Author Topic: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era  (Read 4630 times)

Offline Top Jaw

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Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« on: December 08, 2018, 01:56:09 AM »
This is a subjective post.  And that's OK.  But I'm curious who your list of top 10 gunmakers from the flintlock era might be.  This isn't meant to generate arguments, or critiques of someone's list, because everyone has their own opinions, and they are going to be swayed by peoples favorite school, better known names, more surviving rifles, more publicity, more refinement Post Revolutionary war, etc, etc.  That's all OK too.  Just list your 10.  Or someone you think was overlooked in the lists.  Its hard to limit the list to just 10, so I had a few honorable mentions.  Here are the ten I think were the most talented - in no particular order. 

John Bonewitz
JP Beck
John Armstrong
Isaac Berlin
Andrew Verner
Herman Rupp
Isaac Haines
Jacob Sell
Fredrick Sell
George Eister

Honorable Mention:  George Schroyer, Andreas Albrecht, Melchior Fordney, and many others!



   
« Last Edit: December 08, 2018, 04:18:01 PM by Top Jaw »

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2018, 03:10:00 AM »
     My List,.....
     1. AMBROSE LAWING
     2. BAXTER BEAN
     3. JACOB GROSS
     4. WILLIAM NELSON BEALS
     5. WILLIAM WESLEY LAWING
     6. Alfred F. GROSS
     7. JASON L. HARRIS
     8. CHARLES BEAN SR.
     9. GABRIEL McINTURFF
     10. ENOCH HARDIN
   
     too many alternates to mention, but any Unicoi or Soddy builder would fit in anywhere with these fellers,... !!! ... enjoy & regards, ... Cades Cove Fiddler ..... (granted,... many of these builders were building and using flintlocks even until the late 19th century) 
 

[
« Last Edit: December 08, 2018, 03:14:23 AM by Cades Cove Fiddler »

Online smylee grouch

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2018, 06:50:28 AM »
Jacob Kuntz for sure and John Noll too.

Offline Chris_B

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2018, 10:39:01 AM »
     My List,.....
     1. AMBROSE LAWING
     2. BAXTER BEAN
     3. JACOB GROSS
     4. WILLIAM NELSON BEALS
     5. WILLIAM WESLEY LAWING
     6. Alfred F. GROSS
     7. JASON L. HARRIS
     8. CHARLES BEAN SR.
     9. GABRIEL McINTURFF
     10. ENOCH HARDIN
   
     too many alternates to mention, but any Unicoi or Soddy builder would fit in anywhere with these fellers,... !!! ... enjoy & regards, ... Cades Cove Fiddler ..... (granted,... many of these builders were building and using flintlocks even until the late 19th century) 
 

[

Yesterday I received Dave Byrd´s two books.
I wonder why all the names on your list sound familiar....? ;)
« Last Edit: December 09, 2018, 11:32:54 AM by Chris_B »
Kind regards from Germany, Chris

Offline Molly

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2018, 02:54:13 PM »
Interesting contrast of the top 10.

Offline smart dog

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2018, 03:37:35 PM »
Hi,
Only makers of American longrifles count?

dave 
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Offline Top Jaw

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2018, 03:59:48 PM »
Yeah.  American for this list. 

Offline Shreckmeister

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Re: Top 10 Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2018, 04:17:16 PM »
Jacob Kuntz for sure and John Noll too.
   Kunitz can’t be left out of any top 10. How about Oerter?
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Offline mountainman70

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2018, 05:48:38 PM »
Best not forget Jacob Dickert. I would put him at the top of the list.Like all the rest of em too, specially them Southern builders. Cheers, Dave f 8) 8)

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2018, 06:03:28 PM »
My favorites constantly change depending on what area I'm studying at the moment. Right now I'm all Christian's Spring/Lehigh area . Throw in some Dickert and Fordney, then drift south to the Sheetz family and Lauck.
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Offline louieparker

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2018, 06:30:36 PM »
I get the feeling that Cades Cove Fiddler has a strong leaning towards mountain rifles......LP

Offline Top Jaw

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2018, 09:31:58 PM »
I could swap Kuntz for Rupp on my original list.  Dickert, Oerter, and Sheets were all on my working list, among others.  When you actually start trying to trim it to just 10 names, it gets pretty difficult. 

