World famous rifle of “Black Bill” Walker returns home to the Smokies
May 16, 2023; 4:53 p.m.

“Black Bill” Walker and his six-foot-rifle 'Ole Death'; image by GSMHC

TOWNSEND, TN -- The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center has acquired the hunting rifle and accoutrements of “Black Bill” Walker, founder of Walker Valley and subject of many Smoky Mountain legends. The rifle, given the moniker “Ol’ Death” by Walker himself, has been in a private collection since the 1930s but was donated to the Heritage Center last month.

The rifle is considered an early Southern Kentucky Rifle and is complete with a period ramrod and shooting accessories, most of which are shown in period-of-use photographs. The powder horn, cap horn, and powder measure are personalized with Walker’s initials and markings.

Randal Pierce, author of Kentucky Rifles of the Great Smoky Mountains, along with noted firearms collector, Ben Barrington, have thoroughly documented the collection of Walker items and photographed them for the Heritage Center. In addition, these gentlemen have graciously agreed to assist in displaying the Walker items at the “Tastes of the Smokies” fundraising event on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Heritage Center. This will be the first public display of “Ol’ Death” in nearly a century.

Below is an excerpt from Mr. Pierce’s written description of the gun’s provenance:

“This rifle has considerable provenance from its owner and use in the present Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GSMNP. The rifle was the property of William Marion Walker (born 1838, died 1919) known as ‘Black Bill’ Walker a prominent nineteenth and early twentieth century resident of the Tremont section of the GSMNP. He was a lifelong resident of the mountains who thrived by hunting, gardening, bee keeping, logging, and trading and buying land.

A larger-than-life character, Walker is featured in numerous hunting adventures and mountain living stories in the Smokies. He is pictured with the rifle in several books, articles and stories, many told by Walker. The rifle was given the name ‘Ol’ Death’ in these stories by Walker.

The rifle with the accessories were inherited by Ashley Moore, Walker’s grandson. Ashley continued to use the rifle but became ‘hard up for cash and sold Ol’ Death.’ After being sold, the rifle and accessories found their way to a New York City auction in the 1930’s. The auction of antique firearms featured ‘Ol’ Death’ in advertisements and was noticed by Heath Steele, who was personally familiar with the rifle. Steele had stayed with Walker in his Tremont home and was intrigued by stories told by Walker about the old rifle hanging over the fireplace. Steele bought the rifle at the auction, and it remained in the Steele family until recently donated to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, GSMHC, in April, 2023.”

The Heritage Center staff plans to put the Walker Collection on permanent display as part of a new gallery that is currently being designed and has an anticipated completion date in 2025. This gallery will also feature the Sam Keller Cabin, which was reconstructed inside the new gallery space by the Barnwood Builders television show and aired as Episode 6 of Season 14.

To see “Ol’ Death” in its first public display at the Heritage Center, tickets for the “Tastes of the Smokies” event are on sale now at gsmheritagecenter.org/events-tickets/. Tickets are $125 per person and include the opportunity to sample food and drinks from over a dozen Smoky Mountain eateries, interact with living history demonstrators throughout the Center’s historic village, and enjoy an evening concert by the Drift Boat Cowboys.