School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA)
Andrew Fichthorn Sr. [B 1756 – D 1829] will remain a mystery to the collecting world in the same manner as Wolfgang Haga and several other Borough of Reading gunsmiths. An extensive search of the Tax, Church and Land records of The Borough of Reading, Pa. do, in fact, identify his trade as a gunsmith in 1779,1780 and 1781. His will, dated 6/10/1828, also lists him as a gunsmith as well. However, his activities after the Rev War suggest he took full advantage of his business and real estate knowledge and created a considerable estate for himself and his family. Andrew Fichthorn Sr. [his proper name] served as an ‘Artificer’ during the American Revolution inCapt. George Wills Co. of artillery. An ‘Artificer’ was considered a skilled mechanic and a very valuable part of the company’s craftsmen.Even though he wanted to be considered a gunsmith, when you look at his estate records you start to wonder just how serious a gunsmith he was. He held many ‘bonds’ [mortgages today], owned multiple properties, engaged in various land transactions and held several Reading bank stocks. In addition, he supported his own children and those of his son Andrew Jr. who preceded him in death by 7 years. Andrew Fichthorn Sr. died a wealthy man. Collectors are waiting for the day a ‘signed’ example of Andrew Fichthorn Sr.’s work surfaces.
Andrew Fichthorn Sr.
Andrew Fichthorn Jr.
School: Womelsdorf, Reading and Berks (Pennsylvania/PA)
Andrew [Andreas] Fichthorn [Figthorn] Jr. [B 1779 – D 1822] was the son of Andrew Fichthorn Sr., a Rev War veteran, Reading land owner/speculator, Reading banker and Bond holder and some believe a gunsmith at various times in his life.
Andrew Fichthorn Jr., however, was a full time Master Gunsmith in Reading, Pa. from 1803 until his death in 1822. He positively spent time in the Bonewitz/Reedy Womelsdorf shop as an apprentice or journeyman until 1802 or 1803 when tax records indicated he returned to Reading, Pa. and set up his own gunsmith business. He signed his work A+F near the breech on the third flat opposite the lock.
Careful examination of his early guns show he spent equal amounts of time with Bonewitz and Reedy while in the Womelsdorf shop. The majority of his later work does not carry the same sophistication of his experience and training in Womelsdorf or his early years in Reading.
He died, after a short illness, and is buried in the family cemetery plot in Reading, Pa.
Further Reference material:
– The ‘Andrew Fichthorn Family, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania’ KRA Vol. 28 , No 1., 2001
– Selected Articles form the KRA Bulletin, Published by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation 2005.
