Amos Early was taxed as a gunsmith in Dauphin County from 1855 to the end of the century in Hanover Twp. The area is now broken down into South Hanover, East Hanover and West Hanover Twps.
I know for a fact that he worked with John Shell, as the first rifle I had was made and signed by them. I think he married one of the Shell girls. I sold it for college tuition and the new owner rebored it and shot it for many years. Full stock percussion, artifically striped maple, about a 45" barrel, about .40 cal when I sold it. He reportedly opened it up to .45 cal. Anyway, that's history.
If you have a rifle signed by Early, I would appreciate it if you would post some pictures. I would like to do an article on him and can't find a single specimen. For the amount of time that he apparently worked late in the period, there should be some around somewhere. Can you help?
