KRA Bulletin | VOLUME 42 | NUMBER 2 | WINTR 2016

This Winter 2016 issue of the Kentucky Rifle Association Bulletin presents a detailed attribution study of longrifles marked with the initials “J.D.” Through comparative analysis of surviving rifles, construction details, engraving styles, and historical records, the article examines the evidence supporting attribution to Jacob Deemer of Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

The research addresses longstanding uncertainty surrounding the “J.D.” mark, contrasts Deemer’s work with that of contemporaries such as Nicholas Hawk, and documents known examples spanning flintlock and percussion periods. This issue contributes significantly to understanding regional gunmaking traditions in the Lehigh Valley and the challenges inherent in identifying lesser documented gunsmiths.

Usage Note: This Bulletin is provided for the private research and educational use of Kentucky Rifle Association members. Redistribution or reproduction without written permission is prohibited.

KRA Bulletin | VOLUME 41 | NUMBER 2 | WINTER 2015

The Winter 2015 issue of the Kentucky Rifle Association Bulletin presents an in depth, interpretive study of a highly symbolic Jacob Kuntz pistol, examining its materials, construction, engraving, and layered iconography. The primary article analyzes five intentional signatures placed by Kuntz across wood, steel, and brass, incorporating Masonic, religious, and political symbolism reflective of early American identity.

The Bulletin places Kuntz’s work within the broader context of Pennsylvania gunmaking traditions, Freemasonry, Federal era ideology, and transatlantic cultural exchange. Through close visual analysis and historical interpretation, the research demonstrates how firearms can serve as complex documents of belief, identity, and artistic intent beyond their functional purpose.

Usage Note: This Bulletin is provided for the private research and educational use of Kentucky Rifle Association members. Redistribution or reproduction without written permission is prohibited.

KRA Bulletin | VOLUME 40 | NUMBER 2 | WINTER 2013

Focused on regional craftsmanship rather than individual biography, this Winter 2013 Bulletin presents a comprehensive study of the longrifle makers of Guilford County, North Carolina. The lead article traces the development of what collectors now identify as the Early Deep River School and its evolution into the Jamestown School, documenting the architectural, decorative, and stylistic features that distinguish these regional traditions.

Drawing on surviving rifles, signed examples, court records, apprenticeships, and land transactions, the research reconstructs the working networks of gunsmiths including Matthew Osborne, David Grose, Craft Jackson, Thaddeus Gardner, William Lamb, and others. The Bulletin places Guilford County within the broader narrative of Southern longrifle production, emphasizing its significance as the most prolific center of trained gunsmiths in the region during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Usage Note: This Bulletin is provided for the private research and educational use of Kentucky Rifle Association members. Redistribution or reproduction without written permission is prohibited.

KRA Bulletin | VOLUME 39 | NUMBER 2 | WINTER 2012

Federal rifle procurement in the early republic required balancing speed, cost, and quality as the United States expanded westward and confronted ongoing conflicts along its frontier. This Winter 2012 Bulletin examines that process through a detailed study of the Lancaster firm known as Dickert, DeHuff & Co., whose members managed large scale rifle contracts for both the U.S. Army and the Indian Department between 1792 and 1811.

By integrating government correspondence, production data, and surviving rifles, the article explores why Lancaster emerged as the nation’s premier rifle making center and how figures such as Tench Coxe shaped federal arms purchasing policy. The study traces the transition from individually crafted civilian longrifles to standardized government arms, clarifying how economic pressures and administrative structures influenced the development of the Lancaster pattern and its widespread adoption.

Usage Note: This Bulletin is provided for the private research and educational use of Kentucky Rifle Association members. Redistribution or reproduction without written permission is prohibited.