School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Listed in the Moore County North Carolina census in 1840. Only one longrifle is known to this maker, but it bears the tradition of Bear Creek and Moore County gunsmiths.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Archives for February 2013
James Lett
Phillip Cameron
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Listed in the North Carolina census as a gunsmith in Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Edmund Williamson
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Listed in the North Carolina census as a gunsmith in Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
B. L. Sanders
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
B. L. Sanders worked in the David Kennedy shop in Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. He later became the Sheriff of Montgomery County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Harper
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1815 in Chatham County, died 1857. He worked a few miles away from Mechanics Hill, North Carolina near present day Harpers Cross Roads. He was the son of gunsmith Edward Harper. Both father and son are considered provincial or back-country gun makers. While they were influenced by the Kennedys, they were not restricted to conform to any shop standards.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Edward Harper
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1780 in Chatham County, died 1857. He worked a few miles away from Mechanics Hill, North Carolina near present day Harpers Cross Roads. He was the father of gunsmith John Harper. Both father and son are considered provincial or back-country gun makers. While they were influenced by the Kennedys, they were not restricted to conform to any shop standards.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Bryant Martindale
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
A known rifle, signed “B. Martindale” is engraved differently and in a higher quality than most Kennedy rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Spinks
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1795. A known rifle is signed “J. S.” He probably worked in southeastern Randolph or Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Hiram Kennedy
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1792 in Moore County, died 1862. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. A known coin silver mounted flintlock pistol has signed in script “H Kennedy” on a silver plate inlayed in the top flat of the barrel.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Enoch S. Kennedy
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1805 in Moore County, died 1835. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. A known coin silver mounted flintlock pistol bears identical engraving found on other Kennedy made rifles. The pistol is signed in script “ES Kennedy” on a silver plate inlayed in the top flat of the barrel.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Kennedy III
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1790 in Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. An existing very plain rifle without a patchbox is signed in script (not stamped) “J*K” for John Kennedy.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Kennedy II
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1766 in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. A known longrifle has a captured patchbox lid, that is all four sides of the lid are surrounded the brass “box.”
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Alexander Kennedy II
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1768 (died 1828) in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. A known rifle bears a coin silver flower similar to those on some Virginia rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Alexander Kennedy the Earlier
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Alexander Kennedy the Earlier born 1738 and died 1805. He was the head of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Father of gunsmiths David Kennedy (1768-1837), Alexander Kennedy II (1772-1828) and John Kennedy II (born 1766, died ?).
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
David Kennedy
School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1768 in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. David Kennedy supplied some arms to the US government for the war of 1812. Known rifles usually bear a star finial, which is said to be based on the flower finial found on Lancaster, Pennsylvania rifles. Other patchbox finials exist, such as a bird and a coin silver flower similar to those on some Virginia rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Solomon Farrington
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1772 in what was Rowan County, which is now Davidson County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Solomon Long
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
There is a known longrifle stamped “Made by A. LONG & Sons, N.C.”. Andrew Long (father) was joined by his two sons in the gunmaking trade. His sons, Felix born in 1811 and Solomon born in 1814.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Felix Long
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
There is a known longrifle stamped “Made by A. LONG & Sons, N.C.”. Andrew Long (father) was joined by his two sons in the gunmaking trade. His sons, Felix born in 1811 and Solomon born in 1814.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Clodfelter
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
Known for the rare buggy rifle stamped, “A.L. & J.C. NC”. Andrew Long and John Clodfelter were Davidson County gunsmiths.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Andrew Long
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1793 and his work is shows a close association with Henry Ledford. There is a known longrifle stamped “Made by A. LONG & Sons, N.C.”. Andrew Long (father) was joined by his two sons in the gunmaking trade. His sons, Felix born in 1811 and Solomon born in 1814.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Jesse Regan
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1815. Apparently apprenticed with Henry Ledford.
Source:
Ivey, William. North
Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Henry Ledford
School: Davidson (North Carolina/NC)
Henry Ledford (1796-1856). His earlier work showed Salem, NC influences. His later work has less of a Salem architectural appearance.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Abraham VanHoy
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1783, he was a gunsmith in what is now Forsyth County (was Stokes County). His work is generally influenced by the Salem School.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
George Reavis
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
There is some beleif that Reavis recieved some training is Salem, North Carolina. A known sample of his work made in Yadkin County lacks the quality of rifle making that came out of the Salem Vogler gunshop.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
W. E. Beck
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
There is one known rifle stamped, “W.E. Beck Winston N.C.” This half-stock percussion rifle was made in the Salem School style.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Elias Schaub
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
1811-1881. Worked in Bethania, North Carolina in the Salem School style.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Edward S. Butner
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1818. Worked in the Bethania area of North Carolina. His work is classic late Salem School.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
Herman Buttner
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born in 1793. He worked in Salem and Bethabara, North Carolina. He was apprenticed to Christopher Vogler at Salem in 1810.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
William Dettmar
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born in Germany in 1832. He apprenticed in Old Salem, North Carolina under Timothy Vogler. He is considered one of the later gunsmiths working in Salem. There is one known example of a large padlock stamped with his name.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
George Foltz
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born 1798. He worked in Old Salem, North Carolina under Timothy Vogler in the 1830s. Some of his rifles have the typical Eagle style patchbox.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
John Valentine Beck
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC)
Born in Germany and learned gunsmithing there. Worked in Christian’s Spring, PA before he moved to North Carolina. He worked in Old Salem and Bethabara, North Carolina in the 1770s.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
