Enciclopedia delle armi - a cura di Edoardo Mori
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Database of USA Gunmakers

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F

F.
 Marking inside a Charleville type musket made without a lock strap, believed by historical association to have been made by Richard Falley under contract of 1798.
F. & P.
 New Haven, (?) 1818. Musket makers. Believed to have as sembled arms, using in part at least, units manufactured for them or purchased from others. Musket examined is of 1812 type with Whitney Model 1812 lock bearing the typical Whitney marking of "NEW HAVEN" within a ribbon scroll between hammer and frizzen spring. Other markings are "F. & P.," above the ribbon scroll and "US" and "1818" behind the hammer.
F. J. H.
 Marking on a percussion Kentucky target rifle.
FAHNESTOCK
 Kentucky percussion target rifle. Hooded front, ad justable open and peep rear sights; name on odd-shaped lock plate.
FAINOT, F. & J.
 See Farnot, Frank and Jacob.
FAIR, James
 Dayton, Ohio, 1872-76.
FAIRBANKS, A. B.
 Boston, Mass., prior to 1841. All metal (brass frame) percussion pistols and derringers. F. A. M.- Unidentified. Kentucky rifle.
Fairbanks, A. B.
Pistol maker of Boston, Mass. Produced deringers and overcoat pistols. Active 1827 or before. Died 1841.
Fales, James Jr.
Gunmaker of New Bedford, Mass. Active 1859-68.
FALLEY, Richard
 Montgomery, Mass., musket maker, active 1774 1801 and later. Contractor under act of July 5, 1798, for 1,600 Charleville pattern (Model 1795) muskets at $13.40 per stand. Of these 750 were known delivered by June 10, 1801. Falley had served in the French and Indian War, and in the Revolutionary War, having been a company commander in the Battle of Bunker Hill. After the War, was armorer to State of Massachusetts and later superintendent at Springfield Armory. Born in Maine, Jan. 31, 1740; died at Westfield, Sept. 3, 1808. In addition to service with the armed forces, Falley is believed to have made arms at Montgomery, Mass., during the Revolutionary War.
Falley, Richard
Gunsmith of Westfield, Mass. Born George’s River, Maine, January 31, 1740. He was captured by the Indians at the fall of Fprt Edward on the Hudson and sent, with other captives, to Montreal. Here the Indians claimed him and adopted him into the tribe. Later Falley came to the attention of a lady who purchased him from the Indians for 16 gallons of rum and sent him to Westfield, Mass. On December 24, 1761, Falley married Margaret Hitchcock of that place. An ardent patriot, Falley served as a company commander at Bunker Hill, where his eldest son Frederick acted as his drummer through the entire action. With the return of peace, Falley returned to gunsmithing, acting as armourer to the State of Massachusetts Bay and later as Superintendent of Springfield Armory. Died at Westfield, September 3, 1808.
FANCHER, Thomas
 Connecticut musket maker to Committee of Safety. In association with Jesse Curtis of Waterbury, furnished 26 muskets with bayonets. Earlier delivery of three muskets with bayonets is recorded as having been paid for July 29, 1776.
FARNOT, Frank
 Also Fainot. Lancaster, Pa. Active 1779-83.
Farnot, Frank
Gunsmith of Lancaster, Pa., 1779.
FARNOT, Frederick
 Lancaster Borough, Lancaster Co., Pa., before and after 1779.
Farnot, Frederick
Gunsmith of Lancaster Borough, Lancaster Pa. Active 1779-82.
FARNOT, Jacob
 Also Fainot. Lancaster, Pa., active 1779-83.
FARQUET, E.
 Gunsmith. New Orleans, La., 1861.
Farrington, D. W. C.
Lowell. Promoter for, and probably manufacturer of, the Lowell Battery Gun, 1875-76.
FARRINGTON, William H.
 Concord, N. H., percussion period.
Farrington, Wm. B.
Rifiemaker of Concord and Lebanon, N. H. Produced a number of heavy 40 rod guns and light sporting rifles. Active 1855-64, before and after.
FARROW ARMS CO.
 Holyoke, Mass., about 1885-90, then at Mason, Tenn. Target rifles. Operated by Wm. Milton Farrow.
Farrow, Wm. M., Farrow Arms Co.
William Milton Farrow was born at Belfast, Maine, 1848. Active at Holyoke, Mass., 1878-85. The Farrow Arms Company active 1885 to 1917 or later at Mason, Tenn., and Washington, D. C. Farrow died in 1934.
FARVER, W.
 Unlocated. Percussion Kentucky rifles.
Farver, Wm.
Rifiemaker of Brown county, Ohio. Active 1848-54, before and after.
FAULK, Adam
 Or Foulk. Unidentified. Maker of Kentucky rifles about 1775.
FAUST, Joseph H.
 Alsace, Pa. Born about 1818. Active 1845 to about 1880. Gun stocker and rifle maker. Learned his trade watching John Derr and Henry Schaner, Oley Valley gunsmiths. Bought his barrels from gun barrel makers on Wyomissing Creek, and gun-locks at Reading. Made all other parts by hand.
Faust, Joseph H.
Gunmaker of Alsace township, Berks county, Pa. Established 1844 and active until 18S8.
FAUST, W. Ed.
 La Fontaine, Ind. Percussion rifles.
FAVIER, Peter A.
 67 West Pratt St., Baltimore, Md., 1845.
FAY, E.
 Albany, N. Y. Percussion Kentucky rifles.
FAY, Edwin
 Hartford, Conn. Learned under Edwin Wesson; later president of J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co., Chicopee Falls, Mass. A fine percussion buggy rifle with 12-inch barrel.
FAY, George
 2120 Third Ave., Altoona, Pa. Listed as gunsmith in 1890 directory. Late percussion, full-stock, Kentucky rifles, some Bedford Co. type, others with purchased locks. May have worked in Bedford Co., and later in Cambria, near Altoona.
