The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms
- The Road to American Liberty
- Seeds of Greatness
- The Prospering New Republic
- A Nation Asunder
- The American West
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt, Elegant Arms
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond
- For the Fun of It
- Firearms Traditions for Today
- William B. Ruger Special Exhibits
- Freedom's Doorway
P. Quattlebuw Flintlock Rifle
This long barrel, single-wedge half-stocked rifle appears to have been made in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The stock is made from curly maple. It features an elaborate pierced patchbox and two bone inlays located between the rear of the trigger guard and toeplate. The nosecap is pewter, the rear entry thimble is of brass, and the two rib-mounted mid- and top thimbles are of iron. The lock is an English design with a rainproof pan.
Historians are in general agreement that Lancaster cradled the
Pennsylvania gunmaking industry, and that in Lancaster County the
long rifle first evolved from its rather clumsy European progenitor
to the graceful and unique American Kentucky. While this evolution
at first took rather slow, logical steps, soon the European Yaeger
rifle and the Kentucky had little in common. In Europe, rifles were
seldom used in warfare. As in America, they were primarily the gun
of the hunter - variously known as the Yaeger, Yager, Jager, or
Jaeger. Short-barrel rifles were preferred for the forest hunting
of central Europe, where the riffeln originated. The Swiss needed
somewhat longer barrel guns for hunting the chamois and other
Alpine game, but their rifles differed little from the
thick-stocked, heavy guns of their neighbors. Travel distances in
Europe were not especially great; supplies were easily obtained;
and hunters were generally wealthy.
The situation was quite different in the New World. American
riflemen, who were generally endowed with hope and courage rather
than material wealth, often traveled long distances through locales
lacking in supplies. The great need for a more accurate, more
economical rifle prompted Pennsylvania gunmakers work long hours at
their benches, trying new principles and shaping available
materials to new forms. In the process, the traditional Yaeger
rifle went through transformations: The broad butt-stock was
made thinner with more efficient contour; the butt progressed from
straight musket-like form to a modified crescent. Easily damaged or
lost wood patch-box covers were replaced by lids of hinged brass or
silver. Trigger guards were reduced in size, given a rather
straight under-line, and made sturdier and simpler. Forestocks were
lengthened and slenderized, brass fore-ends replacing bone or horn.
Native maple replaced European walnut, and a decorative
tiger-stripe of dark red or brown was applied where no natural curl
or striping showed in the grain. It was found that maple that grew
on thin rocky soil produced a closer and curlier grain than trees
native to open ground and heavy soil. The trees were cut into 2"
planks which were air-dried for 4 years before they were at their
best. The charcoal iron barrels were lengthened, and bores were
made smaller. A slow twist was employed for the rifling, of which
the groove depth was often less than that found on the Yaeger
rifles. A heavier powder charge was employed in relation to bore
size. A survey of 200 barrels indicates that they ranged from 40"
to 44", with a very few as long as 50". One-third had 7-groove
rifling, one quarter had 8-groove rifling, a very few had straight
rifling, and the remaining one third were smoothbores.
The fragile ivory, bone, and pearl decorative inlays of European
arms had no place in American guns. Coin silver or brass were used
sparingly for patch-boxes and inlays in the flintlock era, more
extensively in the percussion period. Slings, by which the short,
heavy European guns were usually carried, were eliminated on the
American long rifle.
In short, the Pennsylvania rifle was somewhat more accurate, used
less powder and lead, had longer range, and was of graceful contour
and handsome finish. It was for practical reasons, therefore, that
the average .65 caliber bore of European guns was eventually
reduced to an average .45 caliber bore typical in the
Pennsylvania-made guns. This was considered large enough for the
wild game or the hostile Indian. As larger game became more scarce,
bores were reduced further, or in some instances made smooth to use
shot.