Introduction
Considering my heritage as a Pennsylvanian who happened to be born on a Kentucky military base, the article resonated with me, and I immediately came to prefer the name "Pennsylvania Rifle" over "Kentucky Rifle". Now, here in the mid-2020s, I decided to try to understand how early the term "Pennsylvania Rifle" was used as the name of a firearm — as opposed to being used as a portion of the name of a military company, regiment, corps, or battalion, or a gun factory. I could only find a few instances from the 1800s and none from the 1700s — but I found an absolute cascade from the 1900s.
I suppose there wasn't much of a reason to call a rifled muzzleloader anything other than a "rifle" or a "rifle gun" back in the old days — at least until significantly different rifle designs came about. In other words, the names "rifle" and "rifle gun" would have been enough to distinguish a long rifle from other types of firearms, such a "fowler" or a "pistol".
As the name "Pennsylvania rifle" was used with increasing frequency in 1900s publications, it seems to have taken on something of the status of an academic term. Historians and firearms enthusiasts alike advocated for the use of the name "Pennsylvania rifle", and at the same time, the folklore associated with the subject evolved.
One thing I have come to understand about history-related publications is that after one historian puts something down in writing, other writers paraphrase it in their publications, sometimes adding a layer of embellishment or misinterpretation. Then those publications get paraphrased by other writers, and so on, and so forth. As a result, things can become a bit distorted over time. I think that probably happened to a certain extent with the folklore associated with the Pennsylvania rifle.
L. Dietle
Nineteenth Century Chronology
Mr. Risdon's list is organized in a manner that strongly suggests it was prepared after his hunting career was over — perhaps consolidated from a tally mark-based record he kept over the years. For example, the 1811 entry mentions a sales transaction that obviously occurred after his last deer of 1812 was harvested. Assuming that a tally mark-based record was indeed the basis of the well-organized published list, it is impossible to know whether the words "Pennsylvania rifle" were present on the tally mark-based record, or if they were drawn from memory when he prepared the well-organized list many years later. About all we know for sure is that Elisha Risdon wrote down the words "Pennsylvania rifle" sometime during the 1813 to 1851 timeframe.
1840: Another 1800s example of the term "Pennsylvania Rifle" that I found is in the following excerpt from a humorous article titled "The Sporting Pedler, No. III" in the December, 1840 issue of "The Sporting Magazine." Impliedly, the author expected his readers to know what a "long Pennsylvania rifle" was. The article was also published in the January 23, 1841 issue of the "Spirit of the Times", which is subtitled, "A Chronicle of the Turf, Field Sports, Literature and the Stage."
1880: The 1881 book "Poetical Addresses of Geo. Alfred Townsend" has a poem titled "Caesar Rodney's Fourth of July, 1776" that Mr. Townsend read at Georgetown, Delaware on July 4, 1880. The poem includes the following lines:
"Then said John McKean to Rodney:
Because "rifles" is not capitalized, I lean toward interpreting the poet's 1880 use of "Pennsylvania rifles" as a reference to firearms, rather than a reference to a rifle-based military unit organized by the state of Pennsylvania (such as the First Pennsylvania Rifles).
Chronology – The first half of the twentieth century
1901: Fantastical-sounding commentary about Daniel Day, Jr. in the 1901 "Transactions and collections of the American Antiquarian Society" (Volume VIII) references the Pennsylvania rifle as follows: "He owned a large Pennsylvania rifle and a Brittish officer coming within reach, tho' adjudged to be half a mile distant, he levelled his piece and shot him dead." This commentary is also included in the 1901 book "Diary of Christopher Columbus Baldwin".
1908: The following excerpt is from a history-oriented article titled "The Gunmakers of Old Northampton" in the March, 1908 issue of "The Pennsylvania-German" — well after the heyday of the muzzle loading rifle. The subtitle of the article is "address of William J. Heller, of Easton, Pa., at Meeting of Pennsylvania German Society at Allentown, Pa., on November 2, 1906." The Pennsylvania Rifle-related language is repeated in William J. Heller's 1911 book "Historic Easton From the Window of a Trolley-Car".
1910: Charles Winthrop Sawyer's 1910 book "Firearms in American History" includes the following sentence: "In the third war, King George's, Pennsylvania rifles did heroic work against the Indian allies of the French in the middle Colonies, preventing acquisition of territory by French forces and saving English settlements from pillage and slaughter."
