First they reduced the bores of the Kentucky to 0.45 to Pawpaws are carved in full relief on the left side of the butt stock (Fig. Patrons with discerning tastes and finances to match paid gunsmiths to embellish their rifles to a degree not previously seen. Jacob Dickert, a Moravian from Lancaster, Pa., became noted as the developer of a superb gun that combined strikingly effective firepower with a design so simple and yet attractive as to denote his craftsmanship in wood, iron, and brass. By the late Shortly after the hybrid weapons were offered, American frontiersmen heard of their effectiveness and clamored for them. Whisker, James B., 2012, Gunsmiths & Allied Tradesmen of Virginia: Everett, PA, published by author. WebThe Kentucky Rifle matches classic beauty with outstanding performance. WebSave 20%! What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? Heres how the long rifle was described, as written by Captain John G. W. Dillin in his book, The Kentucky Rifle. The book was originally published in 1924, has gone through six editions and includes 126 illustrated plates. A swamped 42 barrel and thin iron hardware put this gun just over 5 pounds. Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. 200 yards, which was an astonishing range at that time. 45). These rifles were well designed, not slapped together like notes on a corkboard. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 52) verifies McGlivrays association with Peterman. Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rifle Mass Variable, typically 7 to 10 lbs. Photo: iStock. ", Quotations from M.L. The naive silver inlays, inlaid silver wire, pierced side plate, and pick holder all are enhancements. What is the legal age to own a replica firearm in Kentucky? General Washington was able to assemble about 1,400 riflemen or backwoodsmen These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was found that maple that grew on thin rocky soil produced a closer and curlier grain than trees native to open ground and heavy soil. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, riflemen were used A flint in the cock or hammer of the lock strikes the steel frizzen, thus producing sparks that ignite a small powder charge in the pan that in turn ignites the main powder charge in the barrel. The symmetrical, relief carving around the tang (Fig. Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. 50). immigrant craftsmen from Germany and Switzerland, the Kentucky rifle Arguably, the earliest known Virginia longrifle was probably made by Johanes Faber circa 1750 in Rockbridge County, VA (now Augusta County) (Figs. Light in weight; graceful in line; economical in consumption of powder and lead; fatally precise; distinctly American; it sprang into immediate popularity; and for a hundred years was a model often slightly varied but never radically changed.". Generally speaking, a firearm is a long gun when it is designed to be held with two hands and braced against the shoulder when it is fired. 62, 63, 64, & 65). Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. In Fig. Also, note the shock-wave carving. WebLong rifle, known as longrifle, Kentucky rifle, Pennsylvania rifle, or American longrifle, was one of the first commonly used rifles for hunting and warfare. The butt stock, while still substantial in thickness, is purely Kentucky rifle in architecture and is no longer musket-like. Keep the faith. The application will be sent to the Kentucky State Police within five working days. Its nickname was the widow-maker, a grim title bestowed by the British because of its depredations against officers. V, pp. Also note the beavertail carving around the side plate and lock in Figs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Further note in Fig. However, many fine rifles with lesser enhancements were made. Through both words and photographs, we have attempted to answer the questions posed in the title of this article and to show that longrifles were functional utilitarian tools as well as works of art. A prime example is another, contemporary longrifle built by Frederick Sheetz (Fig. 17 & 19)12. 40, see Fig. If a picture is worth a 1000 words, here are 8000 words worth of pictures to show just how good a Kentucky rifle can get (Figs. Obviously, the Klette rifle was a high-end firearm at the time with all the bells and whistles. Kentucky Rifle victory at New Orleans in 1815, a battle largely fought by Tennesseans Soon black powder followed thedemise of the muzzle loader and the Kentucky Long Rifle became acollector's item. and snipers. While every rifle, pistol and fowler is individually created to reflect the authentic beauty and artistry of the early gun makers, equal importance is placed on building a durable Coin silver or brass were used sparingly for patch-boxes and inlays in the flintlock era, more extensively in the percussion period. 