Jacob Fry rifle.

[Kurt]

One of my great-grandfather's rifles. He lived from 1836 to 1897. He owned two rifles of 36 caliber and was a shoemaker by trade. This rifle was built by Jacob Fry in the Ligonier, PA area[I am told]. He had another rifle that is fully stocked with curly maple. Each is owned by two cousins and this one was cared for better than the other. I just thought I'd post for those interested. The "elevator?" on the rear ladder sight was stolen or lost when the gun was loaned for a historical fair.

[Seth Isaacson]

Very neat. I like it. Simple, functional small game rifle. Looks like a globe front sight?

[Bigmon]

Kurt,  Are you from the Ligonier area?  I was just at a meeting and a man presented a Fry riflr for fondling.
Regards

[Kurt]

Seth Isaacson, I thought Globe but I didn't look at it as I was in a hurry the day I photographed it.

Bigmon, I live between Greensburg and Latrobe.

[Col. Barnett]

Hopefully James Wilson Everett sees this post.  Not sure where he is at the moment but he has had access to the tools from the Fry shop at the fort.  There is a brochure for a walking tour of Ligonier that will take you past the Fry shop.

216 E. Main St. –Built in the late 1820s as a four room residence, this structure
was constructed of handmade bricks with Loyalhanna Creek stones used to form
the front steps. Noted gunsmith John Fry occupied the house from 1854 to 1864.
His gunsmith shop was at the rear of the property. Charles Clifford bought the
property at auction in 1894. He added the front porch and rebuilt a stable at the
rear of the property. In 1997, the 100 year old box elder tree, also located at the
rear of the property, was declared a Tree of Distinction by Westmoreland County.

[Kurt]

I talked again with my cousin and the rifle is marked on the barrel JOS. FRY, The lock has PITTSBURGH on it.

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

Yes, the Fort Ligonier museum has a rather large collection of the Fry gunshop tools including the complete rifling machine, lots of freshing rods, and even the Fry shop work bench.  However, they are not on display as the Fort Ligonier period is mid-18th century and the Frys worked in Ligonier in the late 19th century.  They also have a few of the Fry guns in their collection, again not on display.  The Fry gunshop building is at the rear of the property, here is a photo.

Jim

[Kurt]

Thank you for all your replies! The kind remarks and the information on Fry's presence in Ligonier and the Fort are interesting and I was unaware of it.