In the mid-eighteenth century, a group of gunsmiths in the colony of Pennsylvania started creating a unique weapon that changed the course of American history; the “Kentucky Rifle.”  

The Kentucky Rifle, which is also known as the Pennsylvania Longrifle, differed from other firearms in its day. It had a long barrel that had groves or “rifling” cut into it. The length of the barrel allowed the black powder to burn more efficiently which stabilized the projectile, making the rifle highly accurate compared to a musket.  

During the next 100 years, the Kentucky Rifle reigned supreme as the firearm of choice for American frontiersman, sharpshooters, and pioneers. The gunsmiths who built these rifles in Pennsylvania in places like Lancaster, York, Reading, Allentown, and Lebanon would go on to develop their own “Schools” or style of rifle. Apprentices of these masters would study and eventually take the trade to other places, including Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. 

LaMaster Arms offers a platform where Kentucky Rifle enthusiasts, collectors, and builders can all gather to study, learn about, purchase, and sell these wonderful pieces of Americana. At the helm is Brian LaMaster, known not only for his gunsmithing craft and attention to detail, but also his honesty, integrity, and breadth of experience. Highly respected and trusted, he now brings those ethics to this platform to not only assist in transfers of collections, but to reach out to the next generation and educate about the legacy of the Kentucky Rifle.