2, 3, & 4: Courtesy of Gordon Barlow and Giles Cromwell. Next the barrel length was increased to 40 inches, in essence, so The German-style lock on this rifle is signed F Klette, and the barrel is marked S(t)evensburg. The very best of the Golden Age rifles to the lower-end, iron-mounted examples of the same period, as well as Kentucky rifles of all the periods, share this in common: they were graceful, aesthetically pleasing shooters regardless of their decorative enhancements. This is not to say that base-model rifles and rifles enhanced to a lesser extent than the Golden Age examples were not produced as well. the extra accuracy of the Kentucky Rifle. While signed Johanes Faber on the side plate (Fig. A substantial contingent of immigrant German gunsmiths, who had debarked in Philadelphia, set up mills and gun shops virtually on the frontier. Flint Size 3/4 by 7/8 These locks are different than all, It produces a ALL WAIT TIMES ARE ESTIMATES!!! buckskin-wearing riflemen quickly spread to the British Army. It was favored by hunters and soldiers. First and foremost, they were shooters. Again, note the rectangular pins attaching the escutcheon and the wear plate. did not require custom-made bullets. The following three longrifles continue the progression from the Golden Age well into the first quarter of the nineteenth century. 11). However, similar examples exist from the other regions as well. WebThe shooter may have inconsistent results from each shot by mis-measuring the amount of black powder used when muzzle-loading. Here, we see an early rifle in a clear transition from the baroque to the rococo. Washington The weapon was in the hands of a collection of temporary soldiers, all experienced riflemen; the desolate mountainside offered perfect terrain for the cover-to-cover style preferred by the American riflemen; and British tactics actually favored the weapons of their adversary. Both lock screws are present in the side plate further indicating the flintlock on this rifle was converted to percussion using the original lock plate, rather than being totally replaced with a percussion lock. 6 dates circa 1765-70 and probably was made in western Rockbridge County, VA (now Augusta County)4. A crescent-shaped buttplate, patchboxand cheekpiece were also common and are helpful in identifying a KY/PAlong rifle. How big is a North Carolina flintlock rifle? How big does a flintlock pistol lock need to be? 20-27). 16 is an example of a Kentucky rifle leading into the Golden Age. compared to smoothbores. Larry McArthur, last family owner of one pistol, personal communication. After the French and Indian War brought new lands to theattention of the frontiersmen, the uniquely American long-range rifleswere carried into the frontier (at that time Kentucky) by the longhunters, trappers and explorers. Both incised carving and relief carving were used to decorate this rifle. Note also the engraved silver inlays as well as the silver wirework around the star. As previously discussed, not all longrifles made during the Golden Age were of the Golden Age quality like the great Frederick Sheetz, discussed above (see Fig. Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. The rifle was thus used WebThe online store of Jim Kibler--contemporary flintlock rifle artist. In this photograph, note the signed lock plate, the heart engraved on the lock plate reminiscent of the heart in the tang carving on the rifle in Fig. Unfortunately, most longrifles do not have written signatures. The next two longrifles, contemporaries of the two Sheetz rifles, represent the other end of the spectrum, down in enhancements from the two Sheetz. By modern standards, it was a massive firearm, bulky and unwieldy. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? Eventually, his use of the rifle spread among the people and the Kentucky was considered a necessity by frontiersmen; every frontier family owned at least one. This is a very light slim rifle stocked in straight grain maple. became famous. 5 What caliber was Davy Crocketts rifle? 9, and the similar beavertail carving around the lock plate as seen on the previous two rifles (see Figs. Later longrifles were equipped with percussion locks that use a disposable percussion cap with a small explosive charge to ignite the powder in the barrel. But then why would the long rifle be made "less safe" having only one trigger. This rifle is a pre-Golden Age example, not a fully developed Golden Age Kentucky. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Best Prices, Free Shipping, Expert Advice! 43 & 44). Barrel length 32 in., to over 48 in. Now let us answer the questions posed in the title. Fig. This, indeed, is not the case. During the transition from the traditional Kentucky rifle to this type of shorter rifle, many half-stock Kentucky rifles were produced. Riflemen, when available, were used by the American Army as pickets helical grooving in the barrel. 