Drepperd Contract Rifle. Believed made under contract of either 1803 or 1807. CP means Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Basic military musket. From the Goehring collection.
Provenance
Photographs taken by Al Drepperd for his article on Drepperd rifles and firearms, c. 2002 - 2003
Four "Market Hunters' Guns" made by the Drepperds. Also known as "River Guns". All are shotguns. The gun on top in England was known as a "Bank Gun" as the hunter would stand on a river bank and shoot at fowl as it floated by. In the 1700s and early 1800s many people made their living hunting with these guns and selling their kills on the local markets. Top gun is English and had been flint, was converted to percussion by Drepperd. Marked "Drepperd" on the breech plug. Second gun from the top is an early Drepperd and was always percussion. "Drepperd" is stamped on the breech block and it has a patented breech. Third gun from top is Drepperd and has alwasy been percussion. Fourth gun, on bottom, is in almost new condititon and much later gun. It's never been flint. These guns were very basic, no frills or even patch boxes. Economy guns for hunters. From Goehring collection.
Provenance
Photographs taken by Al Drepperd for his article on Drepperd rifles and firearms, c. 2002 - 2003