Offline retired fella

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2018, 09:35:27 PM »
LP  I think you are right.  Them mountain boys is tighter'n ticks.  Not say'n he's wrong.  I love my MR's.   ;D

Offline oldtravler61

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2018, 02:45:19 AM »
  Cafes has his favorites as long as their Tennessee s. Myself included but I'm a tag partial to more of the contemporary builders.  Bean,kits and Dickert are some of my favorite.  Oldtravler

Offline TommyG

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2018, 03:51:18 AM »
Jacob Dickert and absolutely Christian Oerter.  I could only imagine Oerter's work if he would have lived to 50 or 60 yrs old.

Offline Cades Cove Fiddler

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #15 on: December 09, 2018, 04:05:58 AM »
 ??? ??? ???... HaHaHa,....!!! ... Louie, what was your first clue,...??? ... BTW, I'm still looking for that "J. GROSS for  A.B." flintlock rifle,...!!!! ..,,,, btw,... good to see you in Nashville last week-end,... will you be in Alabama next month,..? 


Offline Sawfiler

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #16 on: December 09, 2018, 04:10:24 AM »
I'll second what Mike said and it changes based on what I am interested in/studying at the moment. Right now I cannot stop staring at (photos of) Wiley Higgins guns. And a great thanks to Mr. Wayne Elliott for all the information he has provided me on this great Georgia maker. Wiley Higgins is so much different than what you normally see. He definitely was an artist with the metal work.
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Did what I do with a willin' hand
Some would run, ah, but that ain't like me
So I just dream and keep on bein' the way I am

Offline louieparker

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2018, 05:31:05 AM »
CCF..Depends on how  things are at the time....   LP

Offline WElliott

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #18 on: December 09, 2018, 06:31:03 AM »
I don’t disagree with any listed above.  However, Wiley G. Higgins of Monroe County, Georgia would be at the top of my list of makers in the late flintlock period. Absolutely unique and creative. 
Wayne Elliott

Offline Sequatchie Rifle

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #19 on: December 09, 2018, 07:47:07 AM »
I’d have to agree with Cades Cove Fiddler! Ambrose Lawing, Jacob Young, J. Whitson, Pleasant Wilson, P. Bell of Polk County Tn all built some right fine rifles.
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Offline Fullstock longrifle

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #20 on: December 09, 2018, 04:56:47 PM »
Maybe you should expand that list to the top 20, or 30 or....

Offline BOB HILL

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #21 on: December 13, 2018, 03:41:20 AM »
I’ve got so many running around in my head I’d hate to have to make a list. I am kind of partial to Southern rifles though.
Bob
South Carolina Lowcountry

Offline Marcruger

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #22 on: December 13, 2018, 05:19:31 AM »
I have to throw in the Voglers (Christoph and family) of Salem, NC.  I am mighty partial to their very slim and elegant rifles.  God Bless,   Marc

Offline Curt J

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #23 on: December 13, 2018, 09:15:29 AM »
My list would have to include Philip Creamer, as well as John Small (Vincennes). I would also agree about Wiley G. Higgins.

Offline mbriggs

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Re: Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era
« Reply #24 on: December 13, 2018, 08:10:32 PM »
From a North Carolina perspective:

1. William Black - Mecklenburg School
2. Isaac Thompson - Mecklenburg School
3. John Vogler - Salem School
4. Christoph Vogler - Salem School
5. David Kennedy - Bear Creek School
6. Craft Jackson - Early Deep River School
7. William Lamb - Jamestown School
8. John Eagle - Rowan School
9. Isaac Ribelin - Rowan School
10. Joseph McDowell Whitson, Sr. - Appalachian School

It is tough to leave so many great gunsmiths off, but this is my choice.  Hlbly - still waiting to see your list.
C. Michael Briggs