there once and it was years ago. Jesse's nephew Kenneth Holder from Ducktown is my wife's grand-dad and he took me up there to meet Rit. Jesse had been gone for a while by then.

I have heard he gave one of his guns to president Reagan, so if I had to guess, he would be one of them. I'm betting neither was a Democrat.
 
Wouldn't be the first time. I wish I had gotten a chance to meet Jesse. I'll have to find that episode of the Heartland series, I think his nephew would get a kick out of it.

He made a good rifle, mine is not as fancy as some of his later ones but it gets the job done.

Would like to hear more about him and his rifles. Thanks for your reply. (I never would have guessed JFK) :o
 
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I'll get right on that. Send me an e-mail and let me know how your season has gone so far. I need to talk to you anyway, thinking about putting on a big hunt out there where you are headed, sometime next year. Want to pick your brain, or what's left of it. :grin:

Shouldn't have run off, I could have put you on a monster up at the farm. I got his little brother, I'll send you a picture.

Take care old man! Good to hear from you.
 
I remember those days. There was quite a bit of interest in traditional muzzle loading with our nation's bicentennial at hand. Can't say I ever knowingly observed one of Jesse's rifles but could have as I was active in the popular M.L. sport that was going on back then and through the mid 80,s. At that time there many small quantity makers with a few who were very talented. Do you have a photo you can share?
Tanglefoot said:
My primary ML is a traditional sidelock longrifle made in the early '70's by Jesse Holder from Tellico Plains, TN. He is kin to my wife, and I had seen a few examples of his work owned by family over the years. One day while searching the internet for some information on him and his guns, I ran across one of his rifles for sale on GunsAmerica. Needless to say, I bought it and it has been my standby during the ML season ever since. Dead accurate with a patched .437 round ball and 60 grains of FF, it has dropped many a deer. A family heirloom of the very best kind.

I was wondering if any on here have ever heard of him or his rifles, or if anyone else is prowling the woods with one of Jess Holder's custom smokepoles. Would be interested to hear your stories. I understand his son Jerry continued in the gunmaking tradition, so there may be more examples out there with the Holder mark.
Click to expand...
 
I'll have to get a couple of it and load them on the computer sometime. It's kind of a unique mix of styling. Cherry stock with some checkering, brass trimmings, and a Douglas barrel. It's one of his earlier rifles and a little more utilitarian. I know where one of his guns in .36 is, I'm going to have to borrow it for whacking some squirrels.

My other muzzleloader is an 1861 Springfield. .58 cal will do a number on a buck. :o

I need to pull my iron mounted flintlock project off the back burner and just get it finished already. It's a .50 cal, and will be a straight-up working rifle. Nice tiger striped maple stock, with a green mountain barrel. Will make a nice gun for guarding the still when I am not hunting.



Just kidding,

we only guard our still with modern firearms. :grin:
 
I know this is an old post but I am looking for a Jesse Holder rifle if anyone has one for sale. May also be intrested in other local maker's guns. Send me a PM if you have a lead.
 

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