FAY, George W.
 1000 Green Ave., Altoona, Pa. Listed as gunsmith in 1890 Directory. (Related to George Fay?)
FAYETTEVILLE ARSENAL
 Fayetteville, N. C. Captured U. S. Arsenal established as Confederate armory in 1861, partly with machinery and material salvage from the burning of the Harpers Ferry Armory. Made Confederate rifle muskets similar in appear ance to the Springfield Model 1861, but largely with brass furni ture which was easier to machine than iron or steel. In March, 1865, with the end of the Civil War in sight, (April 1865), the arsenal machinery was loaded on flat cars of a coal company and taken to Egypt, Chatham Co., where it was hidden. Egypt was the site of extensive Confederate coal mines. In May, 1865, the government having heard of the secreted machinery, sent ninety-six six-mule wagons, repossessed it and removed it to Raleigh whence it was shipped by rail to Washing ton. Among other equipment retaken was the musket lock-plate die from the Harpers Ferry Armory, in which the U.S. had been replaced by C. S. A.
Fayetteville Arsenal
Confederate armory at Fayetteville, N. C. 1861-65.
FEDER, G.
 Pennsylvania, about 1810. Flintlock Kentucky rifles.
Federal Cartridge Corp.
Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, Minn. Cartridge manufacturers, 1832-34.
Federal Laboratories
185 41st St., Chicago, 111. Manufacturers of police, riot and gas guns, etc. 1933 to date.
FEHR
 Four members, three of them gunsmiths, at Easton, Filetown, Nazareth, and Allentown, Pa. Set triggers made at Filetown, also at Nazareth.
FEHR, J.
 Nazareth, Pa., 1835; Kentucky rifle so dated. Extensive maker of set triggers.
Fehr, J.
Rifiemaker of Nazareth, Pa., 1830.
FEHR, M. M.
 Set triggers on N. Shennefelt, late percussion, Ken tucky rifle.
FELOUX, Peter
 Philadelphia, Pa. Listed as gunsmith at 190 South, in 1829.
FENNER, Thomas
 Philadelphia, Pa. Listed on North Front, below Master, in 1829 and on Second Street in 1839. Gunsmith and pis tol maker.
FENSEL, Peter
 After apprenticeship at Kenton, Ohio, returned to Union County, Ohio, where he was born (1842), and established himself in business in 1887.
Fensel, Peter
Gunsmith. Born in Union county, Ohio, December 10, 1842, son of Martin Fensel, a native of Germany. Served his apprenticeship at Kenton and later established at Marysville in 1887. He was still active in 1930.
FERGUSON, Charles
 Troy, N. Y., 1837; Kentucky rifles.
Ferre, Joel
Riflemaker of Cumberland, Guernsey county, Ohio. 1853 to 1885.
Ferre, Joel Thornton
Son of Isaac. Gunsmith of Allegheny county, 1840.
Ferree, George Spencer
Son of Isaac. Worked with his brother Joel Thornton Ferree in Allegheny County, Pa.
FERREE, Isaac
 Son of Jacob Ferree and his second wife (nee Alice Powell). Born Jan. 9, 1776. Active as gunsmith at Baton Rouge, La., from 1818 until his death in 1822.
Ferree, Isaac
Son of Jacob and his second wife Alice. Born on Peters Creek, Allegheny County, Pa., January 9, 1786. Served as armourer to the First Pennsylvania Regiment and active at Baton Rouge 1818 until his death in 1822.
Ferree, J.
Gunsmith of Lancaster, Pa. A flintlock Kentucky is known to the writer which is marked “J. Ferree, 1729.”
Ferree, J. & J.
Operated a powdermill on Peters creek, 1830-37.
FERREE, Jacob
 Lancaster, Pa., powder manufacturer and gunsmith. Born August 8, 1750. Was twice married. In 1785, Jacob Ferree moved from Lancaster to the mouth of Peters Creek, Jefferson Township, Allegheny Co., where with his son Joel he erected a powder mill and gun shop. Later in 1800, he purchased 330 acres of land where Coraopolis now stands, (Moon Township, west of Pittsburgh). The day after his arrival at his new home stead, Jacob's brother, Joel, was killed by Indians while hunting deer. During the Revolutionary War, Jacob Ferree had charge of the French Creek Powder Mill at Kimberton, Pa. He died in 1807, at the age of 57. The Ferree family of Pennsylvania descended from Mary Ferree (nee Warimbere, or Warembiere) a Protestant of French Huguenot descent from Bittingheim, High Bailiwick of Germer sheim, Bavarian Palatina, who emigrated to America by way of Holland and England in December, 1708. Though her original application for passport applied for emigration to the "Island of Pennsylvania," she first came to Esopus, (now Kingston) N. Y., then in 1712 settled on a grant of 2,300 acres along the Pequea, in Paradise Township, Lancaster, Co., Pa. With Mary Ferree (twice married widow of Daniel Ferree, then John Ferree, slain in France) came her six children, three sons and three daughters, among them Isaac Ferree, the father of Jacob of this entry. Jacob Ferree had three sons, Joel, Isaac and William P., the youngest. Of these, two elder sons followed their father's gunsmith trade.
Ferree, Jacob
Father of Joel and Isaac. Riflemaker at Lancaster, Pa., from 1774 until he migrated to Peters Creek, Allegheny County in 1784.
FERREE, Joel
 Gunsmith. Son of Jacob Ferree and his first wife, Rachel. Worked with his father. Born Jan. 26, 1771; died in April, 1813. Was a colonel of militia in the War of 1812.
