Monday, May 23, 2011

2011 33rd Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Show: Photos of the Display of North Carolina Schools of Gunsmithing by Michael Briggs

Salem School
(Forsyth County)


Rowan School
(Rowan County and Iredell County)

Salem School

Salem School Longrifle
by Peter Christ (attributed)

This North Carolina longrifle is from the Salem School in Forsyth County. The longrifle is attributed to Peter Christ. This longrifle features an early Salem School architecture and would date to the late 1790's.  Peter Christ worked in Bathabara as early as 1772.  This is one of four early longrifles that are attributed to him. This longrifle features a Salem School patchbox with a Disselfink finial, a wide butt, and a good forestock molding with a "C" scroll termination.



Salem School Longrifle
by Christopher Vogler (attributed)

This North Carolina longrifle is from the Salem School in Forsyth County. The longrifle is attributed to Christopher Vogler. This longrifle features an early Salem School architecture and would date to the late 1790's. Christopher Vogler was born in 1765 and died in 1826. He became a gunsmith in Old Salem in 1783. This longrifle features a Salem School patchbox with Eagle finial, a wide butt and a good forestock molding with a "C" scroll termination.



Salem School Longrifle
by George Vogler (attributed)

This outstanding North Carolina longrifle is from the Salem School in Forsyth County. The longrifle is attributed to George Vogler. This longrifle features Salem School architecture and would date to the 1820's. George Vogler was born in 1789. He apprenticed under his Uncle Christopher Vogler in Salem in 1810. In 1815, he married the daughter of gunsmith Henry Burner (Mary) and moved to Rowan County and made Salem School longrifles there. This longrifle features a Salem School patchbox with silver Eagle finial, a good forestock molding with a "C" scroll, and a Eagle shaped two screw side plate.



Rowan School

Rowan School Longrifle
by Isaac Ribelin

This outstanding North Carolina longrifle is from the Rowan School in Rowan County. The longrifle was made by Isaac Ribelin and is signed by him on the patchbox lid. He lived and worked in eastern Rowan County neat the Yadkin River. He was born in 1801 and died in 1869. This longrifle features a Rowan School patchbox with a Christmas tree finial. This is an excellent example of Rowan School longrifle architecture.



Rowan School Longrifle
by George Eagle

This outstanding North Carolina longrifle is from the Rowan School in Rowan County. The longrifle was made by George Eagle and is signed by him on the patchbox lid. He lived and worked in southern Rowan County. He was born in 1783. This longrifle features a Rowan School patchbox with a Christmas tree finial with a bird setting on top of the tree. This is a good example of his work.



Rowan School Longrifle
by Leonard Nash

This outstanding North Carolina longrifle is from the Rowan School in Rowan County. The longrifle was made by Leonard Nash and is signed by him on the patchbox lid. He lived and worked in Iredell County, but worked in the Rowan School style.  I believe he must have apprenticed with either the Eagle or Ribelin family gunsmiths. This is one of several Rowan School longrifles signed by him that exist, but is the only one to surface to date with a Christmas tree patchbox signed by him on the patchbox lid.




Photographed at the 2011 Tennessee Kentucky Rifle show by Jan Riser with copy from Michael Briggs.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.