Riflemakers List

School: Maryland

Baltimore Lewis Pipino was born on December 25, 1839, in Bier, Bavaria. He came to this country with his brother Jacob C. Pipino in the mid 1840s and learned the gunsmith trade in Baltimore. He was employed as a gunsmith with his brother at 20 Ensor Street. In 1859 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to the West. Upon being discharged during the War Between the States he returned home and re-enlisted as a private on January 14, 1864, in Company C, 8th Maryland Regiment Infantry. At Hatcher’s Run, Virginia, he was wounded on October 26, 1864. Lewis was transferred to Company C, First Maryland Infantry and was discharged on July 2, 1865. After the war, he continued his military careet by re-enlisting in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. He was again sent west. He was discharged on September 20, 1873, at Fort Laramie, Dakota Territory. He returned to Baltimore in 1875 and died on May 23, 1924, at the U.S. Soldier’s Home in Washington, D.C. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland

Hagerstown The Maryland Herald & Hagers-Town Weekly Advertiser of Jan. 17, 1806, had a list of letters remaining in the Post Office in Hagers-Town. “George Fischach, George Flegel, care of George Kreps, Gunsmith.” Flegel was apparently in employment of Kreps in the gunsmith line as an apprentice or journeyman. In 1814 Flegel was armorer of the U.S. Arsenal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 1819 Flegel was a Master Armorer there. During the period from 1820 to 1830 he was a gunsmith in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland

Hagerstown Alexander Compton was the son of John Compton who, in 1797, was residing at the Mouth of the Monocacy. John advertised a reward for an insolvent debtor discharged by the Washington County Sheriff in September of 1810. On March 24, 1794, Alexander was bound to John Gonter to learn the art and mystery of the gunsmith business. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see, Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.