Settle Rifles from Kentucky’s Barrens School: An Example by Felix Settle ©
Foreword: In central Kentucky in the mid-1800s, the Settle rifle was the rifle of choice for most local citizens. The Settle name was known across Kentucky and conjured up visions of well-made, reliable, and highly accurate rifles that followed the earlier Kentucky gunmaking tradition of limited decoration with superior performance. Still today most Kentuckians recognize the Settle name and associate it with some of Kentucky’s best early rifles, when quality meant performance more than appearance. This article examines a typical Settle rifle made in the mid-1850s by perhaps the best of the Settle gunmakers, Felix Settle. Note: on 3-16-24 images of a Willis F. Settle rifle were added as a Post Script.
Figure No.1: This is a typical Settle stamped barrel signature, similar to signatures on most Settle rifles. Felix Settle and sons Willis and Simon often added a production number and/or date after their signature stamps. This stamp is close to the rear sight, due to the sight being placed farther back than normal on this original full-length barrel. Author’s collection.
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igure No.2: The well-dressed gentleman is Felix Settle, probably taken in middle age while still making fine rifles in Barren County, Kentucky.
Background: The Settles were originally from Virginia, with William Settle leaving Fauquier County, Virginia, and moving to Barren County, Kentucky, in 1790. Other Settles followed, some of whom were also gunsmiths. But the most recognized of the Settle gunmakers were William Settle and his descendants who worked in Barren and surrounding counties. They were a prolific family, helped define the Barrens School of gunmaking in central Kentucky, with Barren County being at the center of their sphere of influence. Most Settle rifles are somewhat later guns, with the large majority being percussion half-stocks, but all were signed, some numbered and/or dated, and they generally followed the “Settle” pattern that a trained eye could often identify before the barrel signature was read. The Settles were known for placing the nose cap a couple inches past the rear ramrod pipe, the rear sight a few inches behind the rear ramrod pipe and using a "rounded" toe on many of their rifles. The best-known Settle rifle makers were William [1770-1808], his son Felix [1801-1871], and grandsons Willis [1826-1892] and Simon [1823-1871]. But ten other Settles also worked as gunsmiths in Kentucky.
Barrens School: Settle rifles fall within Kentucky's "Barrens School" of gunmaking that covers a large area above the Tennessee line in southcentral Kentucky. Barrens School rifles are known for their simplicity, lack of decoration, good workmanship and superb accuracy. Settle rifles met those criteria; they were known for their plain appearance that decried their good workmanship and renown accuracy. Old stories abound about Settle rifles being the best shooting rifles in Barren and surrounding counties and winning all the shooting matches. However, most local citizens owned a Settle rifle, so Settle rifles were bound to win most matches… but maybe we should just enjoy the old stories and not analyze them too closely.
A Typical Settle Rifle: The illustrated rifle is a good quality, typical 1850s Settle rifle by Felix Settle [1801-1870] who worked in Barren County, Kentucky... except for a short period during the Civil War when Federal troops burned his shop, destroyed his tools, and chased him out of town. The rifle is noteworthy for its uncut, original length barrel, original stock finish, and original barrel finish with minimal rust. Rifles by Felix's two sons, the better-known Willis and Simon Settle, look very much like this rifle in architecture, with slight differences in guard style at times. Two "trademark" details repeated on most Settle rifles are present: a) nose cap sitting several inches past the rear ramrod pipe, and b) subtle reverse curl in the butt’s toe. Most Settle rifles were stocked in maple, but few had outstanding wood. They were good quality working rifles, not decorated show pieces. But they acquired a strong reputation for accuracy across central Kentucky, and the Settle name lives on in Kentucky today. If you would like to learn more about the Settle gunmakers, or any other Kentucky gunmakers, check out the great reference books, Kentucky Gunmakers 1775-1900, Vols. I, II, and Epilogue, available on this site.
Figure No.3: The front of the Felix Settle half-stocked rifle is typical of most Settle work from the mid-1850s… except for the odd rear spur on the guard. The faded curl in the maple stock is about average for a Settle rifle; few Settle rifles have fine curly maple stock wood. A long tang is barely visible, but the Settle’s “trademark” slight reverse curl in the butt plate’s toe is visible here. The original back-action lock is unmarked. Author’s collection.
Figure No.4: The mid-1850s half-stocked rifle by Felix Settle has no cheekpiece, a common butt style on many Settle rifles of the era. Some Settle rifles have a slight curve, or “fish belly,” in the lower butt line, a trace of which can be seen here. Also visible is the rear sight without the rear ramrod pipe directly below it. Most Settle rifles have a longer-than-normal forestock grip area that pushes the rear ramrod pipe farther out. Author’s collection.
Figure No.5: A full length view of the Felix Settle rifle shows its slim lines and good stock architecture. This image also shows the relationship between the rear sight and rear ramrod pipe, both still in their original positions. The Settles commonly set the rear sight a couple inches behind the rear ramrod pipe, which on this rifle caused the name stamp to be closer than expected to the rear sight, yet reasonably centered between the breech and rear ramrod pipe. Also visible is the Settles’ “trademark” nose cap location several inches beyond the rear ramrod pipe. Barrel: 43-7/8 inches long, .36 caliber bore, 7-groove rifling. Author’s collection.
Figure No.6: The Felix Settle rifle has a typical Settle tang, about 5-3/8 inches long with a slight taper, with two wood screws attaching it to the stock. Note there is no tang bolt; both heads are actually wood screws. The fine original stock finish is visible in this view. The gun is in exceptionally good condition with its original stock finish intact along with its original barrel bluing with only minimal rust. Author’s collection.
Summary: Most Settle rifles followed a common pattern, indicating a close family relationship and shared patterns. Felix Settle’s work provides a good example of percussion era Settle rifles made in/near Barren County, Kentucky. The extended forestock grip area, rounded or “reverse curl” butt plate toe, slight “fish belly” in the lower butt line, and nose cap a couple inches past the rear ramrod pipe all help identify a Settle rifle. Surviving rifles by the patriarch William Settle are extremely rare, but rifles by his son Felix are more common, while those by grandsons Willis and Simon are the most frequently encountered… but never plentiful enough to satisfy today’s demand for them by Settle descendants and collectors in central Kentucky. As in the last century, they remain a highly sought after rifle in Kentucky.
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POST SCRIPT (3-16-24): Images of a half-stocked rifle by Felix Settle’s son, Willis F. Settle, have been added below. The rifle was made in the 1855-1865 era and shows several small changes in style, despite being made only a few years after the Felix Settle rifle.
Figure No.7: The Willis F. Settle rifle was made a few years after the Felix Settle rifle and has a shorter barrel. It differs from the Felix Settle rifle in other details including: 1) stocked in walnut instead of curly maple; 2) butt has pointed toe instead of earlier style reverse curve; 3) commercial guard has Kentucky style “square shoulder” above the rear spur; 4) a conventional cast nose cap/entry pipe has replaced the earlier brass rear ramrod pipe with a smaller cast nose cap several inches farther out; 5) slight “fish belly” in lower butt line is gone. Barrel: 36” with .36 caliber bore.
Figure No.8: The Willis Settle rifle has a simple diamond shaped lock bolt washer, and the guard is a commercial casting with a Kentucky-style “square shoulder” above the rear spur. The gun has no cheekpiece but retains a long tang with rounded tip similar to the Felix Settle rifle’s tang.
Figure No.9: The Willis Settle rifle’s barrel is stamped “W. F. Settle,” with the Roman numerals “XXXV” stamped a short distance to the right. The numerals may indicate it was 35th rifle Willis made.