Author Topic: Zacharia Albright  (Read 5051 times)

GrampaJack

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Zacharia Albright
« on: February 11, 2013, 01:29:54 AM »
I have had this rifle for many years but have never been able to verify the maker.  I acquired it from a very reputable dealer who stated that it was atributed to Zacharia Alright Jr. of Center County.  Kindig has a section on the Albrights but only mentions in passing that Zacharia was probably associated with Jacob. He does not refer to his man as "Jr" so I am assuming that we are dealing with his son? There are no pictures of Zacharia's work.  Was wondering if anyone has references that might confirm this atribution.  The gun has a 39 inch barrell of about 40 cal. that has been cut at the breach and moved back about 3".  The lock is a Golcher. I believe it has always been a cap lock.  I will attempt pictures but this is my first time with the "new" photobucket so we shall see........  Thanks, Jack



































Offline Hurricane ( of Virginia)

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2013, 04:46:57 AM »
Here is the link to the Albrights in the "Gunmakers Of the Upper Susquehanna" on this site. Perhaps you would also allow us to add your gun to the ALR Library?

http://hurricanenordgallery.com/index.php?topic=16.0

Your gun does not seem to match the usual  Upper Susquehanna "form" or style

Hurricane
« Last Edit: February 11, 2013, 04:50:46 AM by Hurricane ( of Virginia) »

Offline Mark Tyler

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2013, 06:09:40 AM »
Definitely a Zachariah Albright Jr patchbox and sideplate. Identical one pictured in Whisker's Bedford book. IIRC Albright's are also pictured in Curt's Illinois book and the KRA True American Heritage book. There is a KRA bulletin on Albright also.

GrampaJack

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2013, 02:38:25 AM »
Hurricane, feel free to add the gun to the library.  Mark, appreciate the info. I don't have the Bedford book but I will check around and see if I can find a copy to look at.  Thanks everyone for the information. Jack

Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2013, 03:05:45 AM »
T'would be nice if Curt would weigh in on this one. Seeing that it is a percussion gun, (with a nice patchbox and inlay), but having a a rounded cheek rest makes me wonder if this might not have been
made in Illinois. I have an IL gun and it has the same style rest on it; it is my impression that this is a bit more unusual in PA guns. Just some randon thoughts on this one. Thank you for posting the photos. It is a dandy gun and one that anyone would enjoy owning.
Dick   

Offline Mark Tyler

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2013, 04:47:16 PM »
I suspect you have an Illinois made gun, circa 1855.


Copied directly from Whisker & Yantz, "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties".



Zachariah Albright, Jr. gunsmith. Zachariah was a son of Zachariah Albright, Sr., of Center County. On 1 November 1845 George Wilds, a tavern keeper, granted Zachariah Albright a mortgage on 190 acres in Ayr Township. Zachariah was taxed in Ayr Township only in 1847. By 1850 he lived in Buckeye, Stephenson, Illinois.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2013, 04:48:51 PM by Mark Tyler »

GrampaJack

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2013, 05:50:32 PM »
I suspect you are right. Thanks a lot for the information. Jack

Offline Mark Tyler

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2013, 06:09:08 PM »
Interesting reading on the Albright family of gunsmiths is an article titled: "In Search of Jacob Albright, Gunsmith" By Merle E. Campbell, KRA

http://albrighttree.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-second-post.html




Offline Curt J

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2013, 09:29:50 AM »
Regarding Zachariah Albright, Jr.   The 1880 census lists him as a gunsmith in New Hampton, Chickasaw County, Iowa, age 55, born in Pennsylvania.  His wife, Catherine, was 50, also born in Pennsylvania.  Their three children, Adam E., age 17; Daughter Teola, age 15; and son Edwin, age 12, were all born in Iowa.  He had apparently been located in Iowa at least as early as 1863.  A friend of mine formerly owned a very ornate rifle that we both thought to have been made by this man.  It was profusely inlaid and engraved, with a lot of Masonic symbals, including an "all-seeing eye" on the cheekpiece. It was dated 1877.  My friend had it on his table at a gun show, with a price on it that he thought made it "sale-proof".  A stranger walked up to his table, paid him his asking price in cash, and left with the rifle. No one has seen it since then.

Offline Curt J

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2013, 08:59:02 PM »
And yes, I think that Grandpa Jack's rifle is probably Midwestern.

GrampaJack

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Re: Zacharia Albright
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2013, 02:38:37 AM »
From a notation on a hang tag to all this.  Does not get any better. Thanks to all for the help. Jack