"Bedford County (PA.) Rifle ?'ss

[Mike Haas]

Hi Guys

Several months ago I inquired about this Rifle seeking info for some minor repairs and possible ID of area/manufactuer.
I took it to 'John Zimmerman' in Harpers Ferry WVA and he corrected the issue with the trigger assembly and replaced the missing "nipple". I'm extremely pleased with his repairs and demeanor and knowledge.

John indicated and provided 'book evidence' that the rifle is most likely an an original "Bedford County (PA.) rifle. Looking through his old books I tend to agree. (John's about 77 years old & quiet unless the topic is current politics).

I live within about 80 miles from Bedford, Pa. and will be driving up to the museum there and speaking to a more local Gunsmith/collector in an attempt to establish more info.
The "Lock Plate" was signed but I cannot make it out with certainaity. I have ordered two books exclusive to these rifles for research purposes.

Other than "John's" recent work the rifle appears completely original. See the link to my original post.

Any and all comments are welcome.

Mike Haas

Original Rifle needs nipple - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Jim K]

Just a note that even in the flintlock era, few PA rifles were really "made" by local gunsmiths, if by that you mean the Colonial Williamsburg concept. Most of those rifles were more like modern custom guns, being assembled by gunsmiths from purchased parts. Barrels were available from barrel makers, locks from lock makers, furniture like buttplates and trigger guards were available from specialist casting shops, even stocks were sold in a "semi finished" state.

Very often collectors talk about this or that "school" of gun makers and point to such things as the patch box indicating a certain area. That was partly a matter of apprenticeship or copying, but mainly the result of the gunsmiths of that area buying their patch boxes from the same source.

I am from north of Bedford County (Cambria County) and there were several gunsmiths active in that area, but I have not seen anything much about them. I have a late percussion rifle with straight (yes, that is correct) rifling. No turns. It is pretty much an assembled rifle with a Little barrel and an Elwell lock. Caliber is .45, but the barrel measures an inch across so it is pretty heavy. I suspect it was made for some kind of target shooting, as it is just too heavy for a hunting rifle. I am sure the rifling had to be a special order.

Jim

P.S. A big +1 on John Zimmerman. A real old school gunsmith and a delightful gentleman.

JK

[Mike Haas]

Just a note that even in the flintlock era, few PA rifles were really "made" by local gunsmiths, if by that you mean the Colonial Williamsburg concept. Most of those rifles were more like modern custom guns, being assembled by gunsmiths from purchased parts. Barrels were available from barrel makers, locks from lock makers, furniture like buttplates and trigger guards were available from specialist casting shops, even stocks were sold in a "semi finished" state.

Very often collectors talk about this or that "school" of gun makers and point to such things as the patch box indicating a certain area. That was partly a matter of apprenticeship or copying, but mainly the result of the gunsmiths of that area buying their patch boxes from the same source.

I am from north of Bedford County (Cambria County) and there were several gunsmiths active in that area, but I have not seen anything much about them. I have a late percussion rifle with straight (yes, that is correct) rifling. No turns. It is pretty much an assembled rifle with a Little barrel and an Elwell lock. Caliber is .45, but the barrel measures an inch across so it is pretty heavy. I suspect it was made for some kind of target shooting, as it is just too heavy for a hunting rifle. I am sure the rifling had to be a special order.

Jim

P.S. A big +1 on John Zimmerman. A real old school gunsmith and a delightful gentleman.

JK

Jim K

I appreciate your comments and can agree with some of what you said. That agreement aside apparently authentic "Bedford County Rifles" have chareristics not copied or carried to other areas of the country much beyond the neighboring countys in Pa.

I recently purchased a book: 'The Bedford County Pennsylvania Rifle Book' by James B. Whisker & Vaugn E. Whisker. The (100 page book with illustrations) which lends much credance to John Zimmerman's opinion that my rifle is likely a "late" 1850 - 1870" percussion Bedford County Rifle.
I've recently consulted with Daniel Hartzler (respected collector & author) of New Windsor, Md and his opinion is that the rifle came from that area; which could include surrounding Pa. countys.

My father obtained this rifle approx. 65 yrs ago from a man that grew up near Altoona, Pa. and as the story goes it came from his Grandfather. Since Altoona is very close to Bedford County the information and observations are starting to be most likely correct.

I have much more research to do but I'm beginning to lean towards my rifle being an authentic Bedford County rifle. I'll report more after I go to the Bedford County Museum and talk to some historians/experts there.

Thanks for your imput

[Embalmer]

Glad to see it worked well for you . I got a couple of he repro civil war weapons that he "defarbed" to make as close to the originals as possible, right down the the markings.

Hes also done work on a few of my friends original civil war arms, and is great to talk to if he isnt super busy, and will talk to you all day long lol.