ALR Master Gunsmith: John Shell...Dauphin Co, PA (A Collection of 8 of his guns)

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

This is an extrordinary exhibit: The ALR Museum proudly adds two more of John Shells guns, a total of 8 on exhibt now. Each is numbered and thus gives one the rare opportunity to study the gunmakers skill and style over his long career. A special request is made here for anyone who owns or knows the where abputs of any other Shell guns to please contact "Hurricane" to discuss adding additioinal guns to the exhibit...PLEASE.

Here is the URL to the Exhibit:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=13034.0

Here is the URL to the new additon: #359

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=19924.0

Here is the URL to the other new addition: #115

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=19925.0


Please post comments as replies here.

The Museum Committee

[Mike R]

I am going to exhibit my ignorance here--but....any relation to the gunmaker John Shell of Kentucky once exhibited as the "worlds oldest man" [falsely; see series of three articles in MuzzleBlasts mag]?  I see no similarity in rifle styles, but the same name...

[Bill-52]

Mike,

No relation (of which I'm aware).  John Shell of Dauphin County PA is my 4X great grandfather.

Bill

[Majorjoel]

The John Shell of Pennsylvania was the son of Martin Shell who was also a gunsmith and who trained John in the trade. In my studies of these two men I have found a rifle that was signed by Martin the father but was definately engraved by John. John's unique engraving style is very easy to spot. His signature "rising sun" along with what I call his "solar goblins" which are small curled petal sunflowers with faces. Here is a detailed picture of the patchbox on J. Shell's rifle #323.   

[Shreckmeister]

That is a beautiful patchbox.  The gun looks early...when?  Can we see more of it?
I like that work on the edge of the buttplate as well.  Very nice touch.

[Majorjoel]

I'm not real sure on the date this rifle was made. It was originaly a flintlock and later converted to percussion. After seeing the typical flintlock that was used by Shell, I think I will most certainly leave it alone....as a percussion system. 

[Bill-52]

Joel, I've always liked that rifle, particularly the engraving.

Rob, you can see more of #323 in the ALR Museum.  The edge of the buttplate is very typical of John Shell's work.  Dating his rifles is a challenge.  While he numbered his rifles, he only dated his very late rifles. See #422 in the ALR Museum dated 1869.  Dating estimates are further complicated by the fact that John Shell was an active gunsmith form his early years (21 years old in 1811) until very old age (he died in 1875).  I'm working on that but am trying to find more numbered and dated rifles.

Bill