Gunsmith Stophil Long of Albany Township 1820 (also spelled Stoffil Long)

[timone]

I was recently at the Berks County Longrifles and Gunmakers exhibit.  I am smitten by the Stophil Long rifle that was in the Allentown case.  They would not allow me to take pictures and the exhibit book is not very helpful.  Does anyone have any decent photos of rifles by this maker or know where I can locate pictures of his rifles, or rifles of a close nature.  The rifle is very slender (1 inch tall at the wrist) and has only a mild roman nose.  I am not out to make an exact copy but would like it to have the flavor of the Stophil Long rifle.  Just was reading "Ten years of Dedication", remembrances of Dixon's Gun Maker's Fair and found a different spelling of Long's name.  The name is spelled Stoffil Long.  Does that make a difference to anyone?

[B Shipman]

Timone, here's a tip. Fred Miller has a stock pattern for a Stoffel long. It was copied directly from the original.  I've seen the original many times and it's a classic.  Looks very Allentown , but Long worked in the Allemengal area which is usually included within the sphere of Reading.

[Nate McKenzie]

Kentucky Rifles and Pistols 1750-1850  pp. 12-13.  Page 12 is the same gun as in the exhibit.

[deano]

Was the gun you were looking at made with a Persimmon stock? I remember seeing a Stofil Long rifle at an Ohio Gun Collectors Association table when it was still in Columbus, many years ago stocked in Persimmon. It was a great little gun.

[timone]

I don't believe that the stock was persimmon stock.  it is very dark and doesn't show any noticeable stripe. 

[deano]

Did you ever contact Fred Miller to see about the stock he has? I like this style rifle and was considering contacting Fred to make one for me too!

[timone]

No, I haven't contacted Fred Miller, I just calculated and measured the picture and laid out the shape of the stock.  I have inlet the barrel, the ramrod channel and have the shape of the buttstock roughed out.  I am waiting for the lock to arrive, so I can inlet the lock and shape the lock area.  I did buy a buttplate and trigger guard from Track of the Wolf.  My problem is I have not idea what is on the top or bottom of the butt stock.  Toe plate?  Thumb plate?  If anyone is going to the exhibit in Reading and could look at the rifle and let me know, I would appreciate it.  I am not concerned about building an exact replica of the Stoffil Long rifle, but I would like it to represent the style of the gunmaker.

[monro1066]

I am looking also for some good pics of various S.Long rifles........?
Can anyonwe help.....Regards D

[Frank]

Fred Miller no longer has the patterns. He has sold them to David Keck of Knob Mountain Muzzleloading in Berwick Pa. I bought a Stopil Long stock from Dave last year and it is very nice. He has stocks available with the barrel fully inlet and butt plate installed. Check out his site here:

http://www.knobmountainmuzzleloading.com

[monro1066]

Thanks for the information on that .......where do I get good reference material
on actual guns.......?Regards Don

[billd]

Dave has a full size print.  He could give you the book and page it's pictured on.  I can't remember the book name but it's not a RCA book.

Bill