C. Michael Briggs, North Carolina Longrifle Collector and Author
February 7, 2010 by Rick Sheets
Filed under Book Review, Collector, Gift Idea, Product Review
I caught up with Michael Briggs at the Greensboro Gun Show today at the Greensboro Coliseum. He had superlative examples from his collection of original North Carolina longrifles on display. The crowd was brisk at times, but Michael took his time to speak with people coming by his booth, which included me. Thanks Michael.
C. Michael Briggs at the Greensboro Gun Show 2010
I first met Michael when he and Bill Ivey spoke at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in Old Salem, NC in April of 2008. They arranged for a massive display of North Carolina longrifles (and a few pistols) to supplement the extensive slide show and lecture on NC rifles, their makers and accouterments. I have read everything I can get my hands on about NC guns and gunsmiths and I can tell you Michael has raised the bar of serious scholarship in these firearms, pouches and horns. If I hear about another lecture I will post an announcement here on BlackPowder411. If you can’t see the guns in person, the next best thing to do is get his books.
Michael is the author of three books. The Longrifle Makers of Guilford County, The Longrifle Makers of Forsyth County & Davidson County and Piedmont N.C. Banded Powder Horns and Hunting Bags.
Michael has just produced a conventionally bound volume of his work The Longrifle Makers of Guilford County. The pictures are sharp and clear and it is a first class production; you will be pleased with this book. (He does have a few left of this book in the unbound format, which he is selling at a discount. You will need to call Michael if you are interested in the discounted books. See the link below.)
If you are interested in contacting Michael to purchase his books or want to know a little bit more about him, click on this link to see Michael’s Mini-Site.
Thanks for reading,
Rick Sheets
This is a really neat book. There is so little information out about Southern pieces that I welcomed the opportunity to see something published.
Mr Briggs presents some nice North Carolina horns, pouches and accoutrements in a good fashion. I like this book, but I wish he had spent a little more on production. I would be willing to pay more for a bound, well-printed book.
Thanks for the post. Since reading the North Carolina longrifles book by John Bivins, I have been wanting more information on these guns.
If you are looking for more NC Rifle pictures, then here it is! I am a big fan of NC rifles and this book gives someone like me (who doesn’t get to see many original from NC) a chance to see more examples of NC Rifles. There ae more Vogler Rifles in there for you Vogler Fans out there, and some biographical details that are very interesting.
Especially one riflemaker who was also a Tombstone Cutter! He was a Vogler, but see the book to find out which one. This is especially interesting to me as I also build rifles and cut tombstones. In the Beginning of the book is a list of NC Makers, and some good info on Andreas Betz. Any true NC Rifle student will want this resource!