My best friend is Joe Bogle, 5th great grandson of Joseph Bogle of the Bogle rifle fame. When the original Bogle rifle was at the Tn show at the Museum of Appalachia Joe photographed it in detail, took all the measurements and started making his own Bogle rifles.
He looked for someone to forge the mounts for him but the cost was astronomical, he set up an old BBQ grill with a heat gun for a blower and started beating on metal. One of our friends who was a professional blacksmith gave him some tips on the copper rivets and joining pieces together and soon he was forging some pretty good mounts.
His first rifle was flint, then he made a bunch of percussion guns because that what the guys he made them for wanted.
I had done a little favor for him and stopped by for a visit the other day to deliver some greens to him. As we were talking he said he had something for me, he reached behind the TV and pulled out one of his Bogle rifles, put it in my lap and said "I want you to have this".
I was speechless to say the least, I had wanted one of his guns for a long time but didn't want to trouble him about it. He is a very busy guy, always doing for others, the most selfless man I have ever met.
So, I have a new squirrel rifle, one with the sights far enough down the barrel so I can actually see them, I have a stable full of flintlocks but can't see the sights on any of the ones I have built.
The rifle is .40 with 44" A weight barrel and balances like a dream for me, SQUIRRELS BEWARE, I AM COMING AFTER YOU. Our season runs up into March here so I have a little more time.
The last picture is Joe with the original bogle rifle.
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