School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA)
John Shell (1795-1875) was taxed as a gunsmith in West Hanover Twp., east of Harrisburg, from 1817 through 1871. He built fine flintlocks and percussion rifles and was one of the few makers to number his rifles as well as sign them. He was one of the few men in the region to carry the traditional style of gunbuilding beyond the Civil War period. His father was Martin Shell, one of the grand masters of the Dauphin County school.
