Riflemakers List

Nathan, Moll

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Nathan Moll School: Northampton/Lehigh Nathan Moll (1814 – 1882) was the younger brother of John Jr., Peter, and David Moll. After learning the trade from his brother, John Jr., in Allentown, Nathan first moved to Lower Saucon Valley in the mid – late 1830’s. Later he moved south of Quakertown to Rock Hill Township, Bucks County, where he built and repaired guns until moving to Iowa in the 1870’s.

Rizer, George, II

School: Maryland

Cumberland He was born about 1790 a son of George I. Joshua Devou was bound to him on May 16, 1819, to learn the blacksmith trade as was Charles Bennett on December 15 of the same year. His personal assets are recorded in Cumberland – Its Foundation and Growth as being $200.00. He was married to Margaret Hoffman Rizer and his will of Ocotber 26, 1862, was probated on July 9, 1864. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

Heckert, Philip

School: York (Pennsylvania/PA)

Philip Heckert was a barrelmaker and gunsmith in York, PA during and immediately after the Revolutionary period. From an 1806 handwritten account: “Fire, the bore mill, burnt in 1800, it was a little more than a mile from town, near the little bridge on the Baltimore turnpike, now, this mill was useful to our gunsmiths in York, there (sic) names, Philip Heckert, Conrad Welshans, Michael Edwards, Jacob Welshans, Jacob Letter, Joseph Welshans, Ignatius Leitner, Martin Frey, Jacob Doll, Henry Pickel, George Breneise, Frederick Zorelinger.” Some rifles exist signed “P. Heckert” in script on the top barrel facet. Other barrels, signed by other York builders, will have a “P. H.” stamped on the underside, thus establishing them as products of Heckert’s boring mill.

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 copying his “Roman-nose” stock and basic patchbox design. Always made with strong grained substantial tiger maple, Haga’s rifles with simple raised carving are symbolic of the Berks County rugged style of rifle.

Fisher, Henry

School: Maryland

Frederick “I humbly beg the favour of you, to send me a Certificate to Exempt me and my People of the Militia Duty, by the Bearer M. Abraham – For which there Names is Jacob Reaser, Thomas Lawrence, Jacob Dunkle, Henry Fisher, Woodward Evitt, my Prentice is out now to Guard the Prisoners & my Captn. told me I should soon to on the Powder Guard, but if you will send me a Certificate, since I am in Contract with you, I shall be Exempt, when there is any Work to do for the Publick I always do it, and am willing to Oblige the Publick as much, in the Gun Way as I am able, which I think is more service to the Publick, as if I was to go with the Militia. I Petitioned to the Assembly to be Armorer for the County, which would be more Benefit to the Publick as Cast, I was informed by the Lieut. of the County that there was several Barrels in the Magazine which has no stocks, locks nor Mountain, so if you send me you Order to get them I shall add them to the November, as I have to make, and if you have the Power to get an Armorer I should be glad to serve. Sir I am your…Sevt. at…–Jacob Reaser.” {Maryland State Revolutionary War Papers, December 1778, Hall of Records, Annapolis} For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.