Shreckmeister, the rifle on page 121 of Rosenberger's book "The Longrifles of Western Pennsylvania" was built by Jacob Weigle of Westmoreland County. I talked to the owner some years ago. The same rifle is shown as a caplock in Shumway's "Longrifle Articles", Volume II, page 87. He was confused as to where it was built. Whisker's book "Arms Makers of Western Pennsylvania" shows a similar rifle on page 163. How do I know he built these rifles? Because I restored a third rifle built by him and with his name engraved on it. There are features of his "hand" common to all three: carving, wear plates, and "stars" or crosses among them. The third rifle is in a museum in Vernal, Utah. It was found in a dry cave with the dessicated body of a mixed blood Indian boy of about 8 years of age. I have researched this for about 35 years and believe I know who his parents were. I have also researched the Weigle (Wigle) family and even traveled to Jacob's Creek, PA and Pittsburgh doing this. I know some of his descendants and have visited them in Iowa, St. Louis and his GGG grandson in Ashland County, Ohio. Here is the restored rifle in the Utah Field House of Natural History Museum.
Here I am with the cleaned up and "restored" rifle about 1980
The original on my left and my copy on the right. (I made three copies and sold one to a Wigle married to my cousin Ruth in Iowa).
The original on the left and my copy on the right.
Andy Anderson, GGG grandson of Jacob Wigle and my first copy, which he bought from me, at the grave of Jacob Wigle in Ashland, Ohio.
I wrote this story for "The Outlaw Trail Journal" here in Vernal, and when I find my copy I'll post the details of the issue and how to order the book.
