School: Rowan (North Carolina/NC)There is an existing rifle with similar characteristics to the Rowan School of gunmaking and signed “D.G.” The patchbox edelweiss finial is usually associated with Virginia gunsmiths, but some Piedmont NC rifles have similar finials.Source: Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
School: Mecklenburg (North Carolina/NC)John Bivins considered the rifle signed “W.B.” in script on the brass patch box one of the finest examples of a North Carolina longrifle. W.B.’s identity is unknown. Ivey Collection.Source: Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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 […]
School: Mecklenburg (North Carolina/NC)This rifle signed “SMB” in script on the brass patch box is certainly related to the rifle similarly engraved WB. The patch box and finial are similar to other Mecklenburg rifles. The faceted lockplate is another Mecklenburg detail. The maker’s identity is unknown. MESDA Collection.Source: Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles […]
School: Catawba County (North Carolina/NC)Henry W. Huffman (born 1807) was known to sign his rifles either in script or stamped in block letters on the top barrel flat. The four piece patchbox was similar to the Lancaster, PA box with its sideplates interrupted by wood. Source: Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, […]
School: Salem (North Carolina/NC) Worked in Old Salem, North Carolina around 1800. Signed barrel, “C. Vogler Salem, N.C.” Metal engraving may have been done by John Vogler. Source: Bivins, John. Longrifles of North Carolina, 2nd. Edition. York, PA: George Shumway Publisher, 2006. Print.
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.
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 […]
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 […]