1912: The 1912 book "History of Fillmore County, Minnesota" tells a hunting story that includes the words, "...the writer carrying the old historic Pennsylvania rifle that had been in use by his ancestors for more than half a century, and Uncle John carrying another historic gun of like make, but of much larger caliber."
1916: Joseph Wickham Roe's 1916 book "English and American Tool Builders" includes the following text: "While with Doct. Story found he had two Rifles, one made by his Brother, Asa Story, who had a gun shop near by. This he called his Turkey Rifle, the other was an old Pennsylvania Rifle, full stock, barrel 4 feet long, all rust. The Doctor said it had been one of the best. He had killed many a deer with it." An article titled "Development of Machine Tools in New England" in the October 18, 1923 issue of the "American Machinist" includes nearly identical text.
1919: The October, 1919 issue of the "Field and Stream" magazine includes the following text: "The colonization of the country was completed but a generation ago. Many are still living who took an active part in the final conquest of the West. But the glorious red-blooded, virile days of the past are gone — no longer does the hardy pioneer tread the great pathless forests with his matchless Pennsylvania rifle in hand. No longer does the puncher ride the vast open prairies of the West with a six-gun tied down on his leg." The same language is used in an article titled, "War Brought Home Important Lessons" in the October 24, 1920 issue of "The Pensacola Journal".
1919: An article titled "Pioneer Missouri Rifle was Real Rival of Famous Kentuckian" in the November 6, 1919 issue of the "Weekly Santa Fe New Mexican" newspaper includes the statement, "All Hawken rifles were made exceedingly plain, without the silver and ivory insetting that characterized the Kentucky and the Pennsylvania rifles."
1920: The aforementioned excerpt from the March, 1908 issue of "The Pennsylvania-German" appears to be the basis for the "Pennsylvania Rifle" reference in the 1920 book "History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh".
1923: In reference to a Northampton County Revolutionary War regiment, John Stover Arndt's 1922 book "The Story of the Arndts" includes the following: "It was a battalion of sharpshooters. Every man in it was a crack shot — a squirrel shooter. From childhood they had been accustomed to handling the famous Pennsylvania rifle, the best arm of precision then known in the world. The model of this celebrated gun had been brought to this country by German gunmakers, and by reason of the stimulus of frontier conditions had been improved by the skilled mechanics of Lancaster and Northampton Counties into the most reliable weapon then known. A marksman could hit a man's head at 200 yards, and his body at 300, and instances were known of fatal results at 400. There was no European rifle that could be depended upon to do execution at anything like these ranges."
1923: The article "The Shooting by Our Forefathers" in the February, 1923 issue of the "Field and Stream" magazine includes the following text: "I have a wonderful old Pennsylvania rifle still capable of three-inch groups at 100 yards. Probably at one time it was good for two inches or one inch at sixty, for they did remarkable things."
1924: The table of contents of Captain John G. W. Dillin's pioneering 1924 gun collecting book "The Kentucky Rifle" uses the words "the Pennsylvania rifle" in a description of Chapter One that states, "Why the American pioneer rifle, first made in Pennsylvania, was known as 'The Kentucky Rifle.' The explorations of Daniel Boone; the resultant flood of emigration into The Dark and Bloody Ground; the need for a weapon of the highest standards which marked the work of the Lancaster smiths, all tended unmistakably to identify the Pennsylvania rifle with that little-known terrain to the westward spoken of as 'Kentucky.'" The words "Pennsylvania rifle" are also used in at least three photo captions in that book.
1929: Elmo Scott Watson's article titled "Who Invented the Bowie Knife?" in the July 26, 1929 issue of the "The Midland Journal" newspaper begins as follows: "The name 'Bowie knife' is as inseparably linked with the history of the American frontier as are the names of those other weapons which played their part in the winning of the West — the 'Kentucky rifle' (which, incidentally, should be the [']Pennsylvania rifle,' since it was first made in that state), the Sharps buffalo gun, the Winchester and the Colt's six-shooter." The article also ran in the August 1, 1929 issue of "The Carbon County News".
