Here is a listing of the Kentucky Rifle Foundation’s special projects; the most recent project is at the top.
Press Release:
Pricketts Fort State Park Is Hosting A Historic Exhibit Of West Virginia Made Longrifles
Compiled By The Kentucky Rifle Foundation.
March 28th to November 11th, 2016
Media Contact: Greg Bray, director@prickettsfort.org
FOR RELEASE: March 28, 2016
Fairmont, WV – Pricketts Fort State Park will be the host site for a unique, first time exhibit of West Virginia made longrifles and accoutrements that has been compiled by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation. The exhibit of rifles and accoutrements will represent the work and craftsmanship of over twenty gunsmiths who plied their trade in West Virginia during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Many of these fine rifles have never been seen by the general public before in this type of venue, and present a rare opportunity for the historian, student and artisan to view these historic treasures first hand. The exhibit, which runs from March 28th to November 11th, 2016 is in the Pricketts Fort museum gallery in the Visitor Center and is FREE and open to the public. The Visitor center is open seven days a week, Monday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm. For more information, please visit: http://www.prickettsfort.org or call (304) 363-3030 or 1-800-CALL-WV
About Kentucky Rifle Foundation – Preserving the Heritage of the Kentucky Rifle
The Kentucky Rifle Foundation’s mission is to preserve the heritage of the Kentucky Rifle thru educational programs and exhibits, museum assistance and the publication of books related to the history and significance of the Kentucky Rifle. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation is the educational arm of the Kentucky Rifle Association. The Kentucky Rifle Foundation is a stand-alone organization; however, it operates exclusively as an IRS 501 C3 corporation. For more information, you can visit: http://kentuckyriflefoundation.org
About Pricketts Fort State Park
Pricketts Fort State Park is a day-use historical and recreational park situated just three miles off I-79, Exit 137, at 88 State Park Road, Fairmont, WV 26554. The state park features a reconstructed fort, the Job Prickett House, built in 1859, and a Visitor Center. The Visitor Center includes a research library, museum gift shop and a gallery which features an orientation exhibit and video. The Visitor Center, the historical interpretation program, and all special events are managed by the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation, under long-term contact with the state.
Read About the show in the Charleston Gazette. Click Here.
Spring 2014 |
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The Kentucky Rifle, A Complete Narrative 1750-1850at the NRA’s National Firearms MuseumMay 15, 2014 through May 15, 2015 |
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The Kentucky Rifle Foundation, in conjunction with the National Rifle Association, will be hosting a display entitled “The Kentucky Rifle, A Complete Narrative 1750-1850”. The exhibit will be located at the NRA’s National Firearms Museum May15, 2014 thru May15, 2015 in Fairfax, Virginia. The purpose of the exhibit is to tell the story of the development of this early American art form and its role in helping America and its people become a free and independent country.
NFM exhibit rifles will be made up of 20 examples of the best Kentucky rifles including: the earliest known J.P. Beck along with important rifles by Graeff, Dickert, Haga, Eyster, Armstrong, Schroyer, Lauck, the PA rifle, J. Wilson, Frazier, Hoffman, the “Gamecock” rifle, Clark, and Kettering and Barnhart. The NFM exhibit is a continuation of the Kentucky Rifle Foundation’s primary mission of ‘Preserving the Heritage of the Kentucky Rifle’ through educational displays open to the general public. This mission is also accomplished by generous donations, the sale of KRF educational books and CD’s, affiliate show KRF table displays and long term exhibits, like the NFM display, using select ‘Kentucky Rifles’ from the collections of Kentucky Rifle Association members. |
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| Go to the NRA National Firearms Museum Website, click here. | ||
Spring 2013
Maryland to the Frontier- An Exhibition of Maryland Longriflesat the B & O Railroad Museum, Ellicott City StationApril 20 – October 16, 2013 |
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| Ellicott City Station 2711 Maryland Avenue Ellicott City, MD 21043Go to the Ellicott City Station Website, click here. More than 20 Kentucky rifles and pistols made in Maryland Illustrate the artistic beauty of these everyday tools of survival on the frontier. Exhibits on the French and Indian War, colonial travel, The National Road and migration to the frontier in the 18th and 19th centuries prior to the coming of the railroad compliment these arms which have been called “A True American Heritage in Art.”Click Here to download the Brochure.