8). 17). The charcoal iron barrels were lengthened, and bores were made smaller. Also note in Fig. The octagonal barrel is rifled 1:66" for patched-ball loads. 1-52. Circa 1725 the forerunner of the KYlong rifles were being designed and built by German craftsman inPennsylvania. Kentucky Rifle The engraved brass trigger guard, shaped brass thumb piece (Fig. Daniel Boone was another legendary hero who carried a flintlock rifle. Both being utilitarian tools, the enhanced rifle and a base-model rifle would have functioned the same. The brass patch box (Fig. 1-52. 19 & see Fig. The American rebels could rely on men who had grown up using firearms as part and parcel of their daily lives. Calibers ranged from .40 to .60 and this wide range complicated supply efforts for a military unit. While this iron-mounted rifle is not a base-model example, it has only minimal enhancements, namely a decorative iron patch box and side plate (Figs. 19) that has become synonymous with the Lauck shop and is reflected in the work of those gunsmiths that trained there. this rifle. PR3065 Pedersoli Pennsylvania Rifle - .50 Cal. who could hit a man anywhere they liked at 200 paces. for over a century, until the coming of the "cap and ball" percussion together from the neighboring southern Appalachians. This engraving as well as the carving on the left side of the butt stock (Fig. Crockett affectionately named this rifle Old Betsy, either after his wife or sister. These two Alex McGilvray rifles certainly are a study of extremes. In its finality, the Kentucky was "rifled," with How long is a Kentucky concealed carry license good for? However, the level of art on the enhanced rifles was still quite high. The purpose of the patch is to engage the rifling in the barrel thus spinning the ball when shot. Kentucky Rifle pitched spitball does in the game of baseball. In fact, most were mounted with simple iron furniture (ie. From the incessant attacks of these bodies, their opponents could never be prepared; as the first knowledge of a patrol in the neighbourhood was generally given by a volley of well-directed fire, that perhaps killed or wounded the greater part.. The third longrifle under discussion in this group of three (Fig. He developed the opposing-C-scroll, carving design for the butt stock (see Fig. For more detail photographs and information on this longrifle, see Shumway3. Long Rifles buried in the mud flats, creating total confusion in the British ranks. Butt stocks had become thinner in cross-section. Klette was the master armorer at the Rappahannock Forge in Falmouth, VA during the Revolutionary War, and his home was the crossroads of Stevensburg in Culpeper County, VA outside of Fredericksburg, VA6. Kentucky Rifle 66); however, the signature is illegible. The Long Rifle Chapter, along with the Bluegrass Chapter, represents Army and Air National Guard technicians across the Commonwealth. Some authorities even say that a long-range hit by a Kentucky rifle may have won the American Revolution! Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Quickview. This means that with scope, sling and everything hunt-ready, the typical rifle rig weighs-in at around nine pounds. The stock is solid and well-crafted and features a beautiful and rich walnut finish. WebAnswer (1 of 5): Thats a question you can only answer in the context of its time. This construction technique is helpful to scholars in identifying unsigned rifles by him8. It does not store any personal data. Posted by Dave Tabler Estimated reading time: 10 minutes The short answer is No. That said, what we almost always refer to today as the Kentucky long rifle wasnt always called that. They are now on loan to Colonial Williamsburg and displayed in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg along with the John Sheetz Golden Age Kentucky rifle. Perhaps due to this heritage,Kentuckians were known as sharpshooters from the revolutionary Warthrough WWII and even as late as Vietnam. This graceful longrifle is obviously an enhanced version with carving and brass furniture. A particularly nice rifle of this transition period is the signed Alex McGilvray rifle (Fig. Instead, the American longrifle was generally listed simply as rifle gun in those documents. As seen in Fig. This spin gives rifles greater range and accuracy, Similar to American architecture in the Colonial and Federal periods where the grand homes have survived in greater quantities than the simpler more plentiful lesser homes, the better longrifles, too, have had a better survival rate. for recreation, as well as for protection and hunting. For a few extra pence, pounds, or dollars from the purchaser, however, the gunsmith would upgrade the rifle to brass or even silver furniture and add embellishments, not unlike car manufacturers do today. