Top 10 American Gunbuilders from the Flintlock Era

[Top Jaw]

This is a subjective post.  And that's OK.  But I'm curious who your list of top 10 gunmakers from the flintlock era might be.  This isn't meant to generate arguments, or critiques of someone's list, because everyone has their own opinions, and they are going to be swayed by peoples favorite school, better known names, more surviving rifles, more publicity, more refinement Post Revolutionary war, etc, etc.  That's all OK too.  Just list your 10.  Or someone you think was overlooked in the lists.  Its hard to limit the list to just 10, so I had a few honorable mentions.  Here are the ten I think were the most talented - in no particular order. 

John Bonewitz
JP Beck
John Armstrong
Isaac Berlin
Andrew Verner
Herman Rupp
Isaac Haines
Jacob Sell
Fredrick Sell
George Eister

Honorable Mention:  George Schroyer, Andreas Albrecht, Melchior Fordney, and many others!



   

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

     My List,.....
     1. AMBROSE LAWING
     2. BAXTER BEAN
     3. JACOB GROSS
     4. WILLIAM NELSON BEALS
     5. WILLIAM WESLEY LAWING
     6. Alfred F. GROSS
     7. JASON L. HARRIS
     8. CHARLES BEAN SR.
     9. GABRIEL McINTURFF
     10. ENOCH HARDIN
   
     too many alternates to mention, but any Unicoi or Soddy builder would fit in anywhere with these fellers,... !!! ... enjoy & regards, ... Cades Cove Fiddler ..... (granted,... many of these builders were building and using flintlocks even until the late 19th century) 
 

[

[smylee grouch]

Jacob Kuntz for sure and John Noll too.

[Chris_B]

     My List,.....
     1. AMBROSE LAWING
     2. BAXTER BEAN
     3. JACOB GROSS
     4. WILLIAM NELSON BEALS
     5. WILLIAM WESLEY LAWING
     6. Alfred F. GROSS
     7. JASON L. HARRIS
     8. CHARLES BEAN SR.
     9. GABRIEL McINTURFF
     10. ENOCH HARDIN
   
     too many alternates to mention, but any Unicoi or Soddy builder would fit in anywhere with these fellers,... !!! ... enjoy & regards, ... Cades Cove Fiddler ..... (granted,... many of these builders were building and using flintlocks even until the late 19th century) 
 

[

Yesterday I received Dave Byrd´s two books.
I wonder why all the names on your list sound familiar....?

[Molly]

Interesting contrast of the top 10.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Only makers of American longrifles count?

dave 

[Top Jaw]

Yeah.  American for this list. 

[Shreckmeister]

Jacob Kuntz for sure and John Noll too.

   Kunitz can’t be left out of any top 10. How about Oerter?

[mountainman70]

Best not forget Jacob Dickert. I would put him at the top of the list.Like all the rest of em too, specially them Southern builders. Cheers, Dave f

[Mike Brooks]

My favorites constantly change depending on what area I'm studying at the moment. Right now I'm all Christian's Spring/Lehigh area . Throw in some Dickert and Fordney, then drift south to the Sheetz family and Lauck.

[louieparker]

I get the feeling that Cades Cove Fiddler has a strong leaning towards mountain rifles......LP

[Top Jaw]

I could swap Kuntz for Rupp on my original list.  Dickert, Oerter, and Sheets were all on my working list, among others.  When you actually start trying to trim it to just 10 names, it gets pretty difficult. 

[retired fella]

LP  I think you are right.  Them mountain boys is tighter'n ticks.  Not say'n he's wrong.  I love my MR's.   

[oldtravler61]

  Cafes has his favorites as long as their Tennessee s. Myself included but I'm a tag partial to more of the contemporary builders.  Bean,kits and Dickert are some of my favorite.  Oldtravler

[TommyG]

Jacob Dickert and absolutely Christian Oerter.  I could only imagine Oerter's work if he would have lived to 50 or 60 yrs old.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... HaHaHa,....!!! ... Louie, what was your first clue,... ... BTW, I'm still looking for that "J. GROSS for  A.B." flintlock rifle,...!!!! ..,,,, btw,... good to see you in Nashville last week-end,... will you be in Alabama next month,..? 

[Sawfiler]

I'll second what Mike said and it changes based on what I am interested in/studying at the moment. Right now I cannot stop staring at (photos of) Wiley Higgins guns. And a great thanks to Mr. Wayne Elliott for all the information he has provided me on this great Georgia maker. Wiley Higgins is so much different than what you normally see. He definitely was an artist with the metal work.

[louieparker]

CCF..Depends on how  things are at the time....   LP

[WElliott]

I don’t disagree with any listed above.  However, Wiley G. Higgins of Monroe County, Georgia would be at the top of my list of makers in the late flintlock period. Absolutely unique and creative. 

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I’d have to agree with Cades Cove Fiddler! Ambrose Lawing, Jacob Young, J. Whitson, Pleasant Wilson, P. Bell of Polk County Tn all built some right fine rifles.

[Fullstock longrifle]

Maybe you should expand that list to the top 20, or 30 or....

[BOB HILL]

I’ve got so many running around in my head I’d hate to have to make a list. I am kind of partial to Southern rifles though.
Bob

[Marcruger]

I have to throw in the Voglers (Christoph and family) of Salem, NC.  I am mighty partial to their very slim and elegant rifles.  God Bless,   Marc

[Curt J]

My list would have to include Philip Creamer, as well as John Small (Vincennes). I would also agree about Wiley G. Higgins.

[mbriggs]

From a North Carolina perspective:

1. William Black - Mecklenburg School
2. Isaac Thompson - Mecklenburg School
3. John Vogler - Salem School
4. Christoph Vogler - Salem School
5. David Kennedy - Bear Creek School
6. Craft Jackson - Early Deep River School
7. William Lamb - Jamestown School
8. John Eagle - Rowan School
9. Isaac Ribelin - Rowan School
10. Joseph McDowell Whitson, Sr. - Appalachian School

It is tough to leave so many great gunsmiths off, but this is my choice.  Hlbly - still waiting to see your list.