Author Topic: Pannabecker rifle (Read 8859 times)

Dennis Glazener · « **on:** July 13, 2012, 06:42:30 PM »

I am uploading these photos for Buck. He will place text later today.
Dennis

Don Stith · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2012, 07:01:18 PM »

I like it
My only criticism is it lives in the wrong house.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:24:03 PM »

That is indeed a special rifle. I've seen several rifles by Mr. P. and none of them had the grace of that one. As an observation, it has a heavy barrel...I like it!

JTR · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:30:49 PM »

Wow! That's a great looking rifle, and up there with Pannabeckers best! Fine looking used and untouched condition to boot!
Wanna sell it!

Congratulations Buck if its come into your collection.

John

Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2012, 11:33:11 PM »

Gentlemen,
Samuel Pannabecker, Length of barrel 42.5", length of pull 13.25", flat to flat 7/8" and overall length is 57.25". 50 caliber original flint, only work that has been done to it is the period repair at the wrist. Really a beautiful rifle.
Dennis thank you again for posting the pictures.
John I have had it for a little while and am not ready to let loose of it just yet, thank you for the congrats. Hopefully we will run into each other one of these days and you can get a hold of it and look at it. the pictures are good but do not do it proper justice.
Mr. Sapergia thank you.
Don, glad to hear from you, I could send it to your house but myself and the 3 boys would have to come with it!

Number19 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2012, 01:15:43 AM »

A very interesting rifle, signed S. Pannabecker. Samual Pannabecker, gunsmith, was listed on tax roles as late as 1839 and there are very fancy, late golden age style rifles signed Samual Pannabecker, which stylistically, are quite different from this rifle.

This rifle, and a very similar 49" boy's rifle, are architecturally similar to rifles attributed to Wolfgang Haga. In particular, the trigger guard, the side plate, the carving around the cheek piece and most prominently, the design of the patch box head plate. The butt plate appears to be Haga's design.

There is speculation that Samual Pannabecker apprenticed under Haga, who died in 1796 and I would date this rifle as very early in Pannabecker's career, possibly while still an apprentice or journeyman in the late 1790's. Being an admirer of Haga's work, I also very much like this rifle.

Buck · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2012, 05:18:38 AM »

Number 19 I am not a historian like most here that frequent the forum. The information that I have read on Samuel is that he was born Aug 15th 1794. I will take a guess that he was an apprentice of his father Daniel who possibly was an apprentice to the elusive Haga. Daniel was born in Dec of 1761, he was listed a a gunsmith beginning in 1785 (24 years of age). It is possible that some of the rifles attributed to Haga were actually Daniels. Again I am not a historian but this school (Berks Co.) kept the early architecture of the rifle well into the 1820's and beyond. I am going to take a stab at it and date the rifle to around 1812 to 1815, that puts Samuel at 18-21 years of age. An apprenticeship usually lasted about 7 years, I would assume that he was with his father working as early a 10-11 years of age. Your 1839 date places Samuel at about 45 years of age. Samuel passed on in 1872, at 78 years old. I would be interested in what the Gents here have as far as an opinion. As a small footnote this rifle is pictured in "Selected Articles from the KRA Bulletins volume 1 - 30" pages 426-429. Enjoy.
Buck

bama · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2012, 03:12:04 PM »

I had the opportunity to hold and admire this rifle and it is a great rifle, my congratulations also Buck.

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2012, 07:36:45 PM »

A fine and rare rifle exhibiting all his talents. Shes a beauty Buck

Hungry Horse · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2012, 08:53:52 PM »

Dennis;

I have always pondered what long rifle Dixie Gun Works could have copied when they built their old "York" long rifle kit ( now discontinued). Now I know. The gun you feature here has a very similar profile, patchbox, and side plate . I don't know where Dixie got the idea of using the late percussion trigger guard they used on this rifle, but I have replaced several with a more correct guard for living history participants. I have owned several of these guns in the past, and currently am reworking a wrecked version of this gun. My first flintlock was one of these guns. Thanks for the pictures.

Hungry Horse

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:32:02 AM »

Quote

Dennis;

I have always pondered what long rifle Dixie Gun Works could have copied when they built their old "York" long rifle kit ( now discontinued). Now I know. The gun you feature here has a very similar profile, patchbox, and side plate . I don't know where Dixie got the idea of using the late percussion trigger guard they used on this rifle, but I have replaced several with a more correct guard for living history participants. I have owned several of these guns in the past, and currently am reworking a wrecked version of this gun. My first flintlock was one of these guns. Thanks for the pictures.

Hungry Horse

The thanks should go to Buck, I only posted the photos he sent to me. Great looking gun. Glad he sent them to me for displaying.
Dennis

jdm · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:49:16 AM »

Buck.
What a splendid looking rifle. I always feel we are lucky to have these in our care. Rifles like that are few and far between.
By the way your yard looks the same as mine. JIM

Buck · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2012, 02:27:34 AM »

Jim,
Thank you, I feel the same way. Thank you for the lawn comment I had to go and water the tomatoes before I responded. We had some rain here yesterday and Friday, not enough to save the crops. I have never seen the corn this stressed before.
Buck

Collector · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2012, 07:53:41 AM »

Buck,

It's a wonderful piece and thanks for sharing it with us. Obviously built by a man who understood shooters.

Slight deviation from this topic, the finding of these originals are such a rare event. Sometime back, on ALR, I remember seeing a photo of the carved portion of a butt stock that was found in one of those little, obscure, honey holes of an odds-and-ends-antique-shop-of-sorts. The carving/butt profile looked Lancaster-ish, if I recall correctly.

Q. Might you also be the finder/owner of that piece and if so, what has become of it?

Eric Smith · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:35:41 PM »

I live those Berks Cty makers. Haga, Bonewitz, Reedy, Derr, Pannabecker.

Buck · « **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2012, 03:19:12 PM »

Collector,
No Sir that would not be me. Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Buck

mkeen · « **Reply #16 on:** July 16, 2012, 07:12:59 PM »

Quote from: E. Smith on July 16, 2012, 01:35:41 PM

I live those Berks Cty makers. Haga, Bonewitz, Reedy, Derr, Pannabecker.

Samuel Pannabecker lived in Brecknock Township, Lancaster County. Although this is adjacent to Berks County, I have usually seen him classified as a Lancaster riflemaker. Maybe that's just local pride.

Martin

Majorjoel · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2012, 07:22:38 PM »

A really fine old longrifle you have there Buck!! It seems that Lancaster origins kind of fan out into many of the surrounding areas as did the mobile gunsmiths themselves. I am pretty sure that your rifle's patchbox is pictured in the first Patchbox book by Chandler. I really like the carving and architecture on this rifle.

Buck · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2012, 05:29:21 AM »

Joel,
Thankyou and glad you enjoyed it.
Buck

Eric Smith · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2012, 01:04:27 PM »

He may have lived across the border, but he got his pattern from Berks Cty.

Buck · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2012, 12:59:44 AM »

E. Smith,
Agreed, his rifles are stylistically Berks but he often embellished them with Lancaster details. I had a Feder that was a definite Berks co. rifle in form and architecture but decorated in the Lancaster style. There were a few from that area that were a product of both schools or combined both schools.
Buck

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Author Topic: Pannabecker rifle (Read 8859 times)

Number19

mkeen