Riflemakers List

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 spawned barrel makers such as Henry Deeds, the Worleys, Cyrus Hornberger and the Schnaders – the last gun barrel makers along the Wyomissing Creek.

Piper, George

School: Maryland

Emmitsburg George Piper was born in 1783, a son of Peter Piper. He was bound on August 31, 1801, to John Armstrong to learn the gunsmith and lockmaking trade. After completing his apprenticeship he worked in York County, Pennsylvania. Peter Piper died in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and left equal shares of his worldly goods to all his children except George. “He is not th have an equal share with my other children.” On 4 February an advertisement in the Adams County Sentinel offered a reward for a stolen rifle. The gun had been left at John Settel’s Gunshop for repairs but picked up under false pretenses by George Piper. The name of George Piper, gunsmith, appears on the tax lists of 1842-43 in Hopewell Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. We do not know what happened to Piper thereafter. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.