1930: Robert Page Lincoln's article "The Bowie Knife" in the December, 1930 issue of the "Field & Stream" magazine mentions the Kentucky rifle, and indicates that it would be more appropriate to call it the Pennsylvania rifle.
1931: A news item titled "Firearm Expert Is Speaker At Rotary" in the February 3, 1931 issue of "The Gettysburg Times" states: "Noted throughout the east for his knowledge of firearms, both past and present, Joseph Kindig, Jr., York antique dealer, was the speaker Monday night at the Rotary club's luncheon at the Y. W. C. A. Mr. Kindig has collected firearms of all kinds and descriptions and has 500 or more in his collection at the present time. He spoke on the 'Evolution of the Pennsylvania Rifle' here and exhibited specimens of the workmanship of the gun makers of various generations to his audience." Mr. Kindig is a legendary figure in the long rifle collecting community, and it seems noteworthy that he was using the term "the Pennsylvania Rifle" in 1931.
1932: According to the "Writings on American History, 1932" section of "Volume III of the Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the year 1931" Joseph Kindig, Jr. wrote an article in "Antiques" XXII titled, "The pedigree of the Pennsylvania rifle." This reinforces the idea that Mr. Kindig was not opposed to using the name "Pennsylvania rifle".
1934: The "Industry and Transportation" chapter of John Palmer Garber's 1934 book "The Valley of the Delaware and its Place in American History" includes the statement, "Daniel Boone also carried a long Pennsylvania rifle into the wilds of Kentucky..."
1935: An Associated Press syndicated article titled "He Still Makes Kentucky Rifles" in the December 31, 1935 issue of the Arkansas "Hope Star" newspaper uses the phrase "the Pennsylvania rifle". The article is about a Louisville, Kentucky third-generation gunsmith named Sherman Flint. Referring to rifles, the article expresses the following unconventional opinion: "In America is (sic) was discovered that long barrels made them more accurate. But these were large bore weapons. This type of arm became known as the Pennsylvania rifle. ... Virginia and Kentucky gunsmiths made small bore rifles for the first time. ... The small bore, straight shooter acquired Kentucky's name along with other characteristics." Since this opinion is well outside of mainstream thought, I suspect it may be based on oral tradition rather than some earlier publication. The article also ran in the January 23, 1936 issue of "The Gettysburg Times" and (under a different title) the February 10, 1936 issue of " The Key West Citizen".
1938: Chapter 8 of Roger Burlingame's 1938 history book "March of the Iron Men" is titled, "The Pennsylvania Rifle". I suspect that chapter, or the author's article that is included immediately below, influenced how I was taught Revolutionary War history way back when, in elementary school. A "March of the Iron Men" book review in the December 17, 1938 issue of "The Nation" highlights Mr. Burlingame's opinion regarding the import role the Pennsylvania rifle played during the Revolutionary War. The book is also reviewed in the September 13, 1938 issue of the "New York Times", the November, 1938 issue of "The Educational Forum", the January, 1939 issue of "The Living Age", the April, 1939 issue of "The Social Studies" the May, 1939 issue of the "Quarterly Review", the October, 1939 issue of "The Southwestern Historical Quarterly", the November, 1939 issue of "ISIS", and various other publications.
1938: An article by Roger Burlingame in the February, 1938 issue of "Scribner's Magazine" is titled "The Rifle That Won the Revolution". The article uses the phrase "the Pennsylvania Rifle" at least five times. The first instance is as follows: "It may be too much to say that the Pennsylvania rifle was solely responsible for the winning of the War. But there is, scattered among the records, so much evidence of its importance that, when all is gathered together, we can scarcely believe that the victory could have been gained without it." Aside from the use of the phrase "the Pennsylvania Rifle", this quote captures the gist of what I remember from an early 1960s Pennsylvania elementary school lesson that mentioned the importance of rifles to the American cause during the Revolutionary War. The article is also included in the June, 1938 issue of "The Marine Corps Gazette".
