Ever since my first glimpse at the Klette rifle in RCA, it's been one of my most favorite Kentucky Rifles. Several years ago I had the opportunity to see the rifle in person, and that experience cemented my appeal for this piece. I love the early characteristics of the rifle, and baroque styling. Also the fact that this rifle was built just a stones throw from where I live, added to the attraction.
Frederick Klette came from a family of Germanic gun builders. He was supervisor of the Rappahannock Forge, located in Falmouth, VA, which is located just north of Fredericksburg, VA. Local historians tell me the Forge is believed to have employed up to five hundred people during it's hay day, during the War for Independence. That number would have included teamsters, woodcutter, etc., but is still a substantial number of people. After the war, when production had significantly declined, Frederick Klette took up residents in nearby Stevensburg, VA, where it is believed he built the original rifle. Many publications date this rifle to the mid 1770's - mid 1780's. The only problem with that, as Gary Brumfield has pointed out, is Stevensburg wasn't incorporated until after that date. Frederick Klette shows up in the census in 1790, so it's quite probable that the rifle was built a little later than what most think, despite the "early" characteristics.
The owner of the original rifle was gracious enough to allow me to measure, photograph, and handle the original, to which I'm most appreciative. Although this is not a bench copy of the original, I did try to stay as close to the original as possible. The one exception being the carving behind the cheek piece. I wanted to do something similar, something in the baroque style, that might have been done by the same hand, or possibly by an apprentice.
The barrel is Rice's "Klette" pattern that was measured from the original, .54 cal. The lock is a "Dale Johnson" Chambers, that had a little shaping done to the plate. The butt piece is Jim Kibler's "early" butt piece, which is very close to what's on the original. All the rest of the furniture was hand done. I went round and round with the trigger guard... There's nothing available commercially to match the original guard, and I really didn't want to get into "cutting & pasting" existing ones to make something that was similar. Since the guard is fairly unique, and I think one of the aspects that makes the rifle itself unique, I decided to make a wood pattern and cast the guard, which I did. The blank came from Dunlap's, and Dave Keck inlet the barrel. The stock was stained with my home brew aqua fortes, finished with Permalyn, then rubbed back with rotten stone and paraffin oil. Thanks for looking, and if anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Ed
