Gun makers in the Baltimore area circa 1770 to 1783 ?

[Martin_G]

Rather than post in another members question/post , I thought that I should ask my own.

I was curious about which school might have been predominant in the Baltimore area just before the Revolution started and right when it ended, 1770 to 1783.

Pennsylvania has a wealth of styles (or schools) to choose from. Does anyone know if the PA designs came south or were gunmakers in the Baltimore area into their own design or "look"?


Thanks.

Martin

[debnal]

A very good question. I have a pair of flintlock, relief carved, silver mounted pistols signed M. Lenz, Baltimore. He is listed from 1795-1805 as a gunsmith in Baltimore but this pair appears earlier, possibly Rev War period. The carving has a PA feel to it. The guns have a slight Germanic look to their architecture. The wood appears to be a combination of curly, crotch, and birds eye maple. They show an eclectic look to them and one might expect that in a seaport town that had both the influenece of nearby PA and the influence of Europe through the seaport trade.
Al

[TENdriver]

There is a good book on Maryland firearms.  I think it is by Dan Hartzler (sp.)

Also there were quite few makers out to the west in MD.