Category: Lebanon/Dauphin

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Edward Mechlius, gunsmith, Halifax Boro, Dauphin Co., PA, tax list 1815. (Kauffman)

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) H. Shultz, a late maker of percussion arms, working out of Richland, Lebanon Co., PA, 1861. (Kauffman, 1960)

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) James Campbell (1805-1856) was taxed as a gunsmith in Middletown, PA, from 1831 to the mid-1840’s. Campbell was one of several gunsmiths to work in or near this boro, the oldest in Dauphin County, strategically located mid-way between Lancaster and Carlisle on the original Pennsylvania turnpike road. Architecturally, Middletown rifles often reflect […]

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Peter Bellis (1799-1885)was a prolific maker of flintlock longrifles from the 1820’s through the 1860’s. He worked in Lykens in northern Dauphin County. In 1855, a Peter Bellis, Jr., also was assessed as a gunsmith in nearby Wiconisco.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Andrew Berryhill was taxed as a gunsmith in Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, circa 1805-1810.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) John Brooks, Jr., was taxed as a gunsmith from 1802 through 1817 in Harrisburg, the county seat of Dauphin County, PA. He built classic longrifles with Lancaster school overtones, consistent with the fact that he built guns in Lancaster city prior to moving to Harrisburg.

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 […]

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Jacob Kline appears in Dauphin County records as a gunsmith working in Harrisburg, 1818-1821.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Peter Berry (d. 1796) is regarded as a grand master of the Dauphin/Lebanon region. He was taxed as a gunsmith in Heidelberg Twp., Dauphin County from 1786-1796. His distinct rifles reflect excellent crafstmanship and engraving, and genuine specimens are rare and especially desirable. Berry and his contemporaries in the trade reveal the […]

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Amos Early (c. 1840-1904)was taxed as a gunsmith from the late 1850’s to the time of his death in West Hanover Twp., Dauphin Co., PA. There was some relationship with the Shell family, as there are extant percussion fullstocks signed “Shell and Early.”

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) John P. Beck (1751-1811) was one of the superior builders of Pennsylvania longrifles. He was taxed in Lebanon, PA from 1772 until the time of his death. He built fine longrifles as well as Committee of Safety arms for the war effort. He was instrumental in establishing the regional style, and his […]

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Christian Klein (d.1825) built flintlocks at the dawn of the 19th century in Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PA.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Samuel Buchanan was taxed as a gunsmith in 1814, working out of Halifax, Dauphin Co., PA. (Kauffman)

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Willaim Boyd, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, gunsmith, 1811. Boyd family was early to region, holders of Penn land grant.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Martin Shell, Sr. (1737-1796) built both Committee of Safety muskets for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and flintlock rifles. He was an early influence in the Dauphin school and the patriarch of three generations of fine gunbuilders within Dauphin County. Shell was taxed as a gunsmith in Paxton Township.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Alexander Denning is listed as a gunsmith in 1807 in Harrisburg, PA. Denning learned the trade from Christian Klein.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) George L. Kunkle (d. 1869) was taxed as a gunsmith from 1831 to 1860 in Harrisburg, the county seat of Dauphin Co., PA. He built full-length flint and percussion guns, sometimes encountered with well-executed 4-piece patchboxes.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Christian Stall, gunsmith, 1817 tax list, working out of Harrisburg, PA. Builder of flintlocks.

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA) Jacob Roop was taxed as a gunsmith from 1805 to 1815 in the Swatara/Paxton region of Dauphin County, near Harrisburg. Many of the barrels of his flintlocks are signed “I Roop” in block letters. Roop’s rifles frequently present attractive 4-piece patchboxes with pierced finials. It is believed that there was, for a […]