The Easfetn Section The Eastern section of the Northampton County school of gunsmithing consists of the early townships of Forks, Plain- field and Mount Bethel. Major gunsmiths active in this area were John Schneider, Jacob Deemer, Nicholas Hawk and the Young gunsmithing family of Easton, Pennsylvania. Rifles of this section were generally manufactured during the later period, after 1800, and exhibited very few of the school's traditional characteristics. Sideplates tended to end in a blunted point quickly evolv- ing into a shape ending with a small circle not unlike that com- mon to the Bucks County school of gunsmithing. Wrists became more high than wide. Brass wearplates, which sometimes endeda long both sides of the triggeqgmd, were popular. Nicholas Hawk, active in the 18205, was a talented gunsmith who worked in Gilbert, Pennsylvania, in the artreme Northeastem area of the school, in what later became Monroe County. He normally signed his barrels and had a strong preference for over-and-under swivel rifles. His work was well executed and profusely engraved. Remaining examples are well documented in existing publications. The rifles of Jacob Deemer often had a JD engraved in the thumb piece inlay. Their sideplates usually ended in a blunt point, and their stocks were slimmer and more streamlined. Patchboxes on Deemer rifles followed the style of Nicholas Hawk but never displayed the traditional fine Hawk engrav- ing. Though often confused with Hawk rifles, close examina- tion shows the JD rifles were plainer and of lower quality than those of Hawk
This article by a KRA member had images of a Jacob Deemer (by Whisker) attached
Kevin