1938: Kenneth H. Condit's article titled "Social and Industrial Values of Invention" in the 1938 publication "Invention and the Engineer's Relation to it" includes the following text: "An American invention had much to do with the winning of the War of the Revolution. This invention was the Pennsylvania rifle. It was developed by descendants of Swiss and Palatinate Germans, who had come to this country to escape religious persecution and political oppression. Today they are called Pennsylvania Dutch for some obscure reason. Among them were gunsmiths familiar with the rifling principle which had been employed in certain German weapons. These gunsmiths set to work and by patient experiment decreased the bore, lengthened the barrel and improved the rifling until they produced a weapon that was unbelievably accurate and economical for that day and was infinitely superior to the smooth bore musket with which the British soldier was armed. The Pennsylvania rifle was developed for the frontier hunters who traveled long distances from their bases and therefore had to be most economical in the use of powder and ball. Every shot had to be a hit and as the game was small the gun had to be extremely accurate. The proficiency of colonial soldiers armed with the Pennsylvania rifle was so disquieting to the British officers that they finally succeeded in capturing one and sending him to England to demonstrate the nature of the opposition faced by the Bristish (sic) troops. The idea was to promote enlistment but the result was to discourage it and to force the British king to employ mercenary troops."
1940: The so-called "fact story" titled "Guns of Glory" in the June, 1940 issue of the pulp fiction magazine "Adventure" indicates that is more proper to use the term "The Pennsylvania Rifle" for the weapon known as "The Kentucky Rifle" because its development occurred in Lancaster Pennsylvania, and it was manufactured there.
1940: The "Ironmasters" chapter of Scott Graham Williamson's 1940 book "The American Craftsman" briefly mentions the Revolutionary War significance of a firearm that supposedly was contemporaneously known by the name "Pennsylvania Rifle" during that war. I suspect that Williamson's statement is representative of the kind of story drift that frequently occurs when a writer paraphrases the content of existing history books. I could be wrong, but least so far, I just haven't seen any actual evidence that the firearm name "Pennsylvania Rifle" was used in the 1700s.
1941: A museum-related portion of the July, 1941 issue of the "Pennsylvania History" magazine includes the following sentence: "Rifling machines and all types of tools utilized when Lancaster county was the center for the manufacture of the famed Pennsylvania rifle of pioneer days will be on display from the extensive holdings of the Landis brothers."
1942: Congressman Stephen M. Young's "Straight From Washington" column in the October 1, 1942 issue of "The Potters Herald" includes the statement, "In our War for Independence the so-called Pennsylvania Rifle was responsible for many victories over the redcoats."
1942: A chapter titled "From Flintlock to M-1" in Volume XXIIl (1942) of the publication "The Infantry School Mailing List" includes the following text: "Famous among the early rifles is the Kentucky Rifle which should really be called the Pennsylvania Rifle, inasmuch as it was hand-made mainly by the Pennsylvania gun and riflesmiths."
The cover page of that 1942 issue of "The Infantry School Mailing List" indicates that the publication is "A compilation of instructional matter prepared at the Infantry School and issued from time to time Containing the Latest Thought on Infantry". As U. S. Army World War II instructional material, the aforementioned chapter may have given widespread exposure to the thought that "the Kentucky Rifle ... should really be called the Pennsylvania Rifle..."
1945: The "Stocks and Sights" chapter in Volume 1 of Colonel Townsend Whelen's 1945 book "Small Arms Design and Ballistics" reports that the stocks on most American pre-1903 civilian rifles were patterned after the Pennsylvania rifle, which is typically erroneously referred to as the Kentucky rifle. I suppose some good examples would be the buttstock shapes of a Model 1994 Winchester and a Stevens Crack Shot rifle.
1945: The chapter titled "The American Rifle and Firearm Industry" in Roy T. Bramson's 1945 book "Highlights in the History of American Mass Production" denigrates the name 'Kentucky Rifle" and indicates that type of rifle is actually a Pennsylvania Rifle that was being produced a long time before people knew the name "Kentucky".
1945: A footnote in Struthers Burt's 1945 book "Philadelphia Holy Experiment" states that it is wrong to refer to the long rifle by the name Kentucky rifle and further opines that the long rifle really should be referred to as the Pennsylvania rifle since it was invented in Pennsylvania.