FERREE, Joel
 Son of Philip Ferree (one of the three sons of Mary Ferree) and Leah Dubois of Esopus, (now Kingston) N. Y., where his parents were married May 10, 1712, and shortly after moved to Leacock Township, Lancaster, Co., Pa. Joel Ferree was born in 1731, and more than likely learned the gunsmith trade to which he was apprenticed at the age of 14, from his relative, Philip Lefevre. In 1752, upon reaching his maturity, Joel re ceived land from his father, set up a rifle making shop, and was active until 1778 and later. During the Revolutionary War, he was a musket and rifle maker to the Committee of Safety, for whom he produced 30 to 40 arms weekly.
FERREE, Joel
 Cumberland, Guernsey Co., Ohio, 1869-70.
Ferree, Joel
Son of Philip of Leah Ferree. Born 1731, worked in Leacock township near Lancaster, Pa. On July 22, 1775 the Council of Safety ordered a messenger sent to Ferree “requesting him immediately to complete the Guns wrote for as patterns and to know how many he can furnish and at what price.” On August 7th following Ferree wrote Benjamin Foultney to the effect he was enlarging his works and instead of “from 15 or 20 firelocks per week, he would be able to supply 30 to 40.” (Pg. 583, Vol. II, 2nd series, Pennsylvania Archives, Papers of the War of the Revolution. Pg. 290, Vol. XI, “Minutes of Provincial Council of Pennsylvania.” Harrisburg, 1852.)
Ferree, Joel
Son of Jacob and his first wife Rachel. Worked with his father on Peters Creek.
FERREE, Joel Thornton and George Spencer
 Gunmakers. Sons of Isaac Ferree. Active in Alleghany County before and until 1840.
FERREE, Manuel
 Lancaster County, Pa., 1779.
Ferri», Geo. H.
Utica, N. Y. Active. 1850-75. Exhibited the Ferris Gun at Paris in 1867.
FERRIS, Fred G.
 Utica, N. Y., in 1859-60. Changed spelling to Ferriss; probably related to Geo. H. Ferris(s). Percussion rifles.
FERRIS, Geo. H.
 Utica, N. Y., 1848-1875; 40 Lansing St. in 1850. Apprenticed under Morgan James; associated as James & Ferris, making rifles and telescope sights until 1859. Awarded Utica Mechanics Association medal for prize rifles, 1859. Name spelled Ferriss after 1863; last listed in Utica Directory for 1866. Prob ably related to Fred G. Ferris(s).
FESIG, Conrad
 Or Feasig. Reading, Berks Co., Pa., 1779-85.
Fesig, Conrad
Riflemaker of Reading, Berks county, Pa., 1779-90.
FETTER, William
 Pennsylvania arms maker in the employ of Lewis Prahl, musket maker to Committee of Safety. On June 12, 1776, Fetter was ordered discharged or furloughed from the army in order to return to gun making under Prahl.
FIDLER, Squire
 Near Tunnelton, Ind. Curly maple, halfstock per cussion Kentucky rifle (possibly originally fullstock), brass mounted with German silver bat wing escutcheons. Lock stamped "D.C.&CO.-Cinn.-O."
FIEHL & WEEKS FIRE ARMS MFG. CO.
 Phila., Pa., "Perfect" hammer less revolvers in imitation of Smith & Wesson.
FIELD, I.
 Philadelphia, Pa., flintlock rifles.
FIFIELD & RICHARDSON
 Boston, Mass. Double barrel percussion shotgun.
FIGTHORN, Andrew
 Reading, Berks, Co., Pa., 1779-85.
Figthorn, Andrew
Riflemaker of Reading, Berks county Pa., 1779-92.
FILLINGER, J.
 On barrel of .68 calibre militia rifle-musket, OHIO burned into sycamore stock opposite lock and on wrist.
FILLMAN, W.
 Unlocated. Early percussion rifles of fine workman ship. (Same as W. A. Filman?).
FILMAN, W. A.
 Unlocated. Maker of a full stock, curly maple, brass trim, Kentucky type percussion rifle.
FINCH, Joseph
 New York, N. Y., before 1828.
Finch, Joseph
Gunmaker of New York City. Died 1825.
Firth Sterling Steel Co.
McKeesport, Pa. The Sterling Steel Co. organized in 1889. In 1897 reorganized as the Firth-Sterling Steel Co., Chas. Yandes Wheeler, president (born 1843). Wheeler developed the Wheeler-Sterling armor piercing projectile and reached an agreement with Thos. Firth & Sons of Sheffield, England, a famous British ordnance manufactury and Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., another British munition manufactury. According to the terms agreed upon these firms produced W-S projectiles for the foreign market. The holding company was incorporated as the Wheeler-Sterling Projectile Co., Wheeler, Pres. He died in X. Y. September 15, 1899. (p. 11, Vol IT, Nat’l Cyclopaedia of American Biography, White, N. Y. 1916.) In 1906 the projectile business assumed such proportions that a branch was established in District of Columbia, which was incorporated in 1911 as Washington Steel & Ordnance Co., and continued through the World War.
FISCHER, George
 Unidentified. Maker of a combination rifle and shotgun.
FISCHER, Gustav
 New York, N. Y., before and after 1860. Breech loading sporting or target rifles.
Fischer, Gustav
Gunmaker of New York City, i860.
FISH
 New York City, before and after 1845.
Fish
Riflemaker of New York City, 1845-48.
Fishburn, Philip
Gunmaker, Dauphin Co., Pa. Born May 7, 1722, died February 22, 1795. Contract musket-maker to Provincial Congress.
FISHEL, Jacob
 Hopewell Township, Bedford Co., Pa., 1850.
FISHER & LONG
 Detroit Gunmakers from 1867. Took over William Wingert's gun shop and extended it to the main street, and sold sporting goods as well. A double percussion shot gun marked "FISHER & LONG" is in existence.
FISHER, D.
 Unlocated. Percussion sporting rifle.
FISHER, E.
 Fostoria, Ohio. Back-action lock percussion rifle.
FISHER, Elam J.
 Detroit gunsmith. Member of firm of Fisher & Long.
FISHER, F. G.
 Greeley, Col., 1876-80.
