December 2024-- A Quick Study of Two Susquehanna Rifles
The "Lost" School of Kentucky Rifle?
When it comes to reading reference books on the Kentucky Rifle, collectors and students have ease of access to materials regarding the major schools of longrifle, like Lancaster, Berks, York, etc. However, there are gaps in the authorship and study of certain schools. One school in particular that has little research or focus is the Upper Susquehanna School.
The Upper Susquehanna region encompasses a large portion of Pennsylvania, including Centre, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union Counties. Originally the area was just referred to as Northumberland County. Founded in 1772, the county was created from parts of Berks, Lancaster, and Cumberland Counties. As time progressed and pioneers settled the region, the original Northumberland County was broken down into smaller counties, as listed above.
While obviously the entire school cannot be covered in this article, we can examine two rifles that are on consignment with LaMaster Arms. Both are excellent examples of makers within the school and pristine representations of the Golden Age of the Kentucky Rifle.
First, let us examine a rifle made by Samuel Baum Sr. Baum (1769-1842) worked mainly in the New Berlin area of Union County. He would have several sons who would become gunsmiths and widely influence the Upper Susquehanna school of gunmaking. Looking at picture to the right, we see a spectacular example of a signed Baum rifle. It is elegant, both in its architecture and decoration.
First, studying the buttstock architecture, take note of the extended wrist on the rifle; it bears a resemblance to the long, thin wrists often found in the Bucks County school of gunmaking. Moving to the butt of the rifle, one observes yet another similar characteristic to the aforementioned school, a large drop at the toe with a sweeping, drawn out shape. This dramatic toe on the rifle echoes the styles of Andrew Verner or John Shuler.
The Baum rifle has incised carving in a rococo style decorating its cheek, a style where Baum had a large influence over the Upper Susquehanna school. Most rifles from the school have incised carving done in a delicate, fine design. While stylistically the design is not like Bucks County, incised carving was commonly found on rifles from the region. The carving on the cheek is mimicked in design around the tang and the wrist in a pleasing manner.
In terms of metal and engraving work, Baum went on to decorate this particular rifle with a half moon cheekpiece engraved with the Latin word, “Luna.” Curiously, the maker stamped nine cross-like designs on the cheek piece in an unfinished pyramid shape. Perhaps this was a tribute to the Masonic lodge? The front of the rifle has a pierced patchbox that bears engraving on the lid. It is worth noting that the engraving on the patchbox lid matches the design of the carving on the tang, wrist, and cheek.
Moving forward in time, we can look at yet another masterful maker within the Upper Susquehanna school, John Parks Sr. (1773-1851). Parks worked out of the Selinsgrove, PA area (Snyder County) and produced many rifles throughout his career.
While Baum’s rifles display Bucks County characteristics, Parks’ rifles bear more of an architectural resemblance to the rifles made in Berks County, as evidenced through the “roman nose” of the comb. This was a common stock architecture used on later Upper Susquehanna rifles. Parks' works show that he was a craftsman who possessed masterful engraving skills. This particular smooth rifle is in extremely fine condition and looks as though it just “walked out of the shop.”
As mentioned above, Parks’ signature (J.P) is prominently displayed on the top barrel flat in period script. The engraving skill is also evident in the fine, geometric shaped borders on the moon cheek piece, cheek piece cap, and barrel wedgekey inlays.
This rifle features decorative additions in its buttplate comb extension and saddle plate. Both the comb extension and saddle plate were commonly found on Golden Age Kentucky Rifles, so we cannot contribute these as a solely Upper Susquehanna school trait.Parks would eventually go on to work in the Huntingdon, PA area and his son, John Parks Jr. would continue on the family name in gunsmithing.
When examining both rifles, there are similarities, even with the stock architecture differences. For example, each rifle has a downward facing, silver half-moon cheek inlay. Each moon is decorated with punch marks–the Baum rifle with the cross-like designs in the pyramid shape and the Parks with half-circle punches around the perimeter. The authors have observed that many Upper Susquehanna rifles bear this downward faced half-moon cheek inlay. With Baum being an early maker in the school, perhaps this is his influence?
Another parallel that can be drawn between these two rifles are the wedgekey inlays. These inlays are half-circles of what appears to be silver. The inlays are pinned in a similar manner with a tack on either side to secure it to the stock. Once again, this is a common feature to Upper Susquehanna rifles, fowlers, and smooth rifles.
These two fantastic examples of the Upper Susquehanna school represent an entire group of rifles and makers who deserve to be studied and have resources published on them. The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the KRA for publishing Mr. Denny Donhart’s recent article on Peter Smith, another gunsmith working within the school. We greatly encourage our readers to view our educational photography and videos to examine more Upper Susquehanna school rifles.
Sources:
“Riflemaker List.” Kentucky Rifle Foundation, Kentucky Rifle Foundation, kentuckyriflefoundation.org/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
“Area History.” Northumberland County Historical Society, Northumberland County Historical Society, www.northumberlandcountyhistoricalsociety.org/area-history/area-history. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Images from Google Images and LaMaster Arms, INC