Riflemakers List

Johnson, Abraham

School: Maryland

Abraham Johnson (1793-1866). There are several superb guns known marked, “A. Johnson,” including a box-lock, pill-lock gun. The U.S. Census of 1850 showed Abram Johnson in Nottingham Township, Harrison County, Ohio, age 57, born in Maryland, gunsmith, with real estate valued at $3000. The estate of Abiram Johnson was appraised on 25 June 1866 by James Ross and others {Inventory Book J. p13}. It showed: 1 Draw Knife & Auger, $1.25 1 Hand Saw & Square, .50 1 Anvil, $2 2 Carpenter’s Planes, .40 1 Force Drill & Bits, .50 2 Blacksmith’s Hammers, $1 1 Hand Vice & Compasses, $1 7 Large Chisels, .50 2 Iron Saws, 1 Screwdriver, 2 awls, .25 1 Hand Guide & Brace Bit, .10 2 Chisels,.37; 2 Augers, .50 1 Screwplate & 1 Wrench, $2 1 Blacksmith’s Vice, $5 1 Smoothing Plane, .10 pair Pincers, Chisel, Scribe Awl, .40 For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

Shreckengost, William

School: Western Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania/PA)

William G. Shreckengost, 1818-1894 Pennsylvania born, son of gunsmith John Schrecengost born 1776. Wm was a prolific maker of Pennsylvania rifles from the 1830s to the 1880s. A full time gunsmith all his life, he made percussion sporting rifles, target/bench rifles, several swivel breech rifles and a limited number of pistols in his shop along the Mahoning Creek at Putneyville, PA. He was a talented engraver even up to two years before his death.

Fainot, George

School: Lancaster (Pennsylvania/PA)

George F. Fainot was one of Lancaster city’s early gunmakers, appearing on county records from 1779-1803. A first-generation French Huguenot, Fainot’s work is noted for its distinct style while remaining within the general paremeters of the general regional architecture.

Hawken, Jacob

School: Maryland

Hagerstown Jacob was born in 1785 or 1786, the third son of Christian Hawken Sr. He was employed at the National Armory at Harpers Ferry and after the War of 1812 he proceeded west and by 1818 was in St. Louis. With the death of his father in 1821 he returned to Hagerstown and married Catherine Allison in March of 1822. Returning to St. Louis he once again came home when he and a George Hawken disposed of the tract known as “Hit The Mark” on January 19, 1829. Jacob and his brother Samuel T. continued to make the famous half stock frontier guns in St. Louis. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

Lee, George

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

George Lee (1825 – 1889) was both Nathan Moll’s apprentice and brother-in-law. George later worked for Peter Moll in Hellertown and married Peter’s daughter, Elizabeth. In 1874, after serving in the Civil War, George opened a tobacco and gun shop in Iron Hill, just north of Hellertown. George and his wife are buried in New Jerusalem Cemetary next to Peter Moll and his wife, Mary.