The purpose of this page is to not only display beautiful photograph’s, but show the grace and beauty of the Arms. Allow me to direct your eye! Attention should be given to the overall form, the sweep of the lines from the lock and back through the butt of the gun, notice the smooth flow of curves that have been used to create what you now see. Study the slight curves around and under the lock, the flow of lock panels into the beautifully shaped wrist. The comb of the butt, the sweep of the check piece and overall elegance and grace. Look at architectural design first, this is where you start, then decide ornateness. A well styled plain Longrifle with beautiful wood to the most highly decorated works of art and all in between.This is the American Longrifle and what makes her unique to the United States and no where else in the world. Europe did create beautiful arms and that form of weapon was brought to the New World. European arms tended to be much shorter in length and of a large caliber in bore size. While, in Europe, the materials to be able to fire the weapon were more ready available, here in America lead and black powder were scarce and Woodsman/Frontiersman had to carry on their person everything needed to trek deep into the American wilderness. This lack of shooting supplies was the main reason that the European form transformed into what became the American Longrifle. Bore sizes generally decreased and barrels became much longer, Sugar Maple, often highly figured fiddleback, became the primary wood for gunstocks vs European Walnut and the lock became more slender. And, after many years of transformation, we have what we see here today, the “Golden Age” of the American Longrifle!
The very first time you handle a well designed Longrifle, pull her to your check, sight down her barrel and feel her balance, you will then understand why many of our American ancestors named their Longrifles in the feminine tense. To all who lived on the frontier, she provided food, safety and protection. She also played a large roll in the birth of a new Nation.
American Longrifles by Brad and Shane Emig at Cabin Creek Muzzleloading
Longrifles and Fowlers by Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading (TVM)
American Longrifles by William (Bill) Slusser, Slusser’s Custom Guns
