Andreas Albrecht

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Andreas Albrecht (1718-1802) was one of the patriarchs of Pennsylvania gun building. Born in Germany, he came to America in 1750 and served as the master gunsmith at the Moravian settlement of Christian Springs, the initial place where guns were built within the Lehigh Valley, near present-day Nazareth. Albrecht left the settlement in 1771 and moved to Lititz, a Moravian community in Lancaster County, PA, where he continued gun building. Albrecht was the master of William Henry, Jr. Only one signed A. Albrecht rifle is known to exist today.

John Albright

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Andrew Albright (1770-1822), son of Andreas Albrecht, was documented by scholar Sam Dyke as a gunsmith working in Nazareth in the 1790-1822 period.

Isaac Berlin

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Berlin appears to have started and ended his trade within this region, appearing on Easton tax records as a gunsmith from 1775-1795 and again in 1835. In between he surfaces both in York County and farther west in Crawford County. (Dyke)

Henry Clause

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Henry Clause was taxed as a gunsmith working in Heidelberg Twp., Lehigh Co., in 1821. (Kauffman)

Jacob Clewells

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Jacob Clewells, gunsmith, 1799-1802 tax lists, Hanover Twp., Northampton Co., PA (Dyke)

Philip Clewells

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Philip Clewells, gunsmith, Easton tax records 1820-1835, Bushkill Twp., Northampton Co., PA (Dyke)

William Clewells

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

William Clewells, gunsmith, 1814-1835, Bushkill Twp., Northampton Co., PA. (Dyke)

Henry Derringer, Jr.

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Henry Derringer, Jr., was taxed as a gunsmith between 1794-1798 in Easton, Northampton Co., PA

Peter Diemer

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Peter Diemer, taxed as gunsmith, 1807-1835, Moore Twp., Northampton Co., PA (Dyke)

Abraham Henry

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Abraham Henry (1728-1811, brother of William Henry, Jr., worked first in Lancaster, then moved to Nazareth where he was taxed as a gunsmith as early as 1780.

Granville Henry

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Granville Henry (1835-1912, son of James Henry, carried on the family gunmaking tradition for the fourth generation at the Boulton gun factory. This is ths site of the present-day Jacobsburg Plantation and Pennsylvania Museum of the Longrifle, near the Belfast Exit, Rt. 33, north of Easton, PA. The entire evolution of the Pennsylvania Longrifle, as well as the full contribution of the Henry family to American industry, can be traced at this site.

James Henry

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

James Henry (1809-1904) was the son of J.J. Henry. He worked with his father at the Boulton gun factory and earned a fortune through the sale of Indian trade rifles, sporting guns and military-type muzzleloaders.

John Joseph Henry

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

J. J. Henry (1786-1836), Son of William Henry, Jr., was a gunsmith in Nazareth and, with his father and brother William III, worked the boring mill at Jacobsburg and built the rifle factory at Boulton. The family was active in supplying militia arms, guns for the Indian trade, and a commercial line of firearms for nearly a century.

William Henry, III

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

William Henry, III, son of William Henry, Jr., was a gunsmith in the family firearms business at Jacobsburg and Boulton, near present day Nazareth, PA.

William Henry, Jr.

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

William Henry, Jr. (1757-1821)was apprenticed to Andreas Albrecht and trained at Christian Springs prior to setting up shop in Nazareth, PA, where he became a dominant influence on local gunbuinding. He was active here from 1790 to 1820 and was the father of William Henry III, and John Joseph Henry, both significant gunsmiths of the region. William Henry, Jr., built contract muskets for the Commonwealth of PA as well as civilian longrifles.

William Henry, Sr.

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

William Henry, Sr. (1729-1786), an important Pennsylvanian and Revolutionary Patriot, was associated to both the Lancaster and Lehigh schools of gunsmithing. He served as armorer to George Washington and was one of the first men to build rifles in Lancaster. Henry entrusted his son William, Jr., to the capable hands of Andreas Albrecht and the master builders of Christian Springs. Another son, Abraham, later followed his brother to the Lehigh Valley. From here the Henry family established a multi-generational regional gunbuilding dynasty which culminated with the establishment of the factory at Jacobsburg/Boulton, PA, where today one can enjoy the Pennsylvania Museum of the Longrifle, the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the American Longrifle. This museum is located near the Belfast Exit, Rt. 33, north of Easton, PA. See website link.

Henry Hunsicker

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Henry Hunsicker was taxed as a gunsmith in the 1812 circa in Macungie Twp., Lehigh County. PA. His rifles often were signed “H H” on the barrel.

Jacob Kuntz

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Jacob Kuntz (1780-1876), brother of Peter Kuntz, learned the trade in Allentown and was taxed as a gunsmith in nearby Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County in 1807. He moved to Philadelphia where he became noted as a fine maker of flintlock rifles and pistols. Kuntz’s better rifles are viewed today as some of the finest representations of regional utilitarian art.

Peter Kuntz

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Peter Kuntz (1791-1862), brother of Jacob Kuntz, was a noted gunsmith in Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. Along with his brother, he was an excellent maker of fine longrifles.