Fisher, F. G.
Gunmaker of Greeley, Colorado, 1876-80.
FISHER, H.
 New York, N. Y. Percussion sporting rifle.
Fisher, Homer
Gunmaker of New York City, 1859-75.
FISHER, J. H.
 New York, N. Y. Percussion Kentucky rifle.
FISHER, Jacob
 Canton, Ohio. Skilled riflesmith. Percussion Ken tucky rifle halfstocked in burl walnut with browning mottled to match. Brass mountings, back-action lock.
FISHER, James
 8 Calvert St., Baltimore, Md., 1817.
FISHER, S.
 New York. Maker of a walnut half stock, double set triggers, well made percussion sporting rifle.
FISHER, Uriah
 Rice's Landing, Greene Co., Pa. Learned the trade under Bruce Medeer, Brownville, Pa. Bought parts from J. H. Johnston, Pittsburgh. Son of a Civil War veteran. Still active in 1948.
FISHER, Wm. B.
 Lynchburg, Va. Percussion Kentucky rifle with sun-shade tube sight.
FISKE & TUTTLE
 New Haven, Conn., 1874-75.
FITCH & WALDO
 New York City. Makers of 5-shot percussion revolvers.
FITCH, James P.
 Unidentified. Maker of Jas. P. Fitch cartridge revolver.

FITCH, John
 Trenton, N. J., 1769-1776. Born in 1743; gun maker and metal worker on King St., Trenton, after 1769. Manufactured files at Trenton with steelmaker Stacy Potts. Gunsmith or armorer to Committee of Safety; contracted to repair arms and make metal buttons for the Army. His shop burned by the British in 1776, Fitch moved to Bucks Co., Pa. Inventor of first steamboat, which operated between Trenton and Philadelphia 1788-1790. Mapped the Northwest Territory; died 1798 at Bardstown, Ky. A flintlock militia musket marked "FITCH" and "S. P." (State Property).
Fitch, John
Inventor of the Fitch steamboat. Born 1743. Located at Trenton, N. J., 1771-75. Acted as gunmaker to the Province of New Jersey during the Revolution. Died 1798.
FITZPATRICK
 Maker of a half stock, octagonal barrel, flintlock plains rifie with double set triggers.
FITZPATRICK, Reese
 Natchez, Miss. Gunsmith to Bowie Brothers. Had been in their employ a number of years when the first famed Bowie knife was forged by James Bowie in the early 1820's.
Flagg, ;B. & Co.
 Gun-lock makers of Millbury, Mass., 1849.
FLAGG, B. & CO.
 Millbury, Mass. Makers of Model 1842 percussion, smooth-bore muskets, marked on lock-plate, eagle, "US" and "B. FLAGG & CO., MILLBURY, 1849." No details as to contract.
Fleeger, J.
Riflemaker of Allegheny, Pa. Shop at 51 W. Diamond Street. Active from 1837 until 1875. Some of Fleeger’s rifles are marked “J. Fleeger, Allegheny Works.”
FLEEGER, John
 In association with his son, Wm. A. Fleeger, op erated the Alleghany Gun Works, Alleghany (now a suburb of Pittsburgh), Pa. The works were established in 1831, at Diamond Street, for over 30 years, whence they were moved to 49 Ohio St., in 1877. The firm made flintlock Kentucky rifles, and later sporting and target rifles to order.
FLEEK
 Barrville, Pa. Kentucky rifles.
FLEGEL, George
 Armorer, U. S. Arsenal, Phila., Pa., 1815. Listed as "Fleegal," Master Armourer in 1819. Inspector of Contract Arms, 1823, at plant of Asa Waters. Probably the "GF," in spector of arms at the Henry Deringer plant in 1814.
FLEGEL, J. G.
 Philadelphia, Pa. Listed as gunsmith at 221 St. John, in 1829.
FLEMING, I. W.
 Unlocated, possibly Ohio. Plain fullstock percus sion rifle, Joseph Manton lock.
FLEMING, Silas M.
 Exhibited a "fine rifle gun of his own manu facture" at the county fair at Richmond, Indiana, 1852.
Flohr & Wendell
Shotgun makers of San Francisco, Calif. Active 1858-60. A Flohr, E. Wendell.
FLOHR & WENDLER
 Sacramento, Calif. Muzzle-loading, needle fire 14 gauge shotgun.
FLOHR, A.
 Sacramento, Calif., 1851-1870. Fine muzzle and breech loaders, false-muzzle Schuetzen rifles.
FLOHR, Charles
 See Eckhart & Flohr.
FLOWERS, Charles
 Harmony, Pa. Beautiful percussion Kentucky rifles; never made flintlocks.
FOEHL, Chas.
 Philadelphia, Pa. Maker of a schuetzen type, per cussion target rifle. Swiss type butt cap with long under-arm projection. German silver furniture.
FOGELSANG, John
 Richland Co., Ohio. Early period of Ohio.
FOGERTY REPEATING RIFLE CO.
 Boston, Mass., about 1867. Renamed American Rifle Co. prior to 1869, when it sold out to Winchester.
Fogerty Repeating Rifle Co.
Boston, Mass. Manufacturers of V. Fogerty patent 1866 rifles, 1867 until taken over by Winchester in 1869.
Fogg, Gilman B.
Riflemaker of Manchester, N. H. Active 1859-75.
FOGG, Gilman E.
 Manchester, N. H. Designed spade-shaped rear sight aperture. Sixteen-pound percussion match rifle; small under hammer smoothbore.
FOGLE, Heinrich
 Lancaster, Pa., 1857.
FOHRER, Ludwig
 Pennsylvania, 1775-76. Musket maker to Com mittee of Safety.
FOILKE, Adam
 Also Foulke. Lehigh District, Pa., 1773-94. In association with John Young, supplied the Council of Safety with 130 rifles in 1776. Same as Faulk, Adam, maker of Ken tucky rifles? See Foulke, Adam.
