Doug Douglas, personal communication. 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. In summary, Kentucky rifles of all the periods, share this in common: they were graceful, aesthetically pleasing shooters regardless of their decorative enhancements. 8. writings & news. The brass cap on the toe of the butt stock is a period repair. Wallace Gusler, personal communication. The Brown Bessies, as they were called, fired spherical balls of Now let us answer the questions posed in the title. that they could be loaded easily and more rapidly than rifles, and 47-49) all show a degree of sophistication, elevating this rifle above a base model. |, Bowhunting Video: Decision Time Big Grizzly Stands, Facing You at Close Range, Hunting a Mixed Bag of Deer and Predators, VERY Scary Video: Shark Bites Anglers Hand, Pulls Him From Boat, Shady Rays X Series Realtree Edge Polarized Sunglasses, Black Bear Captured, Tagged in Mountains Near Los Angeles, Archery Advice: How to End a Shooting Slump, The Kentucky Rifle: An Independence Day Hero, influence hunters had on the Revolutionary War. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This conveys rotary motion to the While signed Johanes Faber on the side plate (Fig. The silver device below the cheek piece is a holder for the flash-hole pick. First they reduced the bores of the Kentucky to 0.45 to Prior to the widespread availability of digital cameras and smartphones, Dr. Whisker pioneered field photography of Kentucky rifles using a high-quality film camera, black and white film, long exposure times, and a moving light source to flood the rifle with light. The application will be sent to the Kentucky State Police within five working days. Pawpaws are carved in full relief on the left side of the butt stock (Fig. They fire a round ball partially wrapped in a cloth patch that is moistened with grease or spit. 61) was purpose built. long rifles In this excerpt from "Kentucky Life," we learn more about Kentucky's significant role in the War of 1812. By the time they were teenagers, these young men were crack shots whom the family depended upon to hunt game for food and to repel Indian attacks. The situation was quite different in the New World. The decorative elements do not really mesh with each other or integrate well overall with the rifle itself. This spin gives rifles greater range and accuracy, 39 the shockwave emitting from the lower C-scroll. 69). 28-35). However, the long rifle did have its drawbacks. (A rule of thumb used by some gunsmiths was to make the rifle no longer than the height of a customers chin because of the necessity of seeing the muzzle while 25 shows the free-form incised carving on the top or comb of the butt stock. Another 8000 words worth of pictures should tell the story. American victory there, which was a decisive battle of the war. Kentucky statutes are silent on antique and replica firearms. flight trajectory. The song credited much of Gen. Andrew Jacksons American victory over the British to his Kentucky riflemen and their Kentucky rifles. Note also in Fig. This graceful longrifle is obviously an enhanced version with carving and brass furniture. shooting, and were fitted wholly with Brown Bessies; surprisingly, 16 is an example of a Kentucky rifle leading into the Golden Age. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. WebWhat are some disadvantages of a Kentucky Long Rifle? However, the long rifle did have its drawbacks. 70), note the plethora of checkering, the washer-type side plate, the exaggerated curve of the butt plate, and the rather clumsy attempt at wire inlay using German silver. As larger game became more scarce, bores were reduced further, or in some instances made smooth to use shot.". We will see more examples later. American Walnut Stock w/ Octagonal Blued Barrel. 1-52. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. compared to smoothbores. 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. 40-caliber flintlock crafted by James Graham circa 1822. 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. 21), it is apparent the shapes are quite similar but more highly developed on the great Sheetz. 68). fitted with a 30-inch barrel. 60 include the drawdown escutcheon and rear ramrod pipe, both in silver. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? While most Kentucky rifles were multi-purpose tools, this second of three rifles (Fig. In the hands of an accomplished marksman, the Kentucky could bring down a man or a deer at 100 or more yards and knock a squirrel out of a tree at 200 or more., Portrait of Daniel Boone (1734-1820), American pioneer, shown seated on a rock with a long rifle leaning on his shoulder. Considerable care was taken in decorating its ironwork with engraving, punch work, moldings, and gadrooning or rope work (Figs. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Flint Size 3/4 by 7/8 These locks are different than all, It produces a ALL WAIT TIMES ARE ESTIMATES!!! The iron knob or projection below the butt stock is a flash-hole pick (see Fig. of a Kentucky Long Rifle In fact, as previously noted, the vast majority of Kentucky rifles built were base models and rifles with minimal enhancements. At the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, riflemen were used The loyalists engaged the colonists at about 200 yards, a distance at which their muskets were not effective, but which was well within the killing range of the American long rifle. Recreating the American Longrifle; by Buchele, Schumway, Alexander; Paperback, Guns and Gunmaking Tools of Southern Appalachia : The Story of the Kentucky Rifle; by John Rice Irwin; Paperback, Black Powder Hobby Gunsmithing ; by Sam Fadala, Dale Storey; Paperback, Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age; by Joe, Jr. Kindig; Hardcover, The Bedford County rifle and its makers; by Calvin Hetrick, The Kentucky rifle; by Merrill Lindsay, The Pennsylvania rifle; by Samuel E. Dyke, Recreating the Kentucky rifle; by William Buchele, Rifles of Colonial America; by George Shumway, Rifles of Colonial America Vol. It does not store any personal data. and practically every frontier family owned one. surface imperfections, they curved viciously in flight, much like a We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. rendered these muskets ineffective beyond a range of about 60 yards. