Rifle with flint lock, full stock of walnut, brass mountings, octagonal barrel with Jacob Kraft engraved in script letters on the top facet of the barrel. Plate 224, page 278 of Henry Kauffman's "Pennsylvania - Kentucky Rifle".
Rifle with flink lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, and octagonal-to-round barrel 48 inches long with J. Haeffer engraved in block letters on the top facet of the barrel.
Rifle with percussion lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, set triggers, octagonal barrel 36 inches long with Dunmeyer on the top facet of the barrel. Because of the scarcity of signed Dunmeyer rifles it is impossible to determine which of the three gunsmiths by that name made this rifle.
Rifle with percussion lock, curly maple half stock, brass mountings, set triggers, silver inlays, octagonal barrel 36 inches long with Sam. Meir on top facet of the barrel. The ferrule on the forestock is made of pewter, as many were half-stocked guns. The trigger guard suggests late nineteenth century production. While Meir's shop was in Somerset, it was located on Main Street.
Rifle with percussion lock, curly maple stock, brass mountings, octagonal barrel 40 inches long with S. H. Shillito on top facet of barrel. The pattern of the patch box is the typical one used by the gunsmiths of Franklin County in the first half of the nineteenth century. The bow of the trigger guard is unusually large for one trigger.
The form of the stock, the style of the carving, and the shape of the lock-bolt plate on this rifle was used by the gunsmiths in Somerset County in the last half of the nineteenth century. This one was made by one of the Dunmeyers.
Rifle with percussion lock, half stock of curly maple, patch box of brass, butt plate, trigger guard, and inlays of silver, set triggers, octagonal barrel 40 inches long with S.G. Schreckengost deeply engraved on the top facet of the barrel. This rifle is a typical Schreckengost product.
Rifle with back action percussion lock, curly maple half stock, brass mountings, set triggers, elliptical patch box, octagonal barrel 36 inches long with G. W. C. on top facet of the barrel.
Rifle with percussion lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, silver inlays, octagonal barrel 36 inches long signed on the top facet J. Long. The lace effect in the side plates of the patch box and eagle finial make this a very attractive product of Long. The fine curl of the wood and the silver inlays, including a fish and an eagle, suggest that this is one of his masterpieces.
Flinklock rifle, maple full stock, brass mounted, silver inlay on the cheek side, octagonal barrel 48 inches long. Although this rifle has an unusually long barrel its most unusual feature is the signature of the maker (G. Weiker) on the lid of the patch box. On a few of his products he is known to have included the price on the lid of the patch box which was usually $15. Weiker was an expert in the technique of incised carving. His rifles are rare and usually command a high price because of his novel method of advertising.
Rifle with percussion lock marked W. B., full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, silver inlays, and octagonal barrel marked W. B. for William Border. The curl in this stock is obviously an unsual example of wood selection. The carved pattern on the cheek side is different from the traditional style of the Bedford Gunsmiths.
Rifle with percussion lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, silver inlays, octagonal barrel 42 inches long marked J. Johnston on the top facet of the barrel in script letters. The form and ornamentation of this gun is typical of the time it was made. The inlays are attractively arranged and reflect the good taste of the maker in decorating his products.
Rifle with flink lock (now percussion), full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, and octagonal barrel with J. Ernst engraved in script letters on top facet of the barrel. This patch box design is usally associated with the work of Frederick Sell and its appearance on this gun by J. Ernst focuses attention on the possibility that Sell worked for Ernst or possibly supplied him with a patch box for one of his fine guns.
Percussion double rifle with one lock, octagonal barrels 34 inches long, both rifled and swivel at the breech, John Schuler, Liverpool, Pa. in block letters on top facet of each barrel.
Rifle with flint lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, silver inlays, and octagonal barrel with M. Edwards engraved on the top facet of the barrel. The finial of the patch box on this rifle is obviously the "drooping feather" pattern used by a number of rifle makers in the York County area. The C and S scrolls in the carved portion of the stock are cleverly executed. The wire inlay is an unsual feature of a Pennsylvania rifle. Edwards was obviously a fine gunsmith.
Rifle with flint lock, full stock of curly maple, brass mountings, octagonal barrel marked J. Bender in script letters on the top facet of the barrel. The lock on this gun was made by Dreppert. The horse head finial on the patch box was used by a few other gunsmiths in Lancaster county; however it is not a common feature of rifles made in Lancaster County. The products of J. Bender are very rare.
Rifle with percussion lock, half stock of curly maple, mountings of German silver, set triggers, octagonal barrel marked Eicholtz & Bros. Very few rifles are known to have been made in Lancaster with mountings of German silver. The tulip finial on the toe-plate is a pleasing feature for a Lancaster rifle.
