AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: A Scanlan on July 28, 2025, 09:04:17 PM
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A few weeks ago I posted a rifle which had a name on the barrel which was "Peterman". Other than being called the ugliest rifle in existence there were no significant comments as to where or when in may have been made so I deleted the post. Later it was decided that the name on the barrel was "Jno Peterman"
but the Jno was not really clear and legible. Following that I looked through some data on a genealogy website and found a "Jno" Peterman in Montgomery County Va. Further research turned up a record of his marriage, I think, sometime around 1850. The record showed his father was stated as "Dan" Peterman. Daniel Peterman was George Peterman's brother who cane to Botetourt County around 1805 and settled in Amsterdam, Va with George. So that puts this rifle as being made by the nephew of George Peterman just one county away. Seems like Jno is a complete unknown within the collecting world and there is absolutely no published information on him. Of course there is one notorious VA expert that said he knew about Jno and I don't doubt that he may have but the reality is that other than this one individual Jno Peterman is a newly discovered VA maker.
(https://i.ibb.co/PzNGyczz/20250627-082122.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tP4p6qPP)
(https://i.ibb.co/p6452Vq2/20250627-082312.jpg) (https://ibb.co/j93sh0th)
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That is some wacky, wild fake graining!
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Kinda like an ugly dog, the more you look at it, the better you like it. That gun is starting to grow on me.
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Anybody that says that's "the ugliest rifle in existence" never saw any rifles I built. ::)
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I could probably give you a run for your money! :D
Al Jenkins
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That rifle would, in many circles, be considered "folky" or "folksy". I think it's just great!
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I would not look at it too long, as it may hypnotize you. :)