FOLGER, W. H.
 Barsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, 1834. Came from Winchester, Va. "Gunsmithing in the wintertime."
Folger, William H.
 Riflemaker of Barnesville, Belmont county, . Active 1846-54.
FOLK, William
 Brian. Williams Co., Ohio, 1880-90. Operator of Folk's Gun Works.
Folk’s Gun Works
Bryan, Ohio. William Folk, active 1865-91. Produced shotguns.
FOLK'S GUN WORKS
 Bryan, Ohio, before 1880-90 and after .22 cal. target rifles. Shotguns.
FOLLECK, John
 Johnstown, N. Y., rifle makers, 1769-1775. One of four rifle makers induced by Sir William Johnson to come out and settle in New York State by grants of buildings and tools. By 1775 rifle making had become an enterprising industry with most of the settlers and Indians trading their smoothbores for rifled arms and New York was second only to Pennsylvania in their manufacture. By 1770 the population of Johnstown had grown to about five hundred people and the village comprized about one hundred dwellings, including stores, a gunsmith, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter's shop, two saw mills, a flour mill, a wagon shop, an Episcopal Church and a manor school.
FOLLECT
 Or Follecht. Lancaster, Pa. Kentucky rifles, about 1770.
Folsom Arms Co., H. & D.
Established i860 active to date, 314 Broadway, New York. Manufacturers of “New Field,” “New Victor,” “Club Hammerless.” In 1905 advertised as manufacturers of the American Gun Co. Line. Owners of the Baker Gun Co.
Folsom Bros*
9 Decatur St., New Orleans, La. Produced shotguns, 1870-75.
Folsom, Charles
Gunmaker, 53 Chambers, New York City, 1869-75, before and after. Dealer at 33 Maiden Lane, 1862-70.
FOLSOM, H. & CO.
 620-622 North Main St., St. Louis, Mo., mid 19th century. Gunsmith and sporting goods dealer; for a time in partnership with H. E. Dimick as Dimick & Folsom.
Folsom, Henry Folsom & Co.
Active as gunmaker, St. Louis, 1849 to 1875 or later. Associated with H. Dimick & Folsom, 1849-53, then H. Folsom & Co. thereafter.
FONCANNON, M. B.
 Columbus, Ohio, 1848. New Lexington, 1852-54.
Foncannon, M. B.
Riflemaker, Columbus, Ohio, 1848-49, New Lexington, 1850-54.
FONDERGRIFT
 Pennsylvania. Prior to 1783. Possibly same as John Vondergrift, Bucks County, Pa.
FONDERSMITH KENTUCKY TYPE
 Marking on the barrel of a heavy percussion rifle with bullet starter and back-action lock.
Fondersmith,
Riflemaker of Mason, Warren county, Ohio. Active 1847-54.
Fondersmith, John
Located in Strasburg, Lancaster county, Penna., in 1749. Assisted by a son, he produced arms for the colonials, 1775-78-
FONDERSMITH, John and Son
 Lancaster, Pa., 1749, to about 1800. Strasburg to about 1802. Made arms for the Pennsylvania troops during the Revolutionary War. Jan. 14, 1799, contracted with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 500 Charleville pattern, (Model 1795) muskets. On April 16, 1801, John Fondersmith, listed as of Strasburg, Pa., contracted for additional 500 muskets.
FONDERSMITH, Ludwig and Valentine
 Strasburg Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa., 1771-79. Also Fundersmith.
Fondersmith, Samuel
Riflemaker of Gratiot. Muskingum county, 1847-54.
FONSHILL, John
 Baltimore, Md., Union Street in 1816, North Street in 1819.
FOOT, A.
 Master Armorer Springfield Armory, 1818.
FOOT, N.
 Marking inside lock of Springfield musket dated 1810.
FORBES, Gilbert
 New York, N. Y., 1767-75.
Forbes, Gilbert
A skilled gunsmith located opposite Hull’s Tavern, 18 Broadway, New York, 1767. He was employed by Governor Tryon to make a number of rifles and muskets. Forbes, who was described as a “short, thick man with a white coat,” became involved in a plot to murder the American general officers, or at best to kill or capture General Washington. Gov. Tryon, from his secure place aboard the armed ship “Dutchess of Gordon,” spent the king’s money freely to advance the plot. Two members of the General's bodyguard were seduced but a third exposed the plot to his superiors. About fifteen conspirators, including Forbes, Mayor Matthews of the City of New York, and Thomas Hickey, a member of the General's guard, were taken. Hickey was convicted by a court-martial and publicly hanged in New York, June 27, 1776. Forbes turned state’s evidence but was forced to flee the scene.
FORBES, Nathan
 U. S. Inspector of Arms, 1799-1801.
FORD
 Unlocated. Barrel marking of a flintlock Kentucky rifle marked "F. LEAMING, PHILA. WARRANTED" on lock.
FORD, D.
 Abbeyville, Medina Co., Ohio, 1862-65.
FORD, J.
 Virginia, flintlock Kentucky rifles.
FORD, P. J.
 Torrington, Conn. Percussion rifle.
FORD, R. E. L.
 Great Smokey Mountains, Tenn. Fullstocked, per cussion, octagonal barrel "hog rifle" marked "Yellow Jacket Poison to Crossmarks, R.E.L. Ford, 1905."
Fordmey, Melchoir
Riflemaker of Lancaster, Pa. Active 1823 or earlier to 1831 or later. Henry E. Lehman entered the Fordney shop to serve his apprenticeship in 1828.
FORDNEY, C
 Cumberland, Md., about 1800-1830; flintlock Kentucky rifles.
FORDNEY, I.
 Unlocated, Kentucky rifles.
