Kentucky-Pennsylvania Long Rifle.pdf

Kentucky Long Rifle The Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) Long Rifle was the most accurate long-range gun for several decades. The first documented appearance of rifling was in Germany around 1460. The flintlock was developed in the early 1600's. By the late 1600's gunsmiths were experimenting with longer barrels than the forerunner Yaeger. But it took the opening up of a new continent to bring out the best. Circa 1725 the forerunner of the KY long rifles were being designed and built by German craftsman in Pennsylvania. After the French and Indian War brought new lands to the attention of the frontiersmen, the uniquely American long-range rifles were carried into the frontier (at that time Kentucky) by the long hunters, trappers and explorers. The actual name "Kentucky Longrifle" was first used in an 1812 song The Hunters of Kentucky. A typical rifle was .50 caliber, made of curly maple, full stock and sported a 42 to 46 inch barrel. A crescent-shaped buttplate, patchbox and cheekpiece were also common and are helpful in identifying a KY/PA long rifle. The long rifle was a prime factor in several Revolutionary era battles, especially in the West. Perhaps due to this heritage, Kentuckians were known as sharpshooters from the revolutionary War through WWII and even as late as Vietnam. Col George Hanger, a British officer, became very interested in the American rifle after he witnessed his bugler's horse shot out from under him at a distance, which he measured several times himself, of "full 400 yards", and he learned all he could of the weapon. He writes: "I have many times asked the American backwoodsman what was the most their best marksmen could do; they have constantly told me that an expert marksman, provided he can draw good & true sight, can hit the head of a man at 200 yards." Quotations from M.L. Brown's, FIREARMS IN COLONIAL AMERICA

More on the KY Longrifle: Kentucky Rifles - How They Earned Their Name

In the early 1800's, the percussion or caplock was invented and the 200 year reign of the flintlock was a thing of the past. A lot of the old flintlocks were even converted to the new lock. By the end of the Civil War, even the muzzleloader was being challenged by the more reliable breechloaders. Soon black powder followed the demise of the muzzle loader and the Kentucky Long Rifle became a collector's item.