ALR Museum Gunsmith: Joseph Long, Snyder Co, PA

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

Another Joseph Long Rifle is exhibited in the Museum. There is extensive information about him in the discussions included with each of the exhibits. The most extensive historical work to address Long and his guns is Edith Cooper's 1977 book "The Kentucky Rifle and Me." Though no longer in publications, editions are often available on the web. She exhibits 13 of his guns. We have 3 at this time in this thread.

Here is the URL for all of the Long exhibits:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=33.0

The Museum and Library Committee

[Don Getz]

Wow....great pictures.    Someone questioned the flintlock that was shown.....I see no reason to do so.    If you had the
authority to remove the barrel I think you might find a date there, he did that on some flintlocks that I have seen, one as
late as 1840.    I think Joe Long, and others working in this same mid 1800's period, would build a gun for a customer as
he wanted it....it he wanted a flint gun, he would build it.   Dalas Ewing, who was a distant relative of Joe Long, also a
student who collected them and studied them, turned up a rather large calibre Joe Long rifle, I think it was about 58 cal,
and if I remember correctly was found out west or in Canada.   From this, one must assume that he probably made the gun for a customer who was going west, and thought he needed a big gun.  Several years ago a womon from down in the
Phila. area of the state stopped in the barrel shop and introduced herself.....she was a direct descendent of Joe Long.  I
took her up to Beaver Springs and showed her his tombstone.   She was looking for a Long rifle, and did eventally find one.   A real sleek little gun, a percussion gun, but with two lock bolts and the typical football sideplate, along with a kind of
standard escutcheon found on a front lock bolt.   In this case I assumed that it was built as a flintlock since Joe normally
did not use two lock bolts on a percussion gun.  I love those pictures............Don

s

[JTR]

Don,
I think the lock question on the gun has to do with it having a briddle less frizzen, and the newish looking screws and spring.
I'd think if Long made the gun originally as a flint, that he'd have used the latest style of flinter available.
None the less, that's a fine looking rifle, and I've always enjoyed Longs work.

I once had a great looking swivel breech of his, carved behind the cheek piece, in really nice condition,,,, that I do regret selling!
Perhaps the new owner will post some pics of it for the library someday.

John

[bcowern]

Here is a URL for even more pictures and discussion by pundits of the Joe Long flintlock rifle.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6791.0

Regards,
Bradford

[Don Getz]

John......that swivel breech is fantastic.   The second gun shown has that wierd sideplate someone added, and they also
added that strange triggerguard.   Did you ever notice, the wear plates all seem to be alike, and the little 'squiggly'
engraving around the sights is normal.   Two of these gun have that unique Long trigger guard in which the bow is slightly
bigger than one would expect.    The one Joe Long gun I have does not have that same guard, slighly different.   His double set triggers are almost always the same, as are his toe plates.   I have a nice Long trigger guard laying here in
front of me and I think I will take it along to Dixon's and find someone to make a mould and have some cast.    Reaves has
some buttplates that will work with a Long.   I've already done a copy of a Long, but with a 13/16" barrel....too small.  I
am being tempted to do another using about a 15/16" barrel, about 40" long, in about 40 cal.     I know this will go against all common sense, but, since most of Joe's guns were done as percussions, I might have to build it that way....
just thinking.   Will keep you apprised on my decision..................Don

[JTR]

Bradford,
Thanks for putting your rifle into the Library for all of us to admire. It's a fine rifle and Joe Long's guns don't come along everyday!

Don.
On the swivel, zoom in close on the side plate. Long didn't engrave much, but there's a scene across the side plate of a hound chasing a deer, and I never saw any reason to believe that Long didn't engrave it!
And your right, there's a lot of little details that Long did over and over. In a way, they are sort of like Reedy's in that you can pick one out from across the room,,, and I always smile when I see one!

And hey, If you're going to copy one, copy that swivel! It has nicely tapered barrels so doesn't weigh a ton, and I'm sure between me and the new owner we could set you up with plenty of pictures to lead you down the way!

John

[Don Getz]

John.....believe it or not I thought about that.    When we bought the Paris business we had all the moulds and fixtures
to build a Nicholas Hawk swivel.    I made about a dozen of these units, before I swore off on them.   But, I think it would
be fun to do a Joe Long.   I have access to a nice one here locally.....will have to think on that.........Don