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Sponsored by:
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Other support provided by:
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Spring 2012
Virginia Longrifle Exhibition- Luray Valley Museum
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| On the Grounds of the Luray Caverns Luray, Virginia |
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This exhibit was hosted by the Luray Valley Museum in Luray, Virginia, which is located on a 7 acre complex nestled on the grounds of the historic Luray Caverns.
Click Here to download the brochure.
Fall 2011
The fourth CD produced by the Foundation is entitled ‘2011 KRA President’s Display – Western Pennsylvania Gunmakers’ Vol.I, Issue IV. The CD contains photos of 22 of the best Western Pennsylvania Rifles by 21 gunsmiths. Again, it is from the 2011 KRA annual meeting display. This CD is still available in the KRF Store.
Fall 2010
The third CD produced by the Foundation is entitled ‘2010 KRA President’s Display – Lehigh Valley 1780 – 1820’. The CD contains photos of some of the best Lehigh Valley rifles and has excellent photographs of 22 rifles made by 17 gunsmiths. It is also, as stated in the title, from the KRA President’s Display at their annual meeting. This CD is still available in the KRF Store.
The second book that was published by the Foundation is a monumental work by Bob Lienemann is entitled ‘The Moravian Gun Making of the American Revolution’. It covers the history of Moravian Gun making in the United States and its European roots and features 12 of the finest Moravian guns. The book is available in the KRF Store.
Winter 2008
The next outreach of the ‘Historical Marker Program’ by the Foundation was the placement of a marker in front of the gunsmith Leonard Reedy homestead in Gratz, Pennsylvania. At the placement ceremony the Gratz Historical Society had a Leonard Reedy Day that the KRF set up a display of rifles built by Leonard Reedy.
The next CD produced by the Foundation is entitled ‘Kentucky Rifle Photographs Volume I; Issue II. This CD contains some of the finest early Moravian rifles made and consists of 10 rifles made by seven different gunsmiths. It is photos of rifles that made up the KRA President’s Display at their annual meeting. This CD is still available in the KRF Store.
The Foundation also provided support to the Jacobsburg Historical Society for the ‘Nicholas Hawk Gun Shop’. The society was in the process of restoring an original gun shop that was used by Nicholas Hawk. The Foundation provided funds toward replacing the roof on the original structure.
Fall 2006
After developing several table displays at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Rifle Association in the past a new idea developed and executed annually by the Foundation is the ‘KRA President’s Display’. The display will feature a theme of a gunsmithing school and the finest examples of the school are brought out for the general membership to view. These displays feature rifles that haven’t been viewed by the KRA membership in years and have become an exciting part of the annual KRA meeting.
Recognizing the popularity of the President’s display at the KRA meeting and keeping with the Mission state of the KRF to educate the public about the Kentucky Rifle heritage, the idea of the ‘Kentucky Rifle Foundation – Table Display’ was developed for a public venue. Table displays featuring different gunsmithing schools, or even particular gunsmiths, are displayed annually at the Contemporary Longrifle Association meeting in Lexington, Kentucky and also at several of the mini Longrifle shows across the county. The table displays have proved to be very popular and always attract an appreciative group of views.
Another public outreach developed by the Foundation is its ‘Historical Marker Program’. The first historical marker placed was arranged with the State of Maryland to place a Marker near the site of John Armstrong’s home and work shop. It is an important reminder of the work of a “Golden Age” gunsmith from Emmitsburg, Maryland and also explains the origins of the “Kentucky Rifle” name.
Spring 2005
The first book published by the KRF was’ Selected Articles from the KRA Bulletin (Vol. 1 – 30), 2005’. It was a hardbound book containing 157 selected articles and over 800 halftones and line drawings from past Kentucky Rifle Association bulletins. Unfortunately the book is now out of print.
The first CD published by the KRF was ‘Kentucky Rifle Photographs’. This is Volume I; Issue I and is a selection of over 200 photographs of a variety of Kentucky Rifles by more than 80 gunsmiths from the 18th and 19th century. This CD is still available on the KRF store.
