Category: Berks

Derr, John (Johannes)

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) John (and on some records – Johannes) Derr is one of Berks County’s most prolific gun makers. He made rifles, smooth bore guns and pistols of a wide variety of styles, including swivel rifles from 1800 until 1850. Guns from Derr are almost always signed, either with a stamp, “John Derr” or […]

Graff, William

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) William Graff (Greif or Graeff) is listed as a gunsmith in the Reading Town census of 1767. He also worked in Lancaster County and apparently worked in both areas from 1750 until the turn of the century. He may be related to the gunsmith, John Graeff.

Haga, Wolfgang

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) The legendary Wolfgang Haga was a gunsmith working in Reading according to a land grant dated 1767. Further tax records show him still working in Reading in1779. No signed guns by Haga have been found, yet rifle design attributed to Haga set the standard for the Berks County style with later gunmakers […]

Pannebecker, Daniel

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) The Pannebecker family of Cumru and Brecknock Townships consisted of no less than eight gunmakers. Although some, like Samuel and Jess also worked in nearby Lancaster County, the grandfather, Daniel was one of the first to make guns near Mohnton in the late 1700s. Through marriages and related apprenticeships the Pannebecker family […]

Angstadt (Family)

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) The Angstadt family of gun makers is the dynasty of makers in Berks County. The family consisted of ten craftsmen who made complete rifles for over 100 years. Centered primarily in Maxatawny, Greenwich, and Long Swamp Townships and the Kutztown area the family consisted of: Adam 1st. – 1740 -1812 Peter Angstadt […]

Long, Stofil (Stofille)

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Long, Stofil (Stofille) is shown in the 1850 census working as a gunsmith in Albany Township. Albany Township lays at the most northern end of Berks County and his rifles show nearby Lehigh County influences of slimmer, lighter rifles than those produced in other areas of Berks County. His rifles sometimes include […]

Smith, Stoeffel

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Stoeffel Smith was a gunmaker working in Reading from the late 1700s until 1820. His rifles reflect a strong influence by Wolfgang Haga with similar stock profiles and raised carving behind the cheek piece. Since both worked in Reading at the same time, it is possible Smith worked with Haga in some […]

Derr, Christian

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Christian Derr was taxed as a gunsmith in 1805 in the Oley Valley. His rifles signed with a C.D. are usually found as unadorned rifles with simple patchbox designs and some utilize painted stocks to imitate tiger striping. This gunmaker is most likely the same gunmaker who later worked in Union County.

Palm, John

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) John Palm was a versatile gunmaker located on Second Street, Womelsdorf, Heidelberg Township until he died in 1865. His work shows little influence by the earlier Womelsdorf makers, making a variety of rifles from plain guns to fancy silver inlaid rifles. Palm often numbered his rifles alongside his signature. He also worked […]

Schreit, John

School: Berks  (Pennsylvania/PA) A rifle signed by John Schreit and dated 1761 is the earliest dated Kentucky rifle that is known to exist. John Schreit (Shreight) worked in Reading Town and is shown as a gunsmith and landowner of a town lot in the 1758 Berks County records. American rifles of this age are rarely […]

Fichthorn, Andrew 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 […]

Worley, Jesse

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Jeese Worley was a gun maker and owner of a gun barrel factory along the Wyomissing Creek in Cumru Township from 1788 until 1838. Two of his sons, John and Henry worked in the factory making gun barrels until 1890. Rifles signed with J. Worley or J.W. are found to have the […]

Pannebecker, Daniel

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) The Pannebecker family of Cumru and Brecknock Townships consisted of no less than eight gunmakers. Although some, like Samuel and Jess also worked in nearby Lancaster County, the grandfather, Daniel was one of the first to make guns near Mohnton in the late 1700s. Through marriages and related apprenticeships the Pannebecker family […]

Bonewitz, John

School: Berks Womelsdorf  (Pennsylvania/PA) John Bonewitz [B 1758 – D 1828] worked as Master Gunsmith in Womelsdorf, Pa. from approx. 1778 until 1809. Moved to Pine Grove, Pa. in 1809 and continued the trade there until his death.Bonewitz first appears in the Womelsdorf tax records in 1780 as a single freeman. In 1781 he appears […]

George, Henry & Jacob

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Henry George (Yorg) is shown as a gunsmith in an 1804 deed transfer to his son, Jacob “a gunsmith”. Both father and son worked in Greenwich Township. Jacob worked until the 1830s and many samples of his work have been found. His rifles are often confused with Stofil Long’s work and it […]

Mauger, Henry

School: Berks (Pennsylvania/PA) Henry Mauger was born in 1750 and died in 1826. He worked in Douglas Township which lies along the Bucks County line. Mauger made rifles and pistols and apparently some locks. It is believed that John Derr apprenticed under Mauger and Derr used a similar patchbox design on his many of his […]