AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Mreed@usacompression.com on May 13, 2019, 04:48:40 AM

Title: Looking for info on a Forker gun
Post by: Mreed@usacompression.com on May 13, 2019, 04:48:40 AM
Looking for some info on a Forker gun I purchased, it’s a full stock curly maple marked .Forker on the barrel, I’m not sure if there should be a letter in front on .Forker?

(https://i.ibb.co/MsVQKSr/6-B1-AAE56-D856-4-F66-B3-C7-78-DCAD29153-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W6yj75Z)

(https://i.ibb.co/kqzpv6p/65592772-8-A64-4-BE3-985-B-C3-D1-E38737-B5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1RB3jJ3)
Title: Re: Looking for info on a Forker gun
Post by: Tizzy on May 31, 2019, 05:53:54 AM
Mreed,

I have had the intent to respond for the past couple of days, however I have been extremely busy. I hope the following at least gives you a jumping off point.....

The Forker family of gunsmiths has a brief write up in Henry J. Kauffman's "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle."
Attempting to avoid plagiarism I will summarize his research...…

John and Samuel Forker ,were the sons of Adam Forker whom was listed as a blacksmith by trade. It is apparent that  two of his sons (John and Samuel) became gunsmiths. There is a possibility that Adam also had a son by the name of Joseph  born in 1829 who was also listed as a gunsmith, however only worked in the trade for 8 or 9 years.  Additionally, there is a possibility that another gunsmith by the name of Israel Forker was a gunsmith in Ravenna, Ohio in 1837, and was possibly the son of John Forker.  The above is just a summary, and I encourage you to seek the exact article from it's source. 

The above having been said...please see the below photos for the Samuel Forker half stock rifle that I own. Quite the piece for a half stock of the 1850's era.  The wood is exquisite. Due to my limited knowledge,  I can't state much for your rifle, only that the stamp on the barrel looks similar to the stamp on my rifle....I hope this helps. I am sure others with more knowledge will chime in. Take care, and let's see some more photos of your rifle.




(https://i.ibb.co/YLgpKvJ/20190530-213648-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QK0rqsh)

(https://i.ibb.co/QnkxvrV/20190530-213708.jpg) (https://ibb.co/92hdHs0)

(https://i.ibb.co/DtBb95C/20190530-213749.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FKQW5gw)