William Barnhart

[bama]

Looking for info on this Ohio maker. I had a rifle come into the shop today that was signed W. Barnhart. I believe this rifle was made by the Ohio William Henry Barnhart the elder. It was an original flint with the original lock and in excellent original condition. The only thing that I could see that had been done to the rifle was that 6 inlays on the fore stock had been replaced at some point in its life. This rifle has a silver butt plate and trigger guard, ram rod ferrells that I believe are German Silver. It has barrel wedges and the inlays here are still there and I think also of German silver. The patch box and the nose cap appear to have had a silver plating at some point. The silver is almost completely worn away. There were inlays at the wrist and in the ends of the lock mortises. The rifle was incised carved behind the cheek piece and along the forearm. The finish appeared to be mostly original except where the inlays had been replaced.

I am hoping to get some pictures to go along with this post in a few days.

Thanks, Jim Parker

[smokinbuck]

Jim,
Sounds like you picked up a gem. Barnhart was from Ross county, South Central Ohio and there are still Barnharts living there. If you can get here old of the books "Ohio Gunsmiths & Allied Tradesmen" you will find a history of the Barnharts and puctures of some of their work. If you can't find it let me know, I have copies available.
Mark

[EC121]

Jim:  Being from Chillicothe in Ross county, I went to school with Barnharts.  I once had a rifle by William the elder.  He signed with a script signature.  I believe William the younger usually had a stamped signature.  They built rifles in Green Township near Kingston, Ohio.  The Ross County Historical Society museum used to have William the elder's tools and some Barnhart rifles on display.  They were on loan from the Barnhart family, and I don't know if they are still there.  I sold the rifle to someone in Ohio to, at least,  return it to its home state.  Once on a visit to Chilli. I went to the museum to look around and found the rifles.  About seven of them.  The lady let me take them out of the glass case and look at them.  Then she brought me some oil, and I oiled them best I could.  THEN she brought me some glass cleaner to clean the glass while the case was open.  I had a fun afternoon.
     Being a flintlock it is probably by the elder Barnhart.  There was also a Nehemiah Barnhart who built later than the Williams.

Brice

[bama]

Brice i am sure this rifle was made by William the elder. It was a beautiful rifle and very well made. All original flint, no conversion.

Jim