AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: cshirsch on December 17, 2018, 07:27:42 PM
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My SHELL & EARLEY rifle. #157
(https://i.ibb.co/WKMXdrr/a.png) (https://ibb.co/F7y1fQQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/fY0K4G0/b.png) (https://ibb.co/vxzrZvz)
(https://i.ibb.co/HPRh446/c.png) (https://ibb.co/QHhDQQL)
(https://i.ibb.co/fSNZbhY/d.png) (https://ibb.co/yRkKDwn)
(https://i.ibb.co/rZvwwvN/e.png) (https://ibb.co/LCvZZvH)
(https://i.ibb.co/wK5K9Y4/f.png) (https://ibb.co/dQ8Qd7D)
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Nice gun!
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Very nice rifle Chris, thanks for posting!
Al J.
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Very nice indeed!
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As you know, Chris, I've always admired this Shell & Earley rifle of yours. Bill
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;) ;)... Great looking (non-Tennessee) rifle Chris,...!!!,... give us some specs and background on the builders,...and what is the lock marked, ?.... how common are numbered rifles, ? ... I've never seen a numbered gun before,.... regards,...CCF,..
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Yes, details please, History?
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Sorry guys, there was no history with this one. The guy I got it from wouldn't tell me where he got it. If he did decide to tell me, it would have been a lie anyway. Sorry.
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I don't recognize Shell & Early -- am I the only one?
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??? ???..... kinda what i wanted to be asking with my question,......
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Earley was business partners with John Shell for a short time.
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Do you know where and when they worked?
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Amos Earley was the son in law of John Shell, Dauphin County PA. Married to Rebecca Shell. John Shell was the son of Martin Shell, famous early PA. Gunsmith. You will find a plethora of information along with many photos of Shell made longrifles in our very own Bruce Miller Museum! You can also get a lot of historic insight from the FindaGrave website https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11527935/amos-early
Thank you Chris for showing us pictures of this very fine rifle!
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Amos Earley was the son in law of John Shell, Dauphin County PA. Married to Rebecca Shell. John Shell was the son of Martin Shell, famous early PA. Gunsmith. You will find a plethora of information along with many photos of Shell made longrifles in our very own Bruce Miller Museum! You can also get a lot of historic insight from the FindaGrave website https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11527935/amos-early
Thank you Chris for showing us pictures of this very fine rifle!
I could not find the photos of the rifles.
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The most common assumption is that this rifle was made by John Shell and his apprentice, Amos Early, who as noted above, also became John Shell’s son-in law. However, a case can be made that this rifle was made earlier by John Shell and Amos’ father Jacob Earley.
First: The rifle’s #157. John Shell numbered most of his rifles. The ALR Bruce Miller Virtual Museum has nine John Shell rifles ranging from #57 to #422. Rifle #65 is believed to be Shell’s personal rifle, carried by him in the War of 1812 (he served in 1814). Some of Shell’s later rifles were also dated. Based on an analysis of John Shell’s production over his long gunsmithing career, #157 was likely made in the late 1820’s to early 1830’s. Amos Early wasn’t born until 1832, per his tombstone, so assuming this analysis is reasonably accurate (a big assumption!) it isn't likely he helped with #157.
However, Amos Early’s father Jacob Earley was a business partner of John Shell’s in several endeavors in Shellsville, PA, which was laid out by John Shell in 1821. Jacob Earley was also a gunsmith, so collaborating on rifles would not be unexpected.
Second: Earley vs. Early Rifle #157 is engraved “Shell & Earley”. In most historical records Jacob’s last name is spelled “Earley”. However, Amos’ last name is almost always spelled “Early”. Plus, his tombstone in Shell’s Church Cemetery is spelled “Early” and a rifle he made that I’ve viewed is inscribed “Amos Early”. So, while not absolutely definitive, this would also seem to point to Jacob Earley as the likely co-maker of #157.
Chris – John Shell’s rifles can be found here:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=43.0
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Thanks Bill!