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Rifled gun, hog rifle, Pennsylvania long rifle were just a few of its earlier names. Cofer signed this small, percussion rifle on its barrel. The Kentucky rifle was not developed as a military weapon per se. ", Quotations from M.L. He and his assistants turned out hundreds of guns. The German-style lock on this rifle is signed F Klette, and the barrel is marked S(t)evensburg. the extra accuracy of the Kentucky Rifle. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. However, it served very well as a military firearm brought by citizen solders during the French and Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, numerous other smaller conflicts, and even the Civil War. This rifle became the primary weapon Not all is lost, though. 7 How long is a Kentucky concealed carry license good for? The tradition in both branches of the family was that the other pistol was destroyed in a fire. the history of the Kentucky Long Rifle. The major issues driving the change - along with limited range - was the lack of quality black powder and availability of lead for both proved expensive to acquire. pitched spitball does in the game of baseball. It would not be long, however, before the Kentucky Rifle found its way to the battlefield seeing widespread use in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and even some use as late as the American Civil War. Following the close of the Revolutionary War, the Kentucky rifle flourished as an art form. 7 How big is a North Carolina flintlock rifle? They are treated as ordinary firearms for possession and carrying purposes. Word of these According to McArthur-family tradition11, Harrison owned the pistols and gave them to his friend, Gen. Duncan McArthur, when McArthur relieved Harrison as commander of the Army of the Northwest, Ohio Territory. Nevertheless, it is a well-appointed longrifle ranking at the top of its class, far above a base model. While this rifle is iron mounted and does not have any carving, it was not a base-model rifle. 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. Additional carved and engraved baroque features on the Klette are the carving around the tang, the engraving on the tang, and the engraving on the heel of the brass butt plate (Fig. Daniel Boone carried a Kentucky Rifle through Cumberland How long is a Kentucky concealed carry license good for? WebFirst they reduced the bores of the Kentucky to 0.45 to 0.50 caliber, so that one pound of lead, poured into iron molds, would produce from 70 to 120 round balls to be used for bullets, therefore conserving valuable lead. What is the difference between a Kentucky rifle and a Pennsylvania rifle? 2; by George Shumway. as to get extra thrust from the expanding gunpowder. Further, he developed the shock-wave carving design on the wrist (see Fig. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Shumway, George, 1980, Rifles of Colonial America, Vol. V, pp. Due to the tight tolerances on the ball caliber and the need for a tight-fitting patch, paper cartridges could not be used. 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. a way of life on the great American frontier, and nearly every settlement Are there pitfalls or benefits of one or the other I need to be aware of? im sure sharps has a better answer on this, this is a quote from one of the sites i have book marked The Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) Long Rifle was the most accuratelong-range gun for several decades.The first documented appearance of rifling was in Germany around 1460.The flintlock was developed in the early 1600's. Fancy silver trimmings and engraving were added to the taste of individual woodsmen. The patch box, butt plate, trigger guard, and side plate are brass; whereas, the nose cap, ramrod pipes, drawdown escutcheons, flash-hole pick holder, and decorative inlays are silver.) 4.75 x .920 behind fence Works well for pistols, or any post-1800 longrifles. His rifles have been describe to me as "dainty". Gusler, Wallace and Harvey, David, 1993, Riflemaking Workmanship: A Rifle by John Sheetz: Friendship, IN, Journal of Historical Armsmaking Technology, Gary Brumfield, Editor, Vol. conserving valuable lead. fired bullet on an alignment that coincided with the line of its shape) of the butt stock and decoration on the Faber rifle are early, and the rifle retains its original flintlock. What's the difference between a Pa. long rifle In fact, German emigrants in eastern Pennsylvania developed the longrifle in the second quarter of the eighteenth century from the German jaeger, a short, hunting firearm with a rifled barrel. There is no mistaking a Kentucky rifle, and it is purely an American form. In 45, and especially in 40 caliber, the York is extremely accurate. 24) are very similar in design but with that on the great Sheetz engraved and better sculpted. had a greatly improved range compared to the Brown Bessie, which was Indeed, they just seem to be placed here and there on the rifle. The domed patch box, side plate, and toe plate (Figs. Arguably, the earliest known Virginia longrifle was probably made by Johanes Faber circa 1750 in Rockbridge County, VA (now Augusta County) (Figs. First a quantity of powder, enough to fill a ladies [sic] thimble, was poured down the barrel. The naive silver inlays, inlaid silver wire, pierced side plate, and pick holder all are enhancements. WebAnswer (1 of 5): Thats a question you can only answer in the context of its time. What is the legal age to own a replica firearm in Kentucky? maximum load for Kentucky rifle? - Answers Instead, the American longrifle was generally listed simply as rifle gun in those documents. Undated engraving circa 1861, from a painting by Chappel. It is definately not heavy. For more detail photographs and information on this longrifle, see Shumway3. McArthur painting is in the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, OH. 