Gun over the fireplace... history?

[WestKentucky]

Why is it that guns are commonly stored over the fireplace? Was it to keep them away from the kids? I would imagine warm dry air would help keep the powder dry as well, but in the historic old world it seems much more reasonable that a need might arise and the gun would be more accessible near the door of the cabin. Predators after the livestock, Indian attack, target of opportunity comes strolling by and looks tasty... So is the gun over the fireplace a historically correct thing or is it a Hollywood thing?

 

[Pat Riot]

I was told that the gun over the fireplace was not only for protection but also decoration. Folks wanted to show off their rifle or long gun. I recall this from a history teacher I had that was also a Civil War re-enactor.

 

[armedwalleye]

Dunno, but I could see it both ways. It would make some sense. I'd be curious to hear from those folks that inherited such a place or have family knowledge.

 

[theotherwaldo]

My understanding was that folks often kept a "last-ditch" gun in the center of the cabin - often over the fireplace.

The last-ditch gun was often an old but reliable clunker that was always kept loaded - not something that you would do to a gun that you valued.
Your hunting rifle or musket would have its load pulled and the powder and the shot or ball returned to their respective pouches and the barrel swabbed and oiled as soon as the hunter returned home with a loaded gun.
Loaded guns rust,

 

[tipoc]

The custom of displaying firearms in a place of high visibility goes back a long way. By the way that's the key thing here. The fireplace was often a focal point of the house or at least the main room in a house. The guns above the fireplace, or on a visible place on a wall, were set there for display and that display was the main thing about their placement. Long guns were often placed for utility above or around the front door to the outside, or rear of the home. That location was not for display but utility. If you were fortunate enough to have a separate bedroom, then you might keep a gun close by there again for utility.

If you've ever been to Europe and visited some of the old castle or the homes of the well to do landowners then you will recall the displays of weapons and coats of arms placed on display in prominent locations. That custom traveled over the years to the well to do non nobility as firearms became more prominent. Good looking guns or antiques were displayed as a sign of well having a comfortable life. But for farmers, homesteaders, mechanics, and others a gun over the fireplace might be your grandpa's gun or something with personal meaning and a story to share. But often the working poor had few firearms and kept them in handy locations and not as items of display.

 

[Virginia Jim]

I’d like to display my Springfield Trapdoor over the fireplace, but I’m afraid Governor Nothingham will ban guns over fireplaces.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I thought it was because was a dry place to store you firearms.

in the days before temperature control and things rusting easily, it makes sense to me.

course, putting your most prized possessions on display is also a likely reason.

 

[Armored farmer]

The hearth was the center of the pioneer home.
Light, heat, cooking, reading all there in front of the hearth.
It was a centralized location for the entire family.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

The hearth was the center of the pioneer home.
Light, heat, cooking, reading all there in front of the hearth.
It was a centralized location for the entire family.

Still is for some of us

LOL

 

[bannockburn]

If there was space above the fireplace (wife has some sort of decorative piece up there), it would be a muzzle loader rifle that I built from a kit. Looks pretty good and definitely would add an "Early American" flavor to the family room!



Would probably hang a powder horn and a Possibles bag just to complete the look!

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

If there was space above the fireplace (wife has some sort of decorative piece up there), it would be a muzzle loader rifle that I built from a kit. Looks pretty good and definitely would add an "Early American" flavor to the family room!

View attachment 888542

Would probably hang a powder horn and a Possibles bag just to complete the look!

I was thinking an 1885 High Wall, but I'm picking up what you're putting down

 

[bikerdoc]

Unfortunately I don't have a fireplace due to a early 90's remodel by the previous owner.
I do have a sabre over my desk in the man cave/computer room, 1/2 bath, work shop in a converted attached garage that was too small to hold a modern car or truck.

 

[Iggy]

I thought it was a fire alarm. If the fireplace flared up, the gun would get hot and fire from the heat and wake everybody up!!

 

[Fyrstyk]

I recently inherited an over the fireplace muzzleloader from my grandfather, The gun had been over his fireplace for as long as I can remember, and i am told it was put there when the house was built in 1845. the gun was black with soot, but i was able to clean it up. To my surprise, the gun was also loaded. I pulled the ball and dumped the powder. The bore had lots of cobwebs, but was pretty clean. I plan to use the gun next fall on a squirrel hunting trip.

 

[Stubert]

Hey Fyrstyk, did you see if the powder still burned?

 

[Rembrandt]

.....So is the gun over the fireplace a historically correct thing or is it a Hollywood thing?