George Lee

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

George Lee (1825 – 1889) was both Nathan Moll’s apprentice and brother-in-law. George later worked for Peter Moll in Hellertown and married Peter’s daughter, Elizabeth. In 1874, after serving in the Civil War, George opened a tobacco and gun shop in Iron Hill, just north of Hellertown. George and his wife are buried in New Jerusalem Cemetary next to Peter Moll and his wife, Mary.

David Moll

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

David Moll (1807 – 1853) was the brother of John Jr. and Peter Moll. David joined his brother, Peter, in Hellertown in the very late 1820’s-1830. Together they formed the great P&D Moll gunshop of Hellertown. They are best known for their high grade pistols and fine rifles.

John Moll, II

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Moll (aka John Moll II) School: Northampton/Lehigh John Moll (1773 – 1867) was the successor to his father’s gun business in Allentown, PA. In 1820 he sold the business to his son, John Moll Jr. (aka John Moll III).

John Moll, III

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Moll Jr. (aka John Moll III) School: Northampton/Lehigh John Moll Jr. (1796 – 1883) succeeded his father in the Allentown gunshop. He purchased the business from his father and ran it from 1820 to 1883. In 1860, he partnered in the business with his son, W. H. Moll. John Moll Jr.’s mother was the niece of gunsmith, Peter Neihardt.

John Moll, Sr.

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Johannes Moll (aka John Moll Sr.) School: Northampton/Lehigh Johannes Moll (? – 1794) was the patriarch of a famous family of gunsmiths in the Lehigh Valley. He first appeared on the tax assessment of “Northampton Town” (Allentown) for the year 1764. He prospered in the gunsmith business and owned land in Allentown as well as in contiguous townships. His son, John Moll (aka John Moll II), followed in the gun making trade. His other son, Peter, became a wealthy businessman and landowner in the Allentown area.

Nathan Moll

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Nathan Moll (1814 – 1882) was the younger brother of John Jr., Peter, and David Moll. After learning the trade from his brother, John Jr., in Allentown, Nathan first moved to Lower Saucon Valley in the mid – late 1830’s. Later he moved south of Quakertown to Rock Hill Township, Bucks County, where he built and repaired guns until moving to Iowa in the 1870’s.

Peter Moll

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Peter Moll (1799 – 1879), son of John Moll, moved to Hellertown to work as a gunsmith after his brother, John Moll Jr. bought the business from their father. Peter was making guns in Hellertown by 1826. Peter’s mother was the niece of Peter Neihardt, another master gunsmith of Lehigh Valley.

William H. Moll

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

William H. Moll (1825 – ?) was the son of John Moll Jr. (III) and became a partner in the family business in Allentown in 1860. William was the 4th generation of Moll gunsmiths working in Allentown. With the death of William’s father in 1883, the great Moll gun making firm was dissolved and no more.

Moll Nathan

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Nathan Moll School: Northampton/Lehigh Nathan Moll (1814 – 1882) was the younger brother of John Jr., Peter, and David Moll. After learning the trade from his brother, John Jr., in Allentown, Nathan first moved to Lower Saucon Valley in the mid – late 1830’s. Later he moved south of Quakertown to Rock Hill Township, Bucks County, where he built and repaired guns until moving to Iowa in the 1870’s.

Peter Neihardt

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Peter Neihardt (several variations of spelling noted) was born in 1743 and died in 1813. He worked in Whitehall Township, Northhampton County (now Lehigh Co.) and is regarded today as a grand master of the region. His architecturally gracefull rifles present many Germanic features which reflect the influence of the Moravian masters at Christian Springs, but Neihardt’s guns usually do not present the pronounced buttstock curvature seen in the guns of the later, fully-developed Lehigh pattern. Hence, Neihardt’s work can be seen as transitional between the earliest period and the era when the Lehigh form became a distinct and pronounced regional style. Neihardt’s work is not commonly encountered today and any genuine specimen can be regarded as a rarity. Further information can be found in the KRA Bulletin and in monographs published by R.G. Gabel

John Christian Oerter

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Christian Oerter (1747-1777) was a gunsmith at the early gunmaking center of Christian Springs; he succeeded Andreas Albrecht as master gunsmith here in 1771 and served in this capacity until his death.

Adam Herman Rupp

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

A. Herman Rupp (1756-1831) worked as early as 1793 in Macungie Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. His products are graceful pieces which normally present the classic Lehigh architecture in its fully-developed form. For further information see the monographs of R. G. Gabel.

John Rupp

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Gunsmith,John Rupp (1786-1848), nephew of gunsmith Herman Rupp, was taxed as a gunsmith in Weisenberg Twp., Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. J. Rupp specimens regularly present fully evolved Lehigh architecture–sleek and graceful with a pronounced curvilinear buttstock profile.

Henry Young

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Henry Young, along with brother John, built solid flintlocks in the early period ( circa 1774-1784). He was located in Easton, PA.

John Young

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Young worked in Easton, Northampton County, PA. An early maker, he built Committee of Safety muskets during the revolution and continued building flintlocks into the early 19th century. Both John and his brother Henry were builders of excellent rifles, yet their styles are more personal than they are representative of classic Lehigh/Northampton architecture.

 

Peter Young

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Peter Young worked in Easton, PA in the early 19th Century.