Pennsylvania Rifle

Zorger Flintlock

Although known for years as the "Kentucky rifle", the celebrated long rifle of muzzle-loading days was developed on a Pequea Valley farm in the Mennonite region of southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was a Swiss gunsmith, Martin Meylin, whose pioneer work during the early 1700's marked the appearance of a new type of firearm, the Pennsylvania rifle.

Later built chiefly in the shops of such Pennsylvania gun makers as Mathew Roesser, the Henrys, D. Cooley, John Armstrong, the Kemans, N. Beyer, Henry Loone, John Moll, the Dreppards, Phillip Lefevre, the ZORGERS and others.

In the early days most of Pennsylvania was primitive woodland, and settlers placed chief reliance upon their rifles for sustenance, security, and survival. Superbly accurate, the Pennsylvania rifle won fame on the frontiers of America feeding hungry mouths and defending pioneer homes. In the hands of the "Tomahawks" (expert marksmen) it helped win several decisive engagements in the War of Independence and rendered similar service in the War of 1812.

A leather hunting bag containing lead balls, a knife, patching material and a horn full of powder usually accompanied the woodsman and his rifle.

A typical Pennsylvania rifle weighed from seven to nine pounds with its overall length a symmetrical fifty-five inches from muzzle to butt plate. Its .45 caliber ball, at 300 yards, could kill man and beast or "bark" a squirrel from the tallest tree.

Making a rifle in the eighteenth century was a slow, painstaking task requiring about a week's time. Their cost would vary from $10.00 to $50.00 or more depending upon the ornamentation and engraving given it.

The early locks were entirely handmade down to the smallest screws, springs and pins.

The stocks which were made of native curly maple were selected for the beauty of its grain. Many were embellished with intricate carved designs.

Patchboxes, thimbles, trigger guards, butt plates and the various inlays which were found on the long rifles were fashioned from brass or silver and usually decorated with delicate engravings.

Of the forty to fifty parts that went into its construction, the barrel was the most important and required the most skill. Superstition dictated that welding of the barrel be done from the middle toward both ends in order to purge any devils that might be up to troublesome pranks. The barrels which were forged from iron bars in charcoal fires were later placed on primitive wooden rifling machines for cutting spiral grooves into the bore.

The last step was browning or blacking the barrel with cider vinegar or a combination of chemicals to prevent rusting. This also lessened the chances of a rifleman betraying himself to game or enemy by reflected sunlight glinting along the barrel.

When finished, The Pennsylvania Rifle, would have individual characteristics that would distinguish it from all other guns made in the period.

Most often its owner would give the rifle a name expressing pride of endearment such as "Old Sure Fire", "Indian Lament", or "Deer Killer", thus imparting to this individually made weapon a personality.

When talk of independence was in the air the following was proclaimed by some citizens of Lancaster County:

This was their expression of the effectiveness of their weapons, and in the rightness of their cause.