Published: November 15, 2009 08:48 pm      

Engraved rifle honors W.Va. history

A cornucopia of West Virginia’s rich heritage, going back to its painful birth in the strife of the Civil War, is the theme of a new rifle designed by a state native who has lived in Colorado almost four decades.

Jim Combs is planning on a limited edition — 150 to be exact — of the special firearm designed to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1863 statehood.

Featuring a blued barrel, the rifle is a Henry .30-30 and was chosen in deference to its American origin, Combs says.

For starters, one sees an engraving in the stock of two Confederate icons — Gen. Robert E. Lee and Lt. Gen. Stonewall Jackson, who grew up in the same town as Combs did, Clarksburg.

Next comes one of the Civil War’s more celebrated females, Confederate spy Belle Boyd, a Martinsburg native who served the southern cause in the Shenandoah Valley. After that comes a depiction of the first land battle of the Civil War, a defeat for Confederate Col. George Porterfield.

“This has been in my thought pattern for quite a few years,” Combs said of his creation. “Basically, it’s all in reference for West Virginia’s 150th anniversary.”

Combs didn’t stop with the Civil War, but ran through a number of items that define West Virginia as the 35th state.

For instance, there is the New River Gorge Bridge and a reproduction of the state Capitol.

From there, he moves into the bedrock industry, showing a coal miner, and etched into the stock below that is the date of West Virginia’s entrance into the Union, on June 20, 1863, followed by the official state animal, the black bear, and bird, the cardinal.

“All of this we’re offering on one rifle at this juncture,” Combs said.

Combs left the state in the early 1970s to work for a major food distributor and now calls Loveland, Colo., his home.

“This is good country,” he said. “I do hunt, but not as much as I’d like to. I’m thinking that anybody born and raised West Virginia wants to get outside, at least the older generation.”

In business fully a decade, Combs says he basically is the marketing agent for the rifle engraver.

“What I do is quality work for a quality firearm,” he said. “The wood on the Henry is excellent. The engraver is pretty meticulous. We stand behind the product. We do the research here on all the history.”

For additional details, one can view Combs’ creations at www.wellingtonltd.com.

A friend suggested .30-30 in deference to its popularity.

Eventually, Combs will add a second rifle to make a commemorative set. So far, 50 gun enthusiasts have reserved the initial Henry, meaning two-thirds remain available.

“You make sure you make a limited number and do the quality work, and that it’s historically accurate,” he said.

“Then they do well. That’s the thought pattern. The population of West Virginia makes it available to one in every 12,000 individuals.”

While the commemorative rifles, or any such firearms for that matter, are practical, in that they can be fired, Combs strongly recommends against it.

“It’s suggested you not do so because it will devaluate to about half,” he said.

One man advised him he was getting a firearm for his son but always puts one round through any kind of firearm that he purchases.

“These sets have potential,” Combs said. “I’ve talked to a lot of old-timers and dealers. These things can triple. They hardly ever leave a family. They become an heirloom.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com