The Lancaster School rifles with their straight comb seem to represent the forefathers of the modern rifle stock.
This rifle represents that school in the Late era and is patterened after the guns of Melchior Fordney (????-Oct 17 1846). I would place this rifle in the 1840s if I had to guess.
As a side note, we know the exact date of his death because on that day his neighbor killed him with an axe after he tried to stop the neighbor from killing his (the neighbors) horse. (The killer was hung).
Fordneys guns often used checkering on the wrist but the kind of checkering of those days was mainly for decoration. It is not the sharply cut type we think of today.
He also used the multi piece patch box with wood showing between the lid from the strips above and below it.
Several of his guns are shown in J.B.Whiskers "Gunsmiths of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" and indeed these were the basis for my rifle.
Note, I never try to produce an exact copy of the Masters Works as there is no way my talents compare with theirs. I use their works for inspiration only.
The rifle was made from Pecatonica Rifle "Late Lancaster" #3 Curly Maple with a .50 Cal Green Mountain barrel, modified Siler lock and Davis Set Triggers. All Furniture is German Silver. She was born in 1999.
I tapped the barrel tang for a rear peep sight but I have never found one which is appropriate.
This rifle represents that school in the Late era and is patterened after the guns of Melchior Fordney (????-Oct 17 1846). I would place this rifle in the 1840s if I had to guess.
As a side note, we know the exact date of his death because on that day his neighbor killed him with an axe after he tried to stop the neighbor from killing his (the neighbors) horse. (The killer was hung).
Fordneys guns often used checkering on the wrist but the kind of checkering of those days was mainly for decoration. It is not the sharply cut type we think of today.
He also used the multi piece patch box with wood showing between the lid from the strips above and below it.
Several of his guns are shown in J.B.Whiskers "Gunsmiths of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" and indeed these were the basis for my rifle.
Note, I never try to produce an exact copy of the Masters Works as there is no way my talents compare with theirs. I use their works for inspiration only.
The rifle was made from Pecatonica Rifle "Late Lancaster" #3 Curly Maple with a .50 Cal Green Mountain barrel, modified Siler lock and Davis Set Triggers. All Furniture is German Silver. She was born in 1999.
I tapped the barrel tang for a rear peep sight but I have never found one which is appropriate.