Whether it has true historical basis doesn't count.....Hollywood movies have seared it in peoples minds as truth and history.

(From the 1962 movie, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance")
“Ransom Stoddard: You’re not going to use the story, Mr. Scott?
Maxwell Scott: No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”

 

[Armored farmer]

FWIW, this is the mantle of my home.
It was built by my family in 1881. The same year Sitting Bull surrendered his tomahawk.
I have original rifles from the family to hang, but this one is mine. I killed the buck with it too.
View attachment 888560
Edited with new photo AFTER replacing the ceiling fan bulb.

 

[tipoc]

So is the gun over the fireplace a historically correct thing or is it a Hollywood thing?

More Hollywood than true but that would depend on who you are talking about and when. In the "historic old world". The American frontier actually lasted a few centuries from the time it was established as a colony into the early part of the 20th century in some places. Homes went from many rooms and floors luxurious for the time, to the one or two room shack of poor farmers and ranchers. Homes made of wood, logs, adobe or sod were common among poor folks on the frontier. In the latter places the hearth was a focal point and was also used for cooking. Candles were made of tallow and smoked with the fat drifting upward, to mingle with the smoke and grease from the fireplace. It wasn't just warm above the fireplace it was often hot, smokey and greasy.

Now the homes of the well off middle class were different, and the homes of the wealthy different again. So I'm thinking that in those homes the practice was more common of displaying weapons above the fireplace. It was a custom.

But the home of a cowboy in Uvalde, Texas in 1840 who had one rifle and burnt cowpies for warmth in his fireplace. I'm not so sure he kept that long gun above his home made fireplace.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

FWIW, this is the mantle of my home.
It was built by my family in 1881. The same year Sitting Bull surrendered his tomahawk.
I have original rifles from the family to hang, but this one is mine. I killed the buck with it too.
View attachment 888560

OUTSTANDING post.

 

[MI2600]

I can see the attraction of displaying your prized firearm, and also the usefulness of having your firearm handy and for keeping your powder dry. But, there must be a detrimental side to exposing your firearm to constant heat.

 

[WestKentucky]

I can see the attraction of displaying your prized firearm, and also the usefulness of having your firearm handy and for keeping your powder dry. But, there must be a detrimental side to exposing your firearm to constant heat.

Drying out and cracking the stock, warping a drying unsupported stock to change pressure against the barrel and thus changing point of impact

 

[Speedo66]

In Western movies a rifle was frequently portrayed as being above the main door. This makes sense as it was where you'd be to confront someone attempting to enter your home unbidden.

 

[22250Rem]

Seems to have become a time honored tradition for some folks. Growing up I can recall a few old guns over the fireplaces of some friends and relatives. Sometimes I wonder if professional interior decorators have coined a name for that theme when it comes to interior decorating. They could say that " The family room has been tastefully decorated in an early American rifle looney motif".. There could indeed also be a detrimental effect to being over a fireplace for extended periods which could also explain why the fireplace guns I recall were all good examples of what is commonly called a "wall hanger", as in not very valuable at all and possibly inoperable and / or worn out, so it was no great loss if they were stolen. But they looked cool up there on display even if they weren't expected to be handy in case a gun was needed. The wife decided that type of thing wouldn't go with her interior decorating even though we have a fireplace; otherwise I'd have the old Belgian 12 ga. double that I inherited from an uncle over our fireplace like it once was over his. It's one of those cheap "no name" utility grade shotguns that came out of Belgium in the late 19th, early 20th century. Lockwork's worn out, couple springs missing or broken, damascus barrels, but at least it looks cool with little to no value. So that makes it a good candidate for the fireplace or wall. .

 

[JTHunter]

View attachment 888573 FWIW, this is the mantle of my home.
It was built by my family in 1881. The same year Sitting Bull surrendered his tomahawk.
I have original rifles from the family to hang, but this one is mine. I killed the buck with it too.
View attachment 888560
Edited with new photo AFTER replacing the ceiling fan bulb.

If - repeat "IF" - that fireplace is a functional one, isn't that rifle so close that the wood will get dried out and crack? Same for the leather sling?

As for placement, the old expression about protecting "hearth and home" comes to mind. Over the door might be nice but if they are already banging on the door, wouldn't you want the gun closer to YOU and not the door?

 

[Armored farmer]

If - repeat "IF" - that fireplace is a functional one, isn't that rifle so close that the wood will get dried out and crack? Same for the leather sling?

It's a gas log now. Of course, I was the real thing years ago.
Yes the rifle is close. It did reside ABOVE the mantle before the 'Devil Buck' took up residence there.