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I was born in Pennsylvania or perhaps Virginia , even Maryland can lay claim to my birth.
My Fathers were of mostly German background , dark of stock ,walnut mostly , with cunning inlays and carving...large calibers , sliding patchboxes and short barrels.
Here in the land of my birth a native tree was used most often , maple , at times with the most striking , tight grain and curl , and running the full length of my barrel...My barrel , itself lengthened and bore , made smaller....carving and inlays at first , were sparse as general rule...then grew to take on more beauty and complex in design....a metal patchbox and triggerguard were often used , mostly of brass....My sights were low , but I sent a round ball spinning far away , with deadly intent.
I became popular in use..with my measured powder charge , patch and ball , I kept the home fed , defended many a homestead and helped free a nation.
Many famous men have used me....Daniel Boone , Simon Kenton , Timothy Murphy , Christoper "Kit" Carson , Mariano Medina...Songs and stories about my use were spread throughout the land.
As time wore on I changed my looks in parts of the country...in our Southern states , I had plainer stocks , with iron furniture ...at times and places my bore became smaller , from .60 to .47 and even smaller .36 and .32 were not uncommon to find in me...
Soon my original flintlock was replaced with a new percussion lock...though in my flintlock form , I still was in use till the present day in many rifles....
Out west , my stock was often made as a half stock , walnut becoming almost as popular as the old maple....My barrel was shortened and caliber made larger... .47 , .53 were in heavy use and even .68 caliber was seen at times...
The storied names of Hawken , Dimmiick and Leman now making history...along side the older names of Dickert , J.P Beck , Melchior Fordney and many others....
Soon breechloaders made a more common appearance , both of the single shot and repeating type...And I the original American Rifle was seen less and less.
I would ask now that we are here in the 21st century , to remember that I the rifle have been here at our nation's birth...to be used with honor and respect for what I represent .
For I can indeed be put to many uses...it is up to you , to use me safely and correctly.
A freedom once lost , might never be regained.
Andy
My Fathers were of mostly German background , dark of stock ,walnut mostly , with cunning inlays and carving...large calibers , sliding patchboxes and short barrels.
Here in the land of my birth a native tree was used most often , maple , at times with the most striking , tight grain and curl , and running the full length of my barrel...My barrel , itself lengthened and bore , made smaller....carving and inlays at first , were sparse as general rule...then grew to take on more beauty and complex in design....a metal patchbox and triggerguard were often used , mostly of brass....My sights were low , but I sent a round ball spinning far away , with deadly intent.
I became popular in use..with my measured powder charge , patch and ball , I kept the home fed , defended many a homestead and helped free a nation.
Many famous men have used me....Daniel Boone , Simon Kenton , Timothy Murphy , Christoper "Kit" Carson , Mariano Medina...Songs and stories about my use were spread throughout the land.
As time wore on I changed my looks in parts of the country...in our Southern states , I had plainer stocks , with iron furniture ...at times and places my bore became smaller , from .60 to .47 and even smaller .36 and .32 were not uncommon to find in me...
Soon my original flintlock was replaced with a new percussion lock...though in my flintlock form , I still was in use till the present day in many rifles....
Out west , my stock was often made as a half stock , walnut becoming almost as popular as the old maple....My barrel was shortened and caliber made larger... .47 , .53 were in heavy use and even .68 caliber was seen at times...
The storied names of Hawken , Dimmiick and Leman now making history...along side the older names of Dickert , J.P Beck , Melchior Fordney and many others....
Soon breechloaders made a more common appearance , both of the single shot and repeating type...And I the original American Rifle was seen less and less.
I would ask now that we are here in the 21st century , to remember that I the rifle have been here at our nation's birth...to be used with honor and respect for what I represent .
For I can indeed be put to many uses...it is up to you , to use me safely and correctly.
A freedom once lost , might never be regained.
Andy
