AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Hurricane ( of Virginia) on January 02, 2013, 02:30:37 AM

Title: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: Hurricane ( of Virginia) on January 02, 2013, 02:30:37 AM

A fine gun by a little recognized W. VA maker....William Britton. 1794-?.

Here is the URL:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=24770.0

Comments here please as a reply.

The Museum Committee

Title: Re: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: Buck on January 03, 2013, 10:23:30 PM

Avlrc,
Look on page 255 of Maryland Longrifles (Hartzler and Whiskers). There is a rifle pictured there, also a little paragraph on page 142. You should also look at Gunsmiths of Maryland, but might be the same amount of info there as well. He was an armor at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal.
Good Luck
Buck

Title: Re: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: Avlrc on January 04, 2013, 12:08:35 AM

 Buck,I see a paragraph on him page 131 Gunsmiths of Maryland. I do not have Maryland Longrifles. You are right says he worked at Harpers Ferry. Thanks for pointing that out to me. On page 14 of Long rifles of Virginia ,page 154 of Virginia Gunsmiths and Allied Professions,173 of Gunsmiths of Pen-Mar-VA 1790-1840,  page 87 & 88 of Gunsmiths of Virginia, and page 62 & 64 of West Virginia Gunsmiths there pictures of some of his rifles. The one in Bowers book & page 87 of Gunsmiths of Virginia are relief carved,think it is the same one.I also think the one just added to ALR Library is pictured on page 64 in Gunsmiths of West Virginia.There is also one pictured in West Virginia History Volume XLV 1984, an flintlock with an Acorn patchbox. A few months back I went to an auction in Harrisonburg VA, where an percussion signed W. Britton was. It was good cond, but plain with a Acorn Finial Hampshire County Patchbox. I got outbid.. By the way at least 40 gunmakers worked in Hampshire County.

Title: Re: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: Buck on January 04, 2013, 12:20:01 AM

Avlrc,
The info is the same in both books. The rifle pictured in the Maryland Longrifles is similar to the 1 pictured above. These are both attractive pieces.
Buck

Title: Re: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: tallbear on January 04, 2013, 05:26:55 AM

Thanks for the pics Avlrc.As the owner of a W. Britton It's nice to have them for comparison.

Mitch Yates

Title: Re: ALR Museum Gunmaker: William Brittton...Romney, W. VA/ VA
Post by: Avlrc on January 05, 2013, 03:46:22 AM

Quote from: aka tallbear on January 04, 2013, 05:26:55 AM

Thanks for the pics Avlrc.As the owner of a W. Britton It's nice to have them for comparison.

Mitch Yates

You are welcome. We appreciate you adding your rifle to the ALR Museum......