While attending a recent antique longrifle show, we came across this display. The owner of this historical rifle display graciously allowed us to photograph and gave us permission to post the photos here. We will let the display tell the story.
Peter M Thrush born 1814 died in 1889. Peter was a gunsmith in the Burlington area from at least 1850 to his death. He is listed as a gunsmith in the 1850,1870 & 1880 Mineral County census. We have seen less than half a dozen rifles made by him. One was signed Peter M Thrush in the script, the other rifles were signed P M T one in block letter and the remaining in script. All of the rifles we have seen were percussion and most likely he never built many if any flintlocks as he was active during the percussion period.
William Britton was born in Maryland in 1794. Worked at Harpers Ferry Arsenal. In the 1850 Hampshire County census, present-day...
