Riflemakers List

Kuntz, Jacob

School: Northampton/Lehigh (Pennsylvania/PA)

Jacob Kuntz (1780-1876), brother of Peter Kuntz, learned the trade in Allentown and was taxed as a gunsmith in nearby Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County in 1807. He moved to Philadelphia where he became noted as a fine maker of flintlock rifles and pistols. Kuntz’s better rifles are viewed today as some of the finest representations of regional utilitarian art.

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.

Schreit, John

School: Berks  (Pennsylvania/PA)

A rifle signed by John Schreit and dated 1761 is the earliest dated Kentucky rifle that is known to exist. John Schreit (Shreight) worked in Reading Town and is shown as a gunsmith and landowner of a town lot in the 1758 Berks County records. American rifles of this age are rarely found and even rarer are signed and dated rifles from the period.

Keller, Joseph W.

School: Maryland

Hagerstown On April 9, 1841, Joseph W. Keller and William Cookman advertised that they had commenced the gunsmithing business at the old stand lately occupied by William Hawken on Jonathan Street between Washington and Franklin in Hagerstown, where George Hawken had briefly worked. They manufactured guns, rifles and pistols of every description but the business was taken over again by William Hawken after five years. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

Haeffer, Jacob

School: Maryland

Frederick Jacob Haeffer was born in 1782 and was not known as a master gunsmith but as a journeyman. He can be found in the federal census of Frederick County in 1790. Within the next 10 years he was a freeman gunsmith in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. During the War of 1812 he returned to Frederick and can be found in the 1820 federal census. Jacob Haffer is shown on the roster of Capt. John Brengle’s Company of Frederick militia, which was raised in four hours in response to the invasion of Maryland. His will of June 15, 1827, is recorded in the Frederick County Courthouse. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. Jacob Heffner, 1 male under 10, 2 males 26-45, 1 female to 45. {1820 census; handwritten in the margin, “Died-last night in his forty fifth year of age Mr. Jacob Heffner of the county. Buried in the Lutheran graveyard of this city. {Diary of Jacob Engelbrecht, July 27, 1827} For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.