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Remember, Frederick Sheetz trained in the Lauck shop; therefore, it is not surprising to see Lauck-shop features such as this shockwave, the opposing C-scrolls, etc. However, it does have the initials TD engraved in period script on its inlaid, silver thumb piece (Fig. Similar to other disciplines such as architecture, music, decorative arts, etc., Kentucky rifle-making can be roughly grouped into three, basic, recognized, art-history periods baroque, rococo, and neoclassical. flight trajectory. Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. They consist of a full-length stock, generally of curly maple or walnut. 6 What is the mass of a typical rifle in Kentucky? Ever since, Kentucky rifle has become the generic term for all longrifles, not just those made in Kentucky. 3610) and President William Henry Harrison were close personal friends. Shumway, George, 1980, Rifles of Colonial America, Vol. In fact, the Library of Virginia has in its collection an early twentieth-century photograph of a man somewhere in Virginia guarding his illegal whiskey still with a longrifle. Architecture, decorations, and construction characteristics often serve as unwritten signatures, thus allowing the scholar to identify a maker or a region in which the rifle was made. firearm. General Washington was able to assemble about 1,400 riflemen or backwoodsmen carrying Kentucky Rifles. 51) is of the highest order with its decorative shape, piercings, and engraving. It is in good company with the John Sheetz rifle9 at Colonial Williamsburg and the Simon Lauck rifle at Winterthur. Doug Douglas, personal communication. As with the above presentation of the Frederick Sheetz rifle, the McArthur pistols are best presented in photographs (Figs. The Kentucky rifle an expertly crafted tool that no frontier family was without was actually made in Pennsylvania, not Kentucky; the towns of Lancaster and Reading were particularly important centers of production, according to The New American. In fact, the vast majority of lesser examples of homes as well as longrifles have been lost through attrition. The result was a uniquely American weapon of German and Scotch-Irish lineage with a lengthened grooved barrel that allowed full burning of the powder charge and markedly increased range and accuracy. The checkering on the wrist of this rifle is the first encountered in this study. This unpredictable motion They were therefore wasteful Fig. Note also the additional silver inlays, all artistic enhancements. These heroes were quickly gathered The muzzle-loading flintlock long rifle was developed in the first half of the 18th century, primarily in an area southwest of Philadelphia. Further, he developed the shock-wave carving design on the wrist (see Fig. What is the difference between a Kentucky rifle and a Pennsylvania rifle? American victory there, which was a decisive battle of the war. 9. The song credited much of Gen. Andrew Jacksons American victory over the British to his Kentucky riflemen and their Kentucky rifles. While a base model would have had a cheek piece, it certainly would not have had any carving or engraving. 40-caliber flintlock crafted by James Graham circa 1822. Advantages of the Brown Bessie muskets over the Kentucky Rifles were The Kentucky rifle was not developed as a military weapon per se. Not all is lost, though. While the patch box (Figs. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? 32 Caliber 3 month wait 36 Caliber 3 month wait 40 Caliber 3-6 week wait 45 Caliber 8-10 week wait Styling from the 1820s based on the work of Whitson in western North Carolina Stock has a pull of about 13.75 and a drop of approximately 3. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Rifled gun, hog rifle, Pennsylvania long rifle were just a few of its earlier names. Wallace Gusler, personal communication. These skilled soldiers operated from the flanks of the The Tennessee Mountain rifle is truly one of the guns that won the West. Duty, dignity, dedication. Since the balls had no spin to balance the turbulence caused by slight It went by various other names: long rifle, American Rifle, Dickert Rifle, and Pennsylvania Rifle. Because of size, complex construction with varied surface elevations, and assorted materials used in their construction, Kentucky rifles are notoriously difficult to photograph, especially outside of a studio. Pawpaws are far from conventional decorations on Kentucky rifles, if not actually unique here on this rifle. Theres no difference. Gap. