Kentucky
Long Rifle
Like powder needs a spark..."Hawkmoon"/U2
Long Rifle
The Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) Long Rifle was the most accuratelong-range gun for several decades.The first documented appearance of rifling was in Germany around 1460.The flintlockwas developed in the early 1600's. By the late 1600's gunsmiths wereexperimenting with longer barrels than the forerunner Yaeger. But it took the opening up of a newcontinent to bring out the best.Circa 1725 the forerunner of the KYlong rifles were being designed and built by German craftsman inPennsylvania. After the French and Indian War brought new lands to theattention of the frontiersmen, the uniquely American long-range rifleswere carried into the frontier (at that time Kentucky) by the longhunters, 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 andsported a 42 to 46 inch barrel. A crescent-shaped buttplate, patchboxand cheekpiece were also common and are helpful in identifying a KY/PAlong rifle.
The long rifle was a prime factor in several Revolutionary erabattles, especially in the West. Perhaps due to this heritage,Kentuckians were known as sharpshooters from the revolutionary Warthrough WWII and even as late as Vietnam.
Col George Hanger, a British officer, became very interested in theAmerican rifle after he witnessed his bugler's horse shot out fromunder him at a distance, which he measured several times himself, of"full 400 yards", and he learned all he could of the weapon. Hewrites: "I have many times asked the American backwoodsman what was the mosttheir best marksmen could do; they have constantly told me that anexpert marksman, provided he can draw good & true sight, can hit thehead 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 wasinvented 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. Bythe end of the Civil War, even the muzzleloader was being challengedby the more reliable breechloaders. Soon black powder followed thedemise of the muzzle loader and the Kentucky Long Rifle became acollector's item.
Antique Firearms Network
by Merrill Lindsay
My KY long rifle is a F&I/American Revolutionary era
.50 calibre full-stock flintlock.Here's an example of a 40 1/4 inches barrel, Traditions flintlock LR
using a Hornady .490 swaged ball, .015 Ox Yoke lubed patch, 3x Goex black
powder, 55 degree day at 20' from muzzle, average of 4 shots each load:30 grain spout 1139 fps
75 grain spout 1785 fps
100 grain spout 2027 fps (This one left 3 stock pins slightly bent!)My thanks toKevin Wilson for his input.
The classic Kentucky Frontiersman was Simon Kenton who was able
to reload on the run to the surprise of many an unfortunate pursuer.
Another fast reloader was LewisWetzel.
And of course, the most famous frontiersman of them all, Daniel Boone!
Join us in our Frontier Research Message Board!
Check out the MLML WebPage for more practical information on pioneer gun use.
 Miniature KY/Penn L.R. model by VA sculptor Terry Karselis |
