In Whisker's book "Gunsmiths of Virginia" (second edition) he identifies John Peter Sites Sr. and Peter Sites on page 68.
On page 148 he shows a rifle made by "John Peter Sites, Sr." (1784 - 1853 Fincastle County)
On page 186 he shows a pair of rifles. One by John Painter, Botetourt County and a second by "John Sites", Fincastle County. (Fincastle County existed as such from 1772 to 1777. At which time it was divided into Montgomery County, Washington County and "Kentucky".) Copy from the first book noted above also give evidence of an ad placed in "The Herald of the Valley" 30 Oct 1820 concerning a run away apprentice in which the return of the apprentice is to be to (Sites) at "Fincastle". This certainly suggests that John Peter Sites Sr was still working in Virginia near the current town of Fincastle in 1820 which is where Painter worked.
The big question to me is was the maker of the rifle shown on page 148 the same as the maker of the rifle shown on page 186. My take on the books claims would be yes.
The similarity of the Painter rifle with the "Sites" rifle on page 186 is striking but the Sites rifle on page 186 differs substantially from the "Sites" rifle on page 148.
In Whiskers paperback "Gunsmiths and Allied Tradesmen of Virginia" he adds that John Peter Site Sr. "was working in Missouri by 1853" yet the date of his departure from "Fincastle County" is not known, however I would conclude it was after 1820. With the rifle attributed to John Peter Sites. Sr on 148 being a flintlock one might feel it was made earlier than the 1840's or 1850's.
The only info on "John Painter" is one John Painter, Jr. born in 1814. Clearly not a contemporary of John Sites, Sr. SO....
Was there another John Painter or possible John Painter Sr. who would be the true make of the rifle on page 186? OR is there an unidentified "John Sites" in the mix?
Of the two original signed John Sites rifles I have personally seen, there is no similarity to the rifle on page 148 but both are almost identical to the one on page 186.