1945: The May 30, 1945 issue of "The Lutheran" magazine includes the following statement: "When American troops captured the Bavarian town of Nuremberg, they took over the birthplace of the weapon that more than any other made American independence possible. From there the rifle began its lethal journeys. Transplanted to the Palatine as a new center of production, it was brought to this country by the original Pennsylvania Dutch (Plattdeutsch). Here the rifle was dubbed the 'Pennsylvania' rifle, and was highly prized along the colonial borders. When Daniel Boone fared forth from Berks County to the 'dark and bloody ground of Kentucky,' its name was changed eventually to the 'Kentucky' rifle, because Boone's exploits caught the imagination of the public. In Daniel Morgan's hands, and in those of Pennsylvania-German volunteers under Washington, it turned the tide of victory to the American colonies. With Jackson's frontiersmen it won the battle of New Orleans in 1815 over Britain's best troops. In the years that followed it made still greater contributions to 'the winning of the West.'"
1946: An article titled "The Kentucky Rifle and Its Snyder County Makers" in the July 20, 1946 issue of the Allentown newspaper "The Morning Call" includes the following text: "It seems ironical that this superb rifle, born in Pennsylvania, should have been christened the 'Kentucky Rifle,' when it would be more properly and more rightfully termed the 'Pennsylvania Rifle.'" A subtitle indicates the basis of the article is "...a paper read before the Snyder County Historical Society by Mr. Ray Smith, of New Berlin, Pa., on Friday, April 19, 1946".
1946: Bill Kane's article "The Pennsylvania Flintlock Rifle" in the October, 1946 issue of the "Hobbies" magazine includes the following statement: "I do not wish to belittle Captain Dillin's and Kendrick Scofield's 'The Kentucky Rifle.' but I wish it had never been thought necessary to labor to make a connection of the Pennsylvania rifle with Boone and Kentucky, and I should like to see Captain Dillin and a qualified writer given to careful research make an entirely new work on the rifle in early America. I am grateful to everyone who had anything to do with the writing and publication of Captain Dillin's book, because it does give a splendid beginning to thought and expression regarding the Pennsylvania rifle."
Circa 1946: Betty Peckham's circa 1946 book "The story of a dynamic community, York, Pennsylvania", which was published by the York Chamber of Commerce, has a multi-page illustrated section titled "The Pennsylvania Rifle".
Page 11 includes the following statement: "Many of the early Pennsylvania rifles were made in York by such gunsmiths as Joseph Welshantz, Conrad Welshantz, Ignatius Leitner, Frederick Zorger, and George Eyster. Each rifle was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, but no two were ever exactly alike. These rifles were manufactured in small lots as arms for the Colonial troops."
Page 12 includes the following statement: "In the War of 1812, the Pennsylvania rifle won the Battle of New Orleans. Andrew Jackson's forces consisted of but 800 regulars, 500 pirates, and 2,000 militia poorly armed, and about 2,000 frontiersmen equipped with Pennsylvania rifles. Opposed to this force were 10,000 of the best drilled troops in the world, Wellington's veterans of the Spanish Peninsular Campaign. General Pakenham, who had not yet absorbed the lessons of Braddock's Defeat, Bunker Hill, and Saratoga, brought up his men in close formation. Again and again the British advanced while the Americans remained in their trenches killing officers and men while they were still too far away to use their muskets. The British lost 2,600 killed, wounded and prisoners, while the American losses were a mere 8 killed and 13 wounded. After the Revolution, the Pennsylvania rifle went on to Kentucky and became known as the Kentucky rifle. It followed the frontier and served along with the broad axe and Conestoga wagon in the opening of the West. By 1849, it had reached California."
1947: The July, 1947 issue of the quarterly journal "Pennsylvania History" includes the following statement: "'The Kentucky Rifle and Its Snyder County Makers' is the title of a second paper. It is unfortunate that the term 'Kentucky Rifle' is applied to a rifle made in Snyder County. How long will it be before at least Pennsylvanians will use the term 'Pennsylvania Rifle' when referring to this weapon?"
1947: In "The Kentucky Rifle" section of the 1947 book "Gun Collecting" the author Charles Edward Chapel indicates that the Kentucky Rifle should really be referred to as the "Pennsylvania Rifle", and also indicates that the term "Pennsylvania Rifle" was beginning to be used by some authors.