FORDNEY, Jacob
 Lancaster, Pa., gunsmith whose shop had been located at corner of Orange and Prince Streets. Born 1808, died at the age of 70. The family was of French, Huguenot, descent, from the Swiss-French border area. The name originally was Fortenieux, then Fortenee and finally became Fordney. Listed in Lancaster Directory in 1857. Had contracted with the govern ment Nov. 7, 1837, for 250 rifles for Indians at $13.00 each.
Fordney, Jacob
Riflemaker of Lancaster, Pa. Active 1837-57.
FORDNEY, JAMES
 Unlocated. Flintlock and percussion Kentucky rifles.
FORDNEY, Melchior
 Lancaster, Pa., early 19th century. Taught Henry E. Leman (q.v.) 1828-1831. Fine silver-mounted, relief carved flintlock Kentucky rifles.
Fore River Ship & Engine Co.
Quincy, Mass. Naval ordnance, 1900- °5-'
FOREHAND & WADSWORTH
 Worcester, Mass., 1871-November, 1890. Sullivan Forehand and H. C. Wadsworth, sons-in-law of Ethan Allen of the old firm of Ethan Allen & Co., and Allen & Wheelock before that. Revolvers and sporting rifles. See Allen & Wheelock. Sullivan Forehand was born in Croyden, N. H., Oct. 10, 1831. He became connected with Allen & Wheelock in 1860, and was admitted into the firm in 1865 as a partner. Mr. Forehand died in Worcester, June 7, 1898. Henry C. Wadsworth came to Worcester at the age of 21, entered the employ of Ethan Allen, and married his daughter, Laurette. Had served nine months during the Civil War in Co. "C," 51st Massachusetts Volunteers and was discharged as Ser geant. With Forehand, was admitted to the firm as a partner in 1865. Upon retirement from business was appointed vice-consul at Santos, Brazil, where he died of yellow fever in March, 1892.
Forehand & Wadsworth
Sons-in-law and successors to Ethan Allen. Allen died in 1871 and the firm name was changed from Ethan Allen & Co., to Forehand & Wadsworth the following year. About 1880 the name was changed to Forehand Arms Company and continued until 1902. Produced an army revolver like the Smith & Wesson except with solid frame. A number of these arms were tried by the government at the tests of 1875 but were not adopted. Patents of October 22, 1861 ; June 27; 1871 ; October 28, 1873. Produced rifles, shotguns and revolvers.
FOREHAND ARMS CO.
 Worcester, Mass., 1890-1900. Renamed from Forehand & Wadsworth. Makers of revolvers and sporting rifles. Sold out to Hopkins & Allen Mfg. Co., of Norwich, Conn. See Allen & Wheelock and Forehand & Wadsworth.
FORESTER
 Bristol, R. I. Maker of a "mule ear" lock, muzzle loading, percussion rifle.
Forker, I or J.
Riflemaker of Ravenna, Portage county, 0. Active 1859-66, before and after.
FORKER, J.
 Mercer, Pa. Percussion plains rifle.
FORKER, W. H.
 Ohio. Maker of a percussion sporting rifle.
Forker, W. H.
Riflemaker of Meadville, Pa., 1859-75, before and after.
FORKER, William
 Meadville, Pa., late percussion period.
FORREST, Casper
 Lancaster, Pa. 1857.
FORRKER, Samuel
 Meadville, Crawford Co., Pa.; flintlock rifles. Father of Wm. Forker.
Fort Pitt Cannon Co.
Pittsburg,*Pa. In 1803 a foundry was established here which later became one of the most famous sources of ordnance supply to the nation. It appears that the first cannon were produced in 1813 for arming the fleet of Commodore Hazard Perry. The need for haste and the difficulties of transporting artillery from eastern sources caused the government to draw upon the McClurg Foundry for the necessary cannon which were constructed and delivered. On February 21, 1814, a contract was secured by Joseph McClurg for 20 42-pounder carronades; 40 32-pounders; 20 24-pounders and 28 18-pounders complete with beds. Soon thereafter the plant was named the Fort Pitt Cannon Company. Various government contracts followed which continued through the Mexican and Civil Wars and until the last gun was delivered the government in 1874. In 1849 Lt. Thomas Jefferson Rodman devised and applied a process for casting large cannon in hollow form instead of in solid blocks to be bored subsequently. Based upon this system the first 20-inch gun constructed in the nation was competed in February, 1864, and more than two thousand pieces of heavy artillery were delivered to the federal government from 1861 to 1865. Although ordnance was discontinued in 1874 the firm continues to date as the Mackintosh-Hemphitt Company. (cl. p. 145, “History of Pittsburgh/ ' S. Killikelly, Pittsburg, 1906. p. 62, “Arms Fabricators/ ' Gardner, Columbus, 1934. pp. 16-17, “History of Manufacturers in the United States/ ' Clark, New York, 1929.)
FORTNEY, Peter
 Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, 1804.
FORTUNE, Thomas L.
 Mt. Pleasant, Kan.; 1850-60. Breech-loading shotgun.
FOSDICK, S. J.
 Laporte, Laporte Co., Indiana. Half stock plains rifle with Hunter lock, L. Warfield & Co. barrel, and J. Fehr, Naza reth, Pa., triggers. Non-professional maker?
FOSTER, "White"
 Columbia, Ohio, 1848-69. Limited production of rifles.
FOSTER, George
 Unlocated. Late period flintlock and percussion Kentucky rifles.
FOSTER, George P.
 Taunton, Mass., later Providence and Bristol, R. I. Made percussion Plains and Kentucky rifles for western trade, 1850 1855; made Klein's Patent (1849) bolt-action needle gun, aided development of Volcanic rifle, and made Porter turret rifles. Employed Horace Smith, D. B. Wesson, and C. D. Schu barth (q. v.) Failed in 1855 and went to Providence, there assembled and sold Porter rifles; Schubarth continued business for the assignees. Foster later was associated with Burnside at Bristol, making Klein rifles and Burnside carbines (patented 1856). Lacking capital they moved to Providence, and made Burnside carbines 1856-1857. Foster manufactured Howard patent breech-loading carbines after 1865.
