Riflemakers List

B.W.

School: Mecklenburg (North Carolina/NC)
John Bivins considered the rifle signed “W.B.” in script on the brass patch box one of the finest examples of a North Carolina longrifle. W.B.’s identity is unknown. Ivey Collection.
Source: Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

Fichthorn, Andrew Jr.

School: Womelsdorf, Reading and Berks (Pennsylvania/PA)

Andrew [Andreas] Fichthorn [Figthorn] Jr. [B 1779 – D 1822] was the son of Andrew Fichthorn Sr., a Rev War veteran, Reading land owner/speculator, Reading banker and Bond holder and some believe a gunsmith at various times in his life.
Andrew Fichthorn Jr., however, was a full time Master Gunsmith in Reading, Pa. from 1803 until his death in 1822. He positively spent time in the Bonewitz/Reedy Womelsdorf shop as an apprentice or journeyman until 1802 or 1803 when tax records indicated he returned to Reading, Pa. and set up his own gunsmith business. He signed his work A+F near the breech on the third flat opposite the lock.
Careful examination of his early guns show he spent equal amounts of time with Bonewitz and Reedy while in the Womelsdorf shop. The majority of his later work does not carry the same sophistication of his experience and training in Womelsdorf or his early years in Reading.
He died, after a short illness, and is buried in the family cemetery plot in Reading, Pa.

Further Reference material:
– The ‘Andrew Fichthorn Family, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania’ KRA Vol. 28 , No 1., 2001
– Selected Articles form the KRA Bulletin, Published by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation 2005.

See a listing for Andrew Fichthorn Sr.
FitchhornJrFitchhornJr2

Wolf, Amos W.

School: Maryland

Amos W. Wolf was a gunsmith in Terra Alta, Preston County, (West) Virginia. He chose to fight with the Union Army and his only apparent association with Maryland was his enlistment in Captain Will Falkenstine’s Frederick Company of the 3rd Maryland Federal Regiment in March of 1864. He served as a regimental armorer and gunsmith. He then returned to Preston County where he continued to farm and make home rifles. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

Brooks, John

School: Lebanon/Dauphin (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Brooks, Jr., was taxed as a gunsmith from 1802 through 1817 in Harrisburg, the county seat of Dauphin County, PA. He built classic longrifles with Lancaster school overtones, consistent with the fact that he built guns in Lancaster city prior to moving to Harrisburg.