George Shroyer

G. Shroyer

This fine eighteenth century flintlock longrifle, is signed in script "G. Shroyer". It appears to date from the last decade of the 18^th century, perhaps as early as 1784 or 85. The original finish is well patinaed and the handsome Germanic style lock is in original flint condition. The 46-inch octagon barrel is .42 caliber. The length of pull is 13 11/16^th.s and the rifle is 61 3/4^th.s inches overall.

George Shroyer/Schreyer Sr. lived and worked for the most part in Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania. There is much known about him as compared to other early American gunsmiths. Dr. George Shumway and Earl Lanning have spent much of their lives researching this prolific maker. In 1990 Shumway released his monograph, “George Schreyer, Sr & Jr, - Gunmakers of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania”, a publication that was made possible by a special display of rifles by Schreyer at the 1987 meeting of the Kentucky Rifle Association. The book is still available from Shumway Publishing.

During the last half of the 18^th century and into the first quarter of the 19^th century, Hanover was a great business location for the gunmaking trade. Much of the traffic heading south by southwest passed through this blossoming little town. Pioneers were pouring into the Valley of Virginia, spilling out into the Carolina’s, some traveling on into what would become Tennessee and for the brave at heart - the mythical region of Kentucky. This route was often called the “Great Wagon Road”, but a portion around the Hanover area was known as Monocacy road.

This beautiful rifle is somewhat associated with two others that are featured on this post; the example by Martin Sheetz and the early Reading rifle. George Shroyer probably started an apprenticeship about 1755, give or take a year or so, as a 14 to 16 year old young man. Both George Ungefehr and Nicholas Hachen were established gunsmiths in the area and it is quite possible that he trained with one of them. Martin Sheetz was the son of Phillip Sheetz who by the Orphan’s Court of York County was indentured to Ungefehr to be trained as a gunsmith. Nicholas Hachen died rather prematurely in 1758 at the young age of 40. It is possible if Shroyer was indeed working with Nicholas that he might have finished his apprenticeship with Nicholas’ brother Wolfgang who was actively working in Reading.

Shumway pointed out that there are always "surprises" imbedded in Shreyer/Shroyer rifles. This one is no exception. An obvious stray from his norm is the lack of the typical fleur-de-lis carving so common in his work. The sort of “scalloped” carving around the barrel tang and the elongated beavertail shaped carving at the rear entry pipe with a roped engrailing type detail is unique to say the least. The patch box of this rifle is well done and pleasing, yet the design is not akin to anything I can find by his hand or any other. Though not specifically a surprise, the vast majority of his rifles have a single tricker, yet this one is double “tricked”. The work on this rifle is exceptionally “clean” for lack of a better term. It has been suggested and it does appear that possibly Jacob Sell, while working in the shop with Shroyer might have had a hand in this piece, although I would like to think this piece precedes the time period that Sell would have worked there. Yet, the tendrils of the flowing carving behind the cheek feel more like the work of Sell than that of Shroyer, but it could be something as simple that the client ordered a “capital” rifle giving a monetary incentive for the maker to take a little more time and effort to better execute his work and thus exhibit his talents. Not to mention, that Sell could have learned this style from his master. I feel that so often, that when the luxury of having the opportunity to study multiple examples by a particular artist, it become rather obvious that it is not that the maker did not have the talent to do the work…but rather, that he was not getting paid enough to go to the effort to do it !

This rifle is near mint. It is extremely rare to find a rifle of this period in such un-touched and pristine condition. Using the words of Gary Brumfield, “it’s in amazing condition! The background of the relief carving still shows the individual chisel cuts. Original flint and it has not been fired or carried a lot...” It is obvious this rifle has been treasured and well care for. It still retains its original rear sight shader, which leads me to believe that the rifle has been used for match shooting. I would not be afraid to shoot it today! It's just in that good of shape.

Mel Hankla, Kentucky

The Rifles