1947: An article by Carl W. Drepperd in the March, 1947 issue of "The Chronicle of the Early American Industries" is titled "The American Rifle and Firearms Industry". The opening sentence states, "The so-called Kentucky rifle, which is really a Pennsylvania rifle, went into production long before the name Kentucky was known." Later on, the article states, "But it was not Daniel Boone's Kentucky exploits which gave the Pennsylvania rifle the wrong name "Kentucky rifle." That name was given after 1815 because of the popular song, 'Kentucky Riflemen,' which dealt with the exploits of Andrew Jackson's sharpshooters at the battle of New Orleans." The song reference suggests that the author may have been influenced by Dillin's 1924 book. (The term "Kentucky Rifle" actually traces back to at least 1806.)
1949: A photo caption on page 44 of Carl W. Drepperd's 1949 book "Pioneer America Its First Three Centuries" uses the name "Pennsylvania rifle" to identify two long arms.
1949: A beautifully illustrated article in the January, 1949 issue of the "Pennsylvania Game News" titled "Black Powder Rifles in Pennsylvania" uses the phrase "the Pennsylvania rifle" and includes a sentence that states, "This first practical Pennsylvania rifle and successor to the smooth-bore musket was later dubbed the 'Kentucky rifle,' due to its exclusive use by Daniel Boone and others who opened up the area bearing that name."
1949: The 1949 book "The American Wild Turkey" includes a full-page advertisement for Ray M. Smith's illustrated book "Pennsylvania Rifles and Rifle-makers".
1949: The October, 1949 issue of the "Pennsylvania Game News" magazine has an article by Norman Wilkinson titled "The Pennsylvania Rifle". One paragraph includes the following statement: "Erroneously named the 'Kentucky' rifle because of the feats performed with it by Daniel Boone and other woodsmen in winning the 'Dark and Bloody Ground,' this superb weapon was the creation of several generations of Pennsylvania gunsmiths."
1949: The October 6, 1949 issue of the "New Castle News" includes an article titled "State Out To Gain Rifle Recognition" that states the following: "Gov. James H. Duff Wednesday served notice on the state of Kentucky that Pennsylvania is out to gain rightful recognition for its famed 'long rifle.' 'The naming of a Pennsylvania product as the 'Kentucky Rifle' long has been one of this nation's most outstanding examples of an historical misnomer,' Duff stated. 'The so-called Kentucky rifle is actually a product of the fine gunsmiths of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.' He pointed out that several historical societies including the Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission, are conducting 'a vigorous campaign' to rename the famous gun of pioneer days 'the Pennsylvania Rifle.' Therefore, Duff said, October 16 will be observed as 'Pennsylvania Rifle Day' throughout the Commonwealth. On that day the Lancaster County Historical Society will unveil a tablet in West Lampeter township honoring the 'birthplace of the Pennsylvania rifle.'"
1949: On October 7, 1949, Captain John M. Cummings' newspaper article titled "His Pennsylvania Rifle Made Boone Prize Shot" was placed into the Congressional Record by unanimous consent. The second paragraph of the article states, "What they're going to do, right at the outset of Pennsylvania Week, is place a marker at the birthplace of the Pennsylvania rifle. Dan'l Boone and others, many others, knew this weapon as the Kentucky rifle. It got that name because of its wide use in the dark and bloody ground. Although it was a prime favorite in other parts of the country and, in fact, the world, the name Kentucky rifle somehow managed to stick to it. Kentucky had about as much to do with developing it as our Uncle Dominick had with the anchoring of Noah's ark."
1957: An article titled "The Rifle' in the February 14, 1957 issue of "The Republican" newspaper of Oakland, Maryland (reprinted from "The Glade Star") includes the statement, "The rifles of that day were usually referred to as the Kentucky rifle. They should have been called the Pennsylvania rifle as the early rifle makers were located in Lancaster County, Pa., and surrounding localities."
A few examples from the second half of the twentieth century
1960: Henry J. Kauffman's influential 1960 book "The Pennsylvania - Kentucky Rifle" acknowledges the Pennsylvania origin of the Kentucky Rifle in its title, and uses the phrase "the Pennsylvania rifle" within its contents.
1960: Page 26 of Joseph Kindig's impressive 1960 book "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age" captures the thought that a person might expect Kentucky Rifles to be called Pennsylvania rifles instead, since so many of them were manufactured in Pennsylvania.