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. 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. The domed patch box was a design trait of the Davidson shop, and a variant of it appears on a high-end, brass-mounted, Golden Age rifle by Davidson himself. Percussion locks generally require only a single mounting screw whereas flintlocks require two. Photo: J.P. Beck Kentucky Rifle (NRA). who could hit a man anywhere they liked at 200 paces. Next the barrel length was increased to 40 inches, in essence, so as to get extra thrust from the expanding gunpowder. 5 What caliber was Davy Crocketts rifle? The great need for a more accurate, more economical rifle prompted Pennsylvania gunmakers work long hours at their benches, trying new principles and shaping available materials to new forms. Gap. buckskin-wearing riflemen quickly spread to the British Army. Awkward to reload, the distinct advantage of the muzzle-loading flintlock long rifle was its accuracy and range. Quickview. ), engraving, carving, inlays, or other artwork. In fact, he built the John Sheetz Golden Age copy in Fig. 3 and the decorative, brass side plate with engraving also are both enhancements to this rifle. By the time this Lauck rifle was made, however, the carving had become more stylized, less academic in nature. By this period, the longrifle patch box had segued into a cap box for holding percussion caps (see Fig. Does anyone have any ideas on the identification of this person? They still are called hog rifles in some parts of the Smoky Mountains today. Their diameter was gauged from 0.60 to 0.70 inches in caliber, with This rifle is a pre-Golden Age example, not a fully developed Golden Age Kentucky. 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. together from the neighboring southern Appalachians. On the battlefield, the rifle made its first noteworthy appearance in the French and Indian War and, later, in the American Revolution. The Long Rifle Chapter, along with the Bluegrass Chapter, represents Army and Air National Guard technicians across the Commonwealth. This butt-plate curvature became even more pronounced as the Kentucky rifle progressed through time. 51 exhibits the high end of McGilvrays production, he was certainly capable of building base-model rifles as well. General Washington was able to assemble about 1,400 riflemen or backwoodsmen This rifle is on display at the National Rifle Associations National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. Webthe local chapter cares. These pistols are silver mounted, double barrel, over/under, and most likely out of the Lauck shop in Winchester, VA early in the nineteenth century. The pistols subsequently descended in two separate branches of the McArthur family. 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. Hand forged hardware, poured pewter nose cap and brass ramrod thimbles. Patrons with discerning tastes and finances to match paid gunsmiths to embellish their rifles to a degree not previously seen. On the left side of the butt stock (Fig. First and foremost, they were shooters. Faber is a common name in the area, and he might have been the first owner. Nevertheless, they were still graceful and aesthetically pleasing in form. Kentucky Rifles. Since the balls had no spin to balance the turbulence caused by slight The side plates on the two Sheetz rifles (Fig. Brown's, FIREARMS IN COLONIAL AMERICA, More on the KY Longrifle: Kentucky Rifles - How They Earned Their Name. This is from late in McGilvrays career during his time in Harrisonburg. The gunsmiths reduced the bore size of the Kentucky barrel from 0.50 to 0.45 caliber, allowing more "balls" to be molded per pound of lead. 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. WebKentucky Rifle 18th Century Christian's Spring Influenced**REDUCED PRICE** KENTUCKY RIFLE signed S.M.Shillito $3500. And yes, when sighting down the barrel, the taper and flare seem quite pronounced. regular Army. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. NRA's National Firearms Museum. the advantage of a swamped barrel? Update: I think 26, note the wonderful, asymmetrical, rococo carving around the tang. The gunsmith was working in Wythe County in the 1820s. This spinning stabilizes the ball in flight, increasing its accuracy and range. WebThe main disadvantages of muzzle-loading rifles compared to muskets were higher cost, a slower reload time due to the use of a tighter-fitting lead ball, and greater susceptibility to fouling of the bore after prolonged use, which would ultimately prevent loading and make the weapon useless until cleaned. This means that with scope, sling and everything hunt-ready, the typical rifle rig weighs-in at around nine pounds. Barrel length 32 in., to over 48 in. 56) by John (or possibly Jacob) Lauck working in his fathers gun shop in Winchester, VA. Percussion cap Kentucky rifles were made well into the 1850s, but the appearance of rifled muskets like the 1853 British Enfield that used Mini ball inspired projectiles signaled the end of their usefulness as military weapons. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was designed Longrifles were the quintessential firearms of the American frontier from roughly the 1750s to the 1840s. They did evolve from the Jaeger of the early German, Swiss and Austrian gunsmiths who settled largely in Pennsylvania. Also note in Fig. As with the above presentation of the Frederick Sheetz rifle, the McArthur pistols are best presented in photographs (Figs. The only thing to compare it with was the muzzle loaded muskets which were smooth bored and the bals didnt fit the barrels well. 6731 Whittier Avenue, Suite C-100 McLean, VA 22101, Stay up to date with all of our latest news, Trigger guards were reduced in size, given a rather straight under-line, and made sturdier and simpler. Slings, by which the short, heavy European guns were usually carried, were eliminated on the American long rifle.
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