Lock, Stock and Barrel
Written by Shawn Wood
STATE'S ROLE IN GUN MAKING TO BE CELEBRATED PENNSYLVANIA HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A CORNERSTONE FOR THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY. And in the 18th century, it was widely considered to be the gun-making center of the new-found colonies. That gun-making ability led to one rifle and two shots that helped change the course of the Revolutionary War and our nation. Tim Murphy, of Northumberland, a rifleman with General Daniel Morgan's unit, used a swivel breech two-barrel rifle, a type of gun that was known to have been made by William Antes, of Bucks County, to mortally wound Brigadier General Simon Fraser and British Senior officer, Sir Frances Clarke, General Burgoyne's chief Aide-de-Camp during the Battle of the Saratoga.
Just as Murphy's shot helped turn the tide of the war, John and Don Getz, of the Getz Barrel Company of Beavertown, along with Art DeCamp, of Huntingdon, are ensuring that Pennsylvania's place in cultural and gun making history will live on as they have organized the first ever "18th Century Artisans Show" that will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 1 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 2, 2008, at the Best Western Country Cupboard Inn, Route 15, Lewisburg.
Among the vendors and displays will be period rifle makers, powderhorns, Redware pottery, period furniture, period silver work and some of the best period folk art artisans of that period. As members of the Contemporary Long Rifle Association, Don and John along with Art and a few friends have traveled to other cities for 18th century artisans shows, longing for something to have in the Keystone state, the birth home of the long rifle. "We've been met with lots of enthusiasm by artisans who understand the importance of a Pennsylvania show,"John said. According to John, the vendors who will be in attendance for the show are the "best of the best" when it comes to 18th century artisans.
"All in all, we've tried to come up with a diverse group of artisans to come and display their wares and I think a lot of people will be impressed with what is there,"John added.
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