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Experienced riflemen were adept at distances of 300 yards while the standard-issue Brown Bess used by British soldiers was accurate at only about 80 yards. Kentucky In training camps their feats of marksmanship However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The license is valid statewide for 5 years. Both patch and ball were then rammed home, the firing pan was primed with a few grains of powder, and the weapon was ready to fire. This rifle, which is referred to here as the baby Sheetz, is somewhat reduced in scale for a person, male or female, of slighter stature. The great Kentucky flintlock-hunting In fact, he built the John Sheetz Golden Age copy in Fig. 47-49) all show a degree of sophistication, elevating this rifle above a base model. George Cofer signed this small, percussion rifle on its barrel. This butt-plate curvature became even more pronounced as the Kentucky rifle progressed through time. adoption of the name " Kentucky" for was won by rifle-toting backwoodsmen. The answer is yes to both. While the rifle in Fig. First of all, they were so heavy that to go hunting with Faber is a common name in the area, and he might have been the first owner. This rifle is on display at the National Rifle Associations National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. The rifle is signed in script on its barrel (Fig. A few makers continued to make longrifles well into the nineteenth century, and many, if not most, surviving, flintlock longrifles were converted to percussion. In Fig. However, Bill Ivey in North Carolina Schools of Longrifles p. 52 attributes this rifle to the Moore/Randolph County area of North Carolina. These enhancements along with the architecture of the rifle reflect the conservative baroque taste of the time. Word of these These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Over the past 50 years, there has been a resurgence of interest in longrifles. These are the finest expressions of American mechanical art, and they are true American treasures! What are some disadvantages of a Kentucky long rifle? 2022 Edenton Historical Commission. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Some longrifles are signed by the maker. Nevertheless, they are well done and effective. 5. This rifle is also known 12) is well executed and is more academic in nature than the carving seen on the early rifle in Fig. Easily damaged or lost wood patch-box covers were replaced by lids of hinged brass or silver. 0.50 caliber, so that one pound of lead, poured into iron molds, would fired bullet on an alignment that coincided with the line of its This was considered large enough for the wild game or the hostile Indian. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. shape) of the butt stock and decoration on the Faber rifle are early, and the rifle retains its original flintlock. They are treated as ordinary firearms for possession and carrying purposes. Long Rifle rifle in 1840. For military purposes, the weapon was loaded with ball, or a mixture of ball with several large shot (called buck and ball), and had an effective range of about 75 to 100 metres. 10. The guns of the first American colonists were not rifles at all. However, the long rifle did have its drawbacks. Kentucky long rifle WebCirca 1730 English/German Central Colonial Flint-lock Jaeger Rifle (single-shot/ muzzle-loading/ black powder/ ball ammunition) Because of their stabilizing rifled barrels and large caliber, Jaeger (hunter) rifles facilitated effective shooting for professional hunters in McArthur painting is in the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, OH. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Dickert, whose name was initially attached to a school of gunsmiths, was exceptionally productive. This rifle was re-stocked and converted to percussion circa 1840s, possibly by one of Beetons gunsmith sons13. The New American also cites writings from Captain Henry Beaufoy, a British veteran of several wars, who wrote these remarks about American riflemen of the Revolutionary War: The Americans, during their war with this country, were in the habit of forming themselves into small bands of ten or twelve, who, accustomed to shooting in hunting parties, went out in a sort of predatory warfare, each carrying his ammunition and provisions and returning when they were exhausted. Daniel Boone carried a Kentucky Rifle throughout his forays into the dangerous woods of Kentucky and through the Cumberland Gap. Still, many volunteers showed up with them at the start of the Civil War in 1861. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The longrifle seen in Fig. The Kentucky Long Rifle was more accurate than any known previous firearm, and it soon became famous with a flight being deadly at over 200 yards, which was an astonishing range at that time.
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