Patchbox Sunday #6 Sheetz

 The following patchbox rubbings are from rifles made by the Sheetz Family of gunmakers. 

The following three patchboxes were made by Michael Sheetz of Charles Town WV.  Michael was born February 28, 1781, and died July 9, 1836.  He was the son of Henry Sheetz.  Michael's son Jacob built guns in Hampshire County. 

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                                Michael signed his rifles in block letters M. Sheetz

M. Sheetz

The following patchboxes were made by Jacob Sheetz of Hampshire County

The image at the top in the above rubbing is a capbox. These rectangular cheekside capboxes are almost exclusive to Hampshire County and we seldom see them on percussion rifles from other areas.  For clearer reference see the image below.

The following patchbox rubbings were taken from rifles made by Frederick Sheetz. 

                                                                                    

The patchbox below is attributed to John Jacob Sheetz of Shepherdstown, son of Philip and brother to Martin.  John Jacob most likely apprenticed to Martin since Philip died when John Jacob, was only 8 years old.                                                             

                                                                                

Cheek Side Relief Carving

The following group were made by William Miller Sheetz sr.  He was the son of John Jacob Sheetz.  William Miller Sheetz made his rifles in the Sheetz Shop in Shepherdstown. this was the same shop where his grandfather Philip & Uncle Martin worked.  William died in 1866 of typhoid fever at 55 years of age. 

                                                                                 

                             W M Sheetz numbered his rifles, this one may be #59 

                                                                                     

                                                                                  
                                   Hope you enjoyed viewing these, JDM & BMS
                                               Our First Patchbox Sunday

                                                    

Patchbox Sunday #5 John Crummey

Patchbox rubbings from John Crummey rifles.  John Crummey born 1788 died 1857.   He was a gunsmith in the early 1800s in Rockingham County Virginia.  He is listed as a gunsmith in tax records from 1805-1832.  From the book "Historic Harrisonburg", " The ball & fish weathervane mounted atop the courthouse built in 1833-34 was made by John Crummey assisted by George Logan".   In the 1851 and 1854 census records of Iowa, there is a John Crummey born 1788 from Virginia.  In 1852 this John Crummey married Sarah Robbins in Iowa City.  In the 1856 census of Iowa, John is 68 and Sarah is 58.  He died August 5, 1857, in Iowa City.   More research is needed & if you have any more information on him, please let us know.   

                                                                 Click Image to Enlarge

                                          See photos of a  John Crummey rifle. 

                                     Hope you enjoyed this, JDM & BMS

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Patchbox Sunday #4 George Young

                    Here are three patchbox rubbings taking from signed George Young rifles.  

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For more information click G. Young

Here is our Our First Patchbox Sunday

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Patchbox Sunday #3

           The following patchbox rubbings were taken from rifles made by  Benjamin Franklin Shane.

                                                                        

Benjamin Franklin Shane was a Hampshire County gunmaker on Cold Stream Road near Capon Bridge circa 1850.  For more info BFS.     

                                                    Hope You Found These of Interest.

                                                           Thanks, JDM & BMS...

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Patchbox Sunday # 2

The following group of rubbings  were taken  from rifles made by the  Lauck Gunsmiths of Winchester Virginia.  The Lauck family  were active in the gunmaking trade in Winchester from 1788-1875.  Simon Lauck was born  1760 in Pennsylvania and became a gunsmith while living there.  He opened his shop in Winchester in 1788 and died in 1815.  Several of his sons were trained gunsmiths and worked in the Lauck shop until about 1875.  Simon trained many apprentices and employeed journeymen gunsmiths that carried his style throughout the valley and westward.  Hampshire County gunsmiths, Frederick Sheetz and George W Glaze worked in Lauck's shop.  (1) Nicholas Chisler from Morgantown, Monongalia County also worked in Laucks shop. (1) Other Virginia makers who were at  Lauck's shop before going to other areas of Virginia to practice the art of gunsmithing, were John Sheets, Augusta County,  Jacob Funk and Henry Stair. 

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Hope you enjoy these images, Thanks JDM

(1) Van Pitman Research 

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Our First Patchbox Sunday

 One of the best gifts I have been blessed with is a collection of patchbox rubbings from an old friend.  Fortunately for us our friend pursued this interest with vigor and we have several Virginia related images from these efforts.  The Opportunity to view and study these rubbings are a blessing to those who want to get a better understanding of rifles built in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas.  The percussion era pieces by gunsmiths who apprenticed to and influenced by these same people that came before them can be seen in their work.  These rubbings gathered from the 1950's through the early 2000's are an affectionate study of valley pieces,  painstakingly made using  onion skin paper to garner these renderings.  We will try to post at least one or more each Sunday for a few weeks. 

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Simon Lauck Winchester Virginia

Circa 1800 

                                                               Rococo Relief Carving 

Simon Lauck Winchester Virginia

Godfrey Wilkin Shenandoah County

Cabinet Maker & Gunsmith

Circa 1800

Hope you find these of interest, Thank You, JDM 

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