FOSTER, John
 York Co., Pa. Kentucky rifles.
FOSTER, Joseph
 Pennsylvania, 1766-76. Musket maker to Committee of Safety.
FOTE, J.
 Unlocated. Flintlock Kentucky rifle.
FOTTRELL, Patrick
 Musket maker at the Pennsylvania State Gun Factory, 1776-78.
Fottrell, Patrick
Gunsmith, Shown on the roll of Capt. John Marshall's Company, Colonel John Bull's Regiment of Pennsylvania Foot, March 1, 1777, to May tsI, following. Except for this sixty- day interruption lie was employed at the State Gun Factory. May or may not have produced complete arms.
FOULKE
 Philadelphia, Pa. Marking on the lock of a Kentucky type flintlock pistol by J. Sees. "FOULKE PHILADELPHIA." May be Adam Foulke.
FOULKE, Adam
 Also Foilke. Lehigh District, Pa., 1773-94. In asso ciation with John Young, supplied the Council of Safety with 130 rifles in April, 1776. Located variously at Easton, Allentown and Philadelphia. May be the same as Faulk, Adam, maker of Kentucky rifles about 1775.
Foulkes, Adam
Gunsmith of Easton, Allentown and Philadelphia. In partnership with John Young supplied the Council of Safety with 130 rifles, April, 1776. Active 1773-94.
FOULKS, Wm.
 Pennsylvania; Kentucky rifle maker and scholar.
Four Lakes Ordnance Co.
Madison, Wisconsin. Wartime setup producing naval guns 1917-19.
FOWLER, J. S.
 Unlocated. Plain, half-stock percussion rifle.
FOWLER, L. Jr.
 Unlocated. Conn. 1835-1838. Percussion pistols made in Connecticut State Prison.
FOWLER, STACY
 Philadelphia, Pa. Listed at St. John, near Poplar in 1829.
Fox Gun Co., A. H.
-Shotgun manufacturers of Philadelphia. Formerly the Philadelphia Arms Company and now a subsidiary of Savage Arms Co. During the World War produced 4193 25111m Very pistols for the government.
FOX, B. & CO.
 Lancaster, Pa. Over-under percussion rifle-shotgun.
FOX, H.
 Frewsburg, N. Y. Percussion rifles.
FOX, H. A.
 69 Jackson St., San Francisco, Calif., 1858, (with P. B. Comins?), 112 Washington St., 1859-60, (with Bogart Bros.?).
FOX, Horace
 Hydetown, Pa.; also Corry and Fredensburg, Pa. A. 3-barrel revolving percussion arm.
FOX, R.
 Corry, Penna., making Kentucky rifles in 1837. Fine per cussion target rifle.

FRAILEY, Andrew J*
 Lancaster, Pa., 1857.
FRAIZER, A.
 Pennsylvania riflesmith, late 18th and early 19th cen tury; believed to have spent the latter part of his life in Ohio. Fine Kentucky flintlock rifles.
FRANCE, J. A.
 Cobbleskill, N. Y., percussion period.
FRANCK
 Lancaster, Pa., Kentucky rifles about 1775.
FRANK, I.
 Unlocated. Marking on No. Penna. percussion Kentucky rifle.
Frankford Arsenal
Philadelphia. Established 18/ 5. Small arms ammunition of all types, fire-control and range-finding instruments and gauges for these components arc produced here. This establishment embraces 92 acres and about 150 buildings and represents a capital investment of 825,000,000.
FRAVEL, J.
 -Unlocated. Percussion rifle.
Frazer & Colby
Gunmakers of St. Peter, Nichollet county, Minn., 1864-65. A short-lived partnership, C. D. Colby continued alone after 1865.
FRAZIER & COLBY
 St. Peter, Nicolett Co., Minn., 1864-65.
FRAZIER, Henry
 Gunsmith. Bronx Township, Knox Co., Ohio, 1840 50.
FRAZIER, John
 Gunsmith and licensed Indian trader of Scotch birth. A former resident of Lancaster County in 1750, he settled at Venango (now Franklin), Venango Co., Pa. In the spring of 1753, he warned the traders of the French invasion and moved to the mouth of Turtle Creek at its confluence with the Monon gahela. The Braddock massacre was within sight of his house.
FREDERICK, John
 Gouglarsville, Pa., 1859-1879.
FREDERICKSBURG ARMORY
 See Virginia Public Gun Factory.
Fredericksburg Gun Factory
Established by Colonel Fielding Lewis and Major Charles Dick in 1775 for the State of Virginia. Remained in operation until March, 1781, or later.
FREDERICKTOWN MANUFACTORY
 Maryland. Also The Gun Lock Manufactory in Frederick Town. Believed to have been established as a gun lock factory late in 1775 or early in 1776. Reported to have been able to turn out rough gun lock forgings faster than it could put the finish on them. John Yost, musket and rifle contractor to Committee of Safety asked the Committee for authority to purchase from the Manufactory 300 rough locks to be finished in his own shops.
FREDRIC, F. op J.
 Pennsylvania; Kentucky rifles.
FREE, Wm. H. & Son
 Bellvue, Iowa, 1870-1923.
FREEMAN, Austin H.
 Patentee of percussion revolvers made at Hoard's Armory, Watertown, N. Y.
FREEMAN, Robert
 Sequatchie Valley, Tenn. 20th century mountain gunsmith; expert gunstocker.
FREEMAN, W. C
 Worcester, Mass., maker of Joslyn patent percussion revolvers marked "B. F. JOSLYN, WORCESTER, MASS." See Joslyn Fire Arms Co.
FRENCH, BLAKE & KINSLEY
 Thomas French, . . . Blake and Adam Kinsley, musket makers. Contractors of Oct. 20, 1808, for 4,000 Model 1808 muskets. Duration five years. Of these 2,175 were reported delivered by Oct. 7, 1812.
