George Eister in the ALR digital library

[DaveM]

I was looking at this gun and noticed that someone noted that it was documented to be in Tioga County NY no later than 1791.  If that is true, I think that is very interesting - what year do you all think this was made, say mid 1780's?  I did read that he stopped making guns in 1802 based on tax records and became a farmer.    Anyone know of photos of Eister originals other than kindig and this one in the library?

[rich pierce]

Do you refer to this rifle?

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=14831.0

[DaveM]

Rich, yes that is the one.

[Brent English]

Ron Scott is building me a copy of a George Eister rifle.  Hope to have a gloat about it in the contemporary section later this summer.  Will share pictures then.

[Dave Marsh]

It is definitely in the Tioga County Museum as I held it last year and took these pictures for Smartdog.  I have several others.  Kind of a shame that it sits on a shelf in the back room and not on display or protected in any way.  It was saved from the 2011 flood.  Was neat to hold it.

Dave






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[rich pierce]

Question: is the name pronounced Easter or "eye-ster"?

[louieparker]

Rich
I have always pronounced it with the eye sound. That's the way I have heard it pronounced....LP

[rich pierce]

Thanks Louie. Old guys need help not looking the fool!  Hahaha

[Dale Campbell]

Eister (German pronunciation, 'cause, you know, he was German). I took the pictures in the Virtual Library. The ones above are really nice though. I have more detail close-ups which are not in the library, and which I have shared with another member. I can get more as I live in Owego, and know some of the personnel at the museum.

[DaveM]

Dale, yes I would certainly appreciate any other views and closeups.

The pronunciation may have been closer to "oyster" as many in that family ultimately took on that spelling.  Interestingly during the rev war a John Eister / Oyster was making guns in Reading PA.  He originally came from Rockland Township Berks CO.  I don't know how he may have been related to the York Co gunmaker, or of he was related.

[Eric Kettenburg]

It's certainly one extremely admirable rifle.  It's not really my area of expertise but I would raise perhaps one eyebrow at the pre-1791 date.  Also, I'd be interested to know if anyone has put sincere research into this man; a simple change in tax record assignation does not necessarily mean he "stopped" building rifles.  There could be many explanations on that front - perhaps he acquired more land and the farm aspect became extremely profitable?  Does not mean he was personally working it.  I'd love to know if anyone has more detailed information on Eister as his work certainly is evidence of an extremely accomplished hand.

[DaveM]

Eric - kindig wrote that he admired Eister's work so much that he researched records for him more than any other maker.  Kindig states that Eister was born in 1762.  He found the last documentation calling him a gunsmith in 1799.  He also wrote that he obtained a copy of his estate inventory for 1831 and there was nothing related to gunmaking, only some blacksmith tools.

I researched york makers several years ago.  I found that just about all of the makers in the area bought raw metals like sheet brass from a guy named "Leatherman", whose original journal still exists. Eister purchased gun supplies fairly regularly.   The last purchase I had found for Eister for gun materials was the summer of 1799 even the the journal extended until I believe 1802.  According to kindig's deed research Eister was living at the same property before and after 1799.  So he did not move too far to disappear from the records.

That all said from a research standpoint that barely scratches the surface.

[Dale Campbell]

PM me your email address. I'll dig up what I have. I don't have the greatest bandwidth, so may reduce the resolution a bit to get them out. I have higher res pictures of the ones in the virtual library. But a lot of the carving is very worn, so more detail may not show.

Eric, all they know about the rifle is that the owner was in northern Tioga County, NY by 1790. I don't know if they have specific documentation that the rifle came with him at the time. They may, I just don't know.

[Dale Campbell]

Here are the measurements I took when Nord and I took the pictures of the Tioga County Eister.

Gunsmith   Eister         
            
              Inches
Barrel   Width breech      1  1/40
   Width waist      7/8
   Width muzzle      15/16
   Length           43  5/16
   Breech to waist       35
   Tang length       2  1/16
   Approx caliber      0.51
             
             
Lock   Width         15/16
   Length         5 1/8
            
            
Stock   LOP              14
   Drop at heel           4 1/4
   Drop at comb           1 1/2
   Breech to comb           5 1/4
   Wrist width         1  7/16
   Wrist height         1  9/16
   Butt height         4 3/4
   Butt width         1 3/4
   Forearm (trigger to hole)   14 1/2
   Width at Lock Panel (rear)   1 5/8
   Width at Lock Panel (front)   1  7/16
              
   Stock thicknes side of barrel    1/8
            
            
Furniture   Patchbox Lid (l x w)           1 3/8 x 4 9/16
   Width patchbox, at butt              3
   Butt to end PB finial              7 7/8
   TG length                 9 1/8
   TG width                 7/8
   BP heel length                 2 15/16

[smart dog]

Dale, thank you for those measurements.  I hope to visit Dave M in the near future to go and look at that gun 1st hand.

dave

[DaveM]

Smart dog, I am not affiliated with the museum that owns the gun, sorry - i am just interested in its story and approximate time period.  If the surviving Eister guns like this one predate 1800, in my mind that elevates him to a whole other level of ability and advancement of rifle design style in my opinion..the domed patchbox lids are interesting and may indicate an early feature.  I am  not sure who you would contact at the museum to see it, but maybe Dale can advise.
Davd

[Dave Marsh]

I am also Dave M although I go by Strong Bear which at my age is probably now a bad name as I am no wheres near strong anymore.     I took some pictures for Smart Dog a while back that I posted above.  I also live in Owego so I am assuming he means me.  I know the curator as well.

Dave

[smart dog]

Yes my mistake,
I forgot you went by strong bear and naturally thought DaveM was you.  Thanks to both of you.

dave

[J. Talbert]

Dale,

Thanks for posting the measurements.  I'll have to compare them to my current project for curiosity sake, but I'll also put them away for future reference.

Jeff

[Dale Campbell]

I also live in Owego so I am assuming he means me.  I know the curator as well.

Dave

Dave, Sending you a PM with my contact info. We Owegians need to stick together. Dale

[Dave Marsh]

Dale, got it.   

Dave