[Pharmboy]

Some of you folk might not know about the importance of the Pennsylvania rifle (when made in Kentucky, the Kentucky rifle) in the RevWar, first made by German immigrants to PA. And, of course, the importance of those colonial sharpshooters.

[Pharmboy]

PA Long Rifle, circa 1780

The Charleville Musket, supplied by the French to us after 1777

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

And Huzzahs! to all for the New Year!

Your Obdt and Humble Svt.,
P_____y

[ModelBreaker]

Was this the first widely distributed rifle in the world?

[hoosiermama]

My fifth great grandfathers were German Pennsylvania Farmers who signed the Bradford Accord: Michael Sanior and Daniel Mathius. One served at Fort Pitt the other at Valley Forge.
I have a picture of their grandson (and his family) and a rolling pin the grandson made and gave to my grandmother on her tenth birthday.
Do you have any more information on the gtoups participation in the war?

[steelyourfaith]

Very interesting. Thanx for posting.

[nathanbedford]

This is not an absurd speculation, how would the Welsh longbow of The Hundred Years War fare against the massed infantry with muskets of the Revolution, and for that matter, against massed infantry with muskets of the American War between The States?

I understand Wellington sought archers but the art had by that time virtually died out.

[dog breath]

These weapons also made settlement of Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley possible. The Americans on the frontier needed an edge against the Indians.

[ebshumidors]

Come to an Appleseed and carry on the tradition. See my tagline.

[BallandPowder]

Powder..patch..ball FIRE! "With a musket, you might be able to get about three shots off in a minute, but with a rifle you only got one in that time, but it could be more accurate and deadly,"

My personal best was at a camp competition. 50 cal Hawken percussion, loaded and fired 4 rounds in one minute.

I broke a couple of safety rules to do it though.
Loaded from the horn by hand and kept the spare balls in my cheek to spit into the barrel. Set the club record though. Stands to this day.

[silverleaf]

Thanks for the article.
Have not done geneaology for some time but remembered that an ancestor (7 X G grandfather) served in the PA Rifle regiment, Capt Joseph Erwin (ala Irwin) - fought in NJ and re-enlisted and stayed with Washington through Valley Forge, as my memory recalls.

Was among the first from the Western PA frontier (Hannastown) to answer the call and join Washington’s army. He was a fairly old dude when he joined the Rev army, a veteran of the French and Indian campaign, survivor of daily life on the PA frontier from the 1730’s, and probably a good sniper!

I found his name in this document
http://www.neilelvick.com/Book/append_2.htm