French, Blake & Kinsley
Gunmakers of Canton, Mass. Received a government contract October 20, 1808, 4,000 flintlock muskets at $10.75. Ry September 30, 1810, had delivered 500. For the year ending Sq)tember 30, 1811, delivered 1,050. The report for October 7, 1812, indicated they had delivered 625 additional or a total of 2,175 with a balance due of 1,825. In a bill submitted to the Committee of Claims, March 14, 1818, it appears that the total contracted for had been delivered. The exacting demands of the government inspector at Boston had forced the contractors to produce a musket which caused this contract to be unprofitable to the makers. Kinsley and French accordingly petitioned for remuneration for the added expense. Blake is not mentioned. The Committee of Claims reported a bill which stales in part: “It is satisfactorily proved to the Committee, that the inspectors on behalf of the United States did require and receive of the petitioners, arms of a superior quality to those they were bound by contract to deliver.“ A voucher was accordingly issued for the difference between the contract price of $10.75 aiid $14 00 a stand. Thomas French was born 1778, died 1862. Kinsley’s given name was Adam. A number of the muskets delivered are marked “T. French, Canton, 1810.“
FRENCH, THOMAS
 Canton, Mass., 1778-1825. Musket and pistol maker. In association with . . . Blake and Adam Kinsley con tracted for 4,000 muskets Model 1808 on Oct. 20, 1808. See French, Blake & Kinsley. Born 1778, died 1862.
FRESH, J.
 Altoona region, Pa. Curly maple, full stock, percussion rifle.
Freund, C.
“Wyoming Armory” Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, 1873-82.’
FREUND, Frank
W Jersey City, N. J., about 1880; later Cheyenne, Wyo., Denver and Durango, Colo., and (?) Casper, Wyo. Inventor of hammerless breech-loading sporting rifle with dummy ham mer; remodeled Sharps rifles with patent breechlock.
FREUND, George C.
 Flintlock rifle with lock on left side and wood patch box.
FRIAR NEWLIN & CO.
 Unlocated. Full stock smoothbore Ken tucky rifle.
FRICKEY, Samuel
 Charlotte St., New York, N. Y. 1801.
Frisbee, J.
Riflemaker of Cork, Ashtabula county, Ohio. Active 1848-54.
FRISH, A. D.
 Unlocated. Rifle maker, (or Frist?)
FROCK, J.
 Pennsylvania. Fine, highly decorated Kentucky rifles.
Froher, Ludwig
A Committee of Safety musket maker of Pennsylvania, I775-76-
FRONG, E. ML & TAYLOR
 Cincinnati, Ohio. Breech-loading rifle with barrel turning left to load.
FROST, Gideon
 Committee of Safety musket maker of Massachu setts, 1775-76. Employed eight hands in 1775.
Frost, Gideon
A Committee of Safety musket maker of Mass. On July 12, 1775, Benjamin Guillen was appointed master armourer to the Frost Works by Provincial Congress. At that time the shop employed eight hands.
FRY, Edward
 Son of Joseph Fry born about 1870. Born July 16, 1869. Still living on his father's farm. Does some gun work using his father's equipment.
FRY, Francis
 Doniphan County, Kan., 1855.
Fry, Francis
Riflemaker of Doniphan county, Kansas, 1855.
FRY, George
 Hopewell Township, Bedford Co., Pa., 1840.
FRY, John
 Washington Furnace, Westmoreland Co., Pa. Rendered bills in 1853 for repairing guns and for a "smoth rifle" at $12.00. Same as John Fry of Ligonier?
FRY, John
 Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., Pa., gunsmith. Born in 1820, east of Ligonier. Worked with his brother Joseph in Ligonier in rear of 301 E. Main Street. Later (about 1868-70) moved to Johnstown, Pa., where he worked at gunsmithing for several years, started pulling teeth and making dental instru ments and eventually became a dentist. Preferred to make full stock rifles, 7-groove, bar action locks. Made his own locks, triggers and mountings. Marked his rifles "J. FRY" in script on top of barrel. Died before the Johnstown flood of 1889.
FRY, Joseph
 Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., Pa. Brother of John Fry. Worked with his brother in rear of 301 E. Main St., sharing equipment. Preferred to make half stocked rifles rifled with 8 grooves. Made his own locks and mountings. Bought English smooth bored barrel blanks from J. H. Johnston in Pittsburgh, at $3.00 each. Signed his barrels "JOS FRY" first in script, later in block letters. Eventually purchased a farm on hillside border ing Ligonier and moved his equipment there, into building he had erected. Born 1825, died in the spring of 1891.
FRY, M.
 Probably Pennsylvania and believed related to John and Joseph Fry. Early flintlock rifle with bayonet stud. Also marked inside a "LETHER & CO," "CP" Penna contract of 1798, musket lock. Also marking on M.1808 contract pistol, "M.FRY."
FRYE, Martin
 Contractor with Tench Coxe, Purveyor of Public Supplies for 54 horsemens pistols, 2nd quarter 1809. Probably identical with M.FRY.
FULCHER, G. G.
 Unlocated. Kentucky rifle.
FULERTON, F. W.
 St. Paul, Minn. 1920. .22 cal. Target pistol.
Fuller, E. F.
Riflemaker of St. Clair, Michigan, 1858-67.
FUNDERSMITH, Ludwig and Valentine
 Strasburg Township, Lan caster Co., Pa., 1771-79. Also Fondersmith.
FUNK, Jacob
 Muskigum Co., Ohio, prior to 1812. Armorer, sword smith.
FUNK, M.
 Cove, Pa. Over-under percussion rifle.
Furby, George
Gunmaker of Waterford, Vermont, from before the Civil War until 1868 or later.
FURNEY, William
 Mahoning Co., Ohio, 1815. Repaired arms.


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