1963: An article titled "Pennsylvania German Folklore in the Shenandoah Valley" in the September 14, 1963 issue of the Allentown, Pennsylvania newspaper "The Morning Call" includes the following: "In recent years an insurance company has featured the Shenandoah Valley in a nation-wide advertising campaign. In one feature of the series it was stated that 'many so-called 'Pennsylvania rifles' were made by Shenandoah Valley gunsmiths.' It is not our purpose to refute this statement but rather to elaborate on it. The so-called 'Kentucky Rifle' is a term used to describe the long flintlock or percussion rifle which Pennsylvania gunsmiths created years before Daniel Boone explored the Kentucky territory, thus the 'Kentucky' rifle is the 'Pennsylvania' rifle. These unique pieces were made throughout southeastern Pennsylvania although rifle shops were established very early in the history of Lancaster County and many famous gunsmiths were located there."
1964: The last paragraph of Walter A. Johanns' 1964 Master of Science thesis "The Pennsylvania Rifle: The Evolution of its Tactical Employment in the American Revolution" concludes that, "The rifle was not a decisive weapon because its nature confined it to special uses, and also because of the comparatively small numbers of rifles and riflemen used. It was, however, an effective weapon when properly deployed."
1976: Ned Smith's article "Notes on the Evolution of the Pennsylvania Long Rifle" in the July, 1976 issue of the "Pennsylvania Game News" acknowledges that the long rifle has been known as the Kentucky Rifle for generations, and then states that it is actually the Pennsylvania Rifle because it originated in Pennsylvania and was predominantly manufactured there. After that, Mr. Smith elegantly states why this naming issue should matter to Pennsylvanians. This may be the article from long ago that influenced me to favor the name "Pennsylvania Rifle" over the name "Kentucky Rifle".
1989: A chapter titled "The Flintlock Rifle Black Powder Outfit" in outdoor columnist Don Lewis's 1989 book "The Shooter's Corner" eloquently disparages the name "Kentucky Rifle", calling it a misnomer that is permanently attached to the Pennsylvania long rifle, and stating that the design of such rifles didn't have anything to do with the state of Kentucky. On another page of the chapter, Mr. Lewis directly refers to the "The Pennsylvania rifle".
Afterword
A long time ago, I read an article in the "Pennsylvania Game News" that decried the commonly used name "Kentucky Rifle". The article suggested that a more appropriate name would be "Pennsylvania Rifle" since the classic long rifle configuration originated in Pennsylvania.
Circa 1813 to circa 1851: Carlton E. Sanford's 1903 book "Early History of the Town of Hopkinton" includes a transcript of the extensive diary of Elisha Risdon. Regarding the diary, the author wrote, "The diary kept by him, or rather such part of it as can now be found, begins with February 14, 1812, and extends to July, 1820, excepting that the years 1816, 1817, 1818 and some other lesser portions of time are missing. The record from 1820 to December, 1832, appears to be lost beyond recovery. From the last date to September, 1848, it was kept in two small books, six by eight inches. The diary was divided among his three children..." Elisha Risdon is buried in the Fort Jackson Hopkinton Cemetery in St. Lawrence County, New York, where the highly legible inscription on his tombstone indicates he died on October 19, 1851. One volume of the diary contains a well-organized list of the deer killed by Elisha Risdon. An entry on the list states, "The next season, 1813, killed with a Pennsylvania rifle that I bought of Elisha Brooks ......... 23".
'Stay thou here for larger things,
While our Pennsylvania rifles
Slay those minions of the King's.'"
The following chronology is by no means complete. Nevertheless, it may suggest that after the name "Pennsylvania Rifle" was used in Captain John G. W. Dillin's ground-breaking and well-received 1924 book "The Kentucky Rifle", the use and promotion of the name "Pennsylvania Rifle" (and the glorification of the rifle itself) became more widespread in history and gun collecting publications. The chronology also helps to illustrate how the folklore associated with the "Pennsylvania Rifle" originated and evolved as writers paraphrased one-another over the course of decades.
Because the use of the name "Pennsylvania rifle" became well-entrenched during the first half of the twentieth century, I have only referenced a few examples of its use during the second half of the twentieth century.
This study has been satisfying for me because I now have a better understanding of the circumstances that eventually led to the "Pennsylvania Game News" article that influenced my own adoption of the term "Pennsylvania rifle".
