STYLES or SCHOOLS OF MY RIFLES

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. CHRISTIAN'S SPRING SCHOOL
This school originated in the early 1760's, near Bethlehem, PA. Andreas Albrecht established the gun shop at the Moravian settlement there. The style is strongly Germanic, being true to its origins. The lower profile-line of the butt is straight from the butt toe to the rear end of the trigger-guard. It then breaks upward to form the curve of the wrist. Some rifles if this school were embellished with indigenous and fanciful folk-art.


. LANCASTER/LEBANON SCHOOL
Work in this school began as early as 1719. A number of these gunsmiths were trained in Europe, and brought with them traditions learned there. By the late 1860's or early 1770's, a distinct style of rifle had evolved, with a butt-stock whose upper and lower profiles were essentially straight. The butt was of a generous size, with the butt-plate about 2" wide, and a prominent cheek-piece. The patch box had either a brass or wooden lid.

. LEHIGH/NORTHHAMPTON SCHOOL
By the 1790's, a distinctive type of longrifle was being made in the Lehigh Valley. One outstanding feature of the Lehigh Valley rifle is the curved butt-stock. The profile of the comb and the profile of the lower edge of the butt are both curved. The trigger guards were made with extra wide bows. Often there were Fleur-de-Lis craved on either side of the wrist, at the rear of the lock and side-plate moldings.


. WOMMELSDORF SCHOOL
This school originated in the late 1760's.  Two gunsmiths of this school, John Bonewitz (working between 1779  and 1809) and Leonard Reedy (1800 - 1837) are interesting examples of the style, both decorating their rifles with fabulous raised relief carving and beautifully engraved brass patch boxes.


. YORK SCHOOL
From 1776 onward, there was an abundance of gunsmiths in this area. The rifles of this school tend to be grand and highly decorated. The patch boxes, in particular, were usually beautiful, with rococo engraving and piercings. York rifles have a well-defined high, straight comb and often a fine fore-stock and lower butt molding. The rifles produced here have little in common with each other except their grand style.



. OTHER SCHOOLS

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Please note that I am constantly working to broaden my creative horizons, adding new styles and new designs, exploring the vast and varied world of historic rifles.

The examples shown on these pages are only a representation of the riffles that I have built and that I will be working on. Please contact me for more information and check back often to my web site - I will be adding new photos and more choices as my web site grows.