Rifle by John Eagle of Rowan County, North Carolina

Iron, steel, brass, silver, and maple, 61 1/2"

The gunsmith John Eagle (b. 1813) was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, the son of gunsmith George Eagle (b. 1783), and later moved to neighboring Cabarrus County.  This rifle typifies the high quality of craftsmanship attributed to the gunsmiths who worked in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina in the nineteenth century.  Its finely engraved brass and silver mounts include the artisan's signature, "made by J. Eagle" and date, "Jan. 14 1836" and an eponymous silver eagle, a popular symbol used throughout nineteenth-century America, prominently displayed on the buttstock.

The John Eagle Rifle in the MESDA collection is also in the book by Bill Ivy as an example of the Rowan School. Below is one of the pages from the book.

Bill will be at the 2011 CLA Show with his book.

The book can also  be ordered here.

Top copy and top photo from MESDA.