Building and Albright Rifle

[SR James]

I don't know if this should be here or under Antique Gun Collecting but here goes...I come from a long line of Pennsylvania Albrights on my father's side.  Although I've not yet established a direct link to any of the known Albright/Albrecht gun makers I'm interested in building an Albright rifle.  I'm particularly interested in the work of Andreas Albright (Albrecht).  I have Whisker's Gunsmiths of Lancaster County  which shows a couple of Andreas' rifles.  Can anyone steer me toward any other books or other sources of photos of Andreas Albright rifles or any of the other Albright/Albrecht gunmakers (Henry, etc)?

[rich pierce]

There's a Muzzle Blasts article or two on Andreas Albrecht rifles and one is pictured in volume 1 of Shumway's Rifles in Colonial America.  It would be # 50-something, I imagine.  It's in with the earliest Dickerts.  It has since been restored.

Kindig's Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age has several Albrights.

[Karl Kunkel]

Several Henry Albright rifles and pistols are in Whisker's "Gunsmiths of Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties, Pennsylvania".

[Herb]

Kentucky Rifles and Pistols, 1750-1850, p 63 and 64.  Arms Makers of Western Pennsylvania by Whisker references a Charles Albrecht, 1870-71, Pittsburgh, no photos.  The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle by Henry J. Kauffman has plate 144 of a J. Albright rifle and plate 62 of a Henry Albright rifle.  also biographical info.  The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania by Rosenberger and Kaufmann lists a Charles Albrecht, Allegheny County, no photos.  Behold the Longrifle by Chandler and Whisker shows photos of an Andreas Albrecht rifle on pages 44-45, a Jacob Albright rifle on page 112 and Henry Albright rifles on pages 47, 63 and 82.  The one on page 63 looks like Thomas Oldham's work to me.  I built a copy of the one on page 82.  Missouri Gunsmiths to 1900 by Victor A. Paul shows newspaper ads by T.J. Albright, plus a combination rifle shotgun he made, two pistols and a plains rifle.  Biographical info on Henry T., Thomas John, Thomas John, Jr. and William A. Albright.  I built a copy based on the rifle on page 65 of Gunsmiths of Lancaster County.  Gunsmiths of Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties, PA by James B. Whisker has good photos of a set of rare pistols, another pistol, and five rifles.  Probably the best photos of all here.  You may be able to get this book from an interlibrary loan.

[Herb]

The Kentucky Rifle, a True American Heritage ini Picture.  Zacharia Albright rifle on page 2.  J Alb on page 1, believe to be Jacob Albright.  Flintlock pistol on page 104 by H. Albright.  Arms Makers of Pennsylvania by Whisker, bibliography and photos of one rifle.  Rifles of Colonial America, Vol 1,  by Shumway, page 198-203, parts of an old rifle.  Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age by Kindig.  Photos of guns by Andrew, Henry, Jacob, Jacob Jr. and Zacharia.  "Longrifle Articles Published in Muzzle Blasts 1965-2001, Volume 1, by Shumway.  Photos and good description of the "J.Alb" rifle. And a second Jacob Albright rifle.  The Kentucky Pistol by Chandler and Whisker, pages 11-14.    Steel Canvas by R.L.Wilson, page 38, color photo of A. Albrecht rifle.  Great Gunmakers for the Early West, Vol III, by James D. Gordon.  Historical info.  Three T.J. Albright plains rifles, five double barrel percussion shotguns, one caplock pistol, all in color.

[SR James]

Thanks, Herb, and everyone else, for all the information.  I will begin tracking it down!