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General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Shreckmeister on January 06, 2014, 06:34:05 PM

Title: John Grave, Lancaster
Post by: Shreckmeister on January 06, 2014, 06:34:05 PM

Is there any reference material on this maker circa 1770s?

Title: Re: John Grave, Lancaster
Post by: Bill-52 on January 06, 2014, 08:43:00 PM

Rob,

Only the briefest of listings in my reference books:

Whisker's Arms Makers of PA:  John Graves (with an "s"), 1769-73, Lancaster, gunsmith, (with further reference to S. E. Dyke's The Pennsylvania Rifle)

Gluckman & Stterlee's American Gunmakers:  John Grave, Lancaster Borough, Lancaster, PA, 1773

Gardner's Small Arms Makers:  John Grave, Lancaster Borough, Lancaster, PA, 1769-73

Similar information in Sellers but I believe you have that.  Appears that this limited information on John Grave has just been republished.....

Bill

Title: Re: John Grave, Lancaster
Post by: Shreckmeister on January 06, 2014, 09:35:51 PM

Strangely the KRA references John Grave and John Graeff as being the same person, but I've seen rifles signed both ways now and don't think it would be the same person changing the way he spelled his
own name?  Or not?

Title: Re: John Grave, Lancaster
Post by: spgordon on January 07, 2014, 03:57:07 AM

Are there any images available of a rifle signed "John Grave" or "John Graves"?

Title: Re: John Grave, Lancaster
Post by: Sawatis on January 14, 2014, 09:52:22 PM

Hmmm...I had asked about John Grove before...similarity to Isaac Haines carving  [url]http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=28962.msg276538#msg276538/url]  ???
Grove ended up in western PA from all I could find early 1800's...Haines was in Lancaster...
I'm no historian on this...but anyone think there might be a connection with John Grave in this quandary?
John