interesting Allentown rifle maker ad

[DaveM]

I came across this by accident - some of you may find this interesting.  The graphics are very detailed. 

What struck me is how "late" the guns look - if I saw these guns I would have assumed they were more like 1860ish.  Looks like a back action lock.  This ad was in January 1844 in Allentown.

[WESTbury]

That's a great piece of history showing the influence of the German immigrants, some of my ancestors, in Pennsylvania. It is interesting that while the add clearly shows percussion rifles and pistols, the ad mentions flintlocks. Percussion caps were probably more expensive that flints and possibly a reluctance to break from tradition.

Thanks for posting the ad!

[OLUT]

i think the word Flinten means shotguns in this ad

[WESTbury]

OLUT--Mein Gott, you are correct! My German ancestors must be spinning in their graves.

[Chris_B]

"Flinten" are muskets in general, i.e. smoothbore guns.
Shotguns most often are called "Schrotflinte"
Rifles (rifled guns) are Büchsen.
 

[WESTbury]

Chris----Thanks for the translation. 

I learned most of the pitifully small amount of German that I know from watching the COMBAT! TV show, starring Vic Morrow, back in the early 1960's.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Verrrrry interestingk!!