James & John W Rinehart Gunsmiths

                                     

James & John Rinehart were sons of Abraham  & Mary Rinehart. James Rinehart, born 1811 in Virginia, Died 1883. James Rinehart was a Gunsmith in Hampshire County WV, (VA) from at least 1835-1848. In about 1848 he left Hampshire County to go West to Ross County Ohio. While in Hampshire County James bought Zebulon Sheetz's land.  More than likely this included Zebulon's gun shop, located on Cold Stream road near Capon Bridge.  Very probable that James apprenticed to Zebulon.  James usually marked his guns, J R on barrel flat in block letters. While his brother John W Rinehart would sign his JWR or J W Rinehart in script.  One thing of note, there seems to be more surviving Rinehart Rifles  than  those of any other maker from Hampshire County.  Hampshire County makers were rather fond of the acorn patchbox & Roman nose.  These two features became popular in HC from about 1825 or a little later through the end of gun-making in Hampshire County.

                                     Click Images for Large Image

                                       

J R 

                                                                     J R

The Above Tracings Taken From Two Rinehart Rifles.

John W Rinehart born 1826 , made rifles in Hampshire County up to and into the early 1850s. While here he was a most proficient maker if the number of surviving rifles are an indicator.  He also shared the art of gun making with others.  We believe that Nathaniel Oats, Benjamin Shane & Michael Rannels learned the trade from John.  All four can be found living in the same house in the 1850 census. In 1852 John pawned some  belongings to Nathaniel Offutt, it was about this same time he left Hampshire County.   John Rinehart went West as many gunsmiths from the East had done.  We find him making rifles in Lexington Missouri in 1860. He is listed as a gunsmith in the 1860 census. In the 1880 census he is listed as merchant. The rifle pictured  below, signed J W Rinehart is one he made while in Missouri.

                                     

J W Rinehart

J W R 

John died in 1893 in Lexington Missouri.

We will add more photos of their work in the next few weeks. If you have  photos of their rifles or portraits we would greatly appreciate.

Thanks to those who worked with us on this.

THANKS TO THE COLLECTORS WHO ALLOWED US TO POST PICTURES OF THEIR RIFLES.  PLEASE DO NOT COPY.

                                        

                              

George W Glaze Part II

Here is another high relief carved rifle by Glaze in attic condition with minimal conservancy.

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Glaze signed in silver inlay on top of barrel. 

Seven pierced patchbox, with  different panel designs and completely different engraving  of the Glaze rifle in part I.  

39.5 inch barrel. .44 caliber.

Superb high relief carving. 

Engraved eagle in silver oval in cheek-piece. The eagle represents freedom. 

 Engraved brass side plate. 

Brass vent pick holder & hash marks on molding of cheek piece. 

Silver fore stock inlay.  Incised carving is placed in panels between inlays.

Ketland & Adams  flintlock converted to percussion  using Bedford hammer. 

Fore-stock molding. 

Carved termination of fore stock molding. 

Nicely done engraving on the brass toe plate.

Below is yet another high relief Glaze rifle.

Artistic wonderful   engraved silver inlays, with over the top high relief carving. 

Unmolested as found. 

"Rare" nine piercings in yet another beautifully  engraved patchbox by Glaze.

Altered during period of use to half-stock. 

Signed Glaze.

The following rifle is  one of his earlier guns. You can also see it on page 33 in " Long Rifles of Virginia" by Butler & Whisker.  The barrel is 41 " long, but no doubt cut sometime. The flintlock is a reconversion. 

                                                                     

Engraved brass patch box. Push button release. 

Incised molding. 

Very low relief carving. You can see the influence of the Lauck shop in Winchester Virginia. 

Early style side plate with counter sunk bolt holes. 

Single Trigger.

                                                          Remnants of carving.

The last rifle in this group of Glaze rifles is one of his later rifles. While some in the past may have thought this a late Maryland rifle, we believe that it is an Indiana Rifle. This rifle was made during a period when many if not most  rifles were  more utilitarian , he still produced a refined product.

G W Glaze

He changed his signature a little from earlier guns.

George was not afraid to do different styles, this expanded panel patch box is unlike any we have seen on other rifles by him.

This box has a friction release, while others he made may  have a hidden release, or a push button through the toe plate. Again, he did not cast his rifles in a mold. 

Incised carving near the entry pipe.

A very long slender rifle, sporting a 45" barrel.

Incised carved molding.

Nicely engraved side plate.

Double set trigger.

More of the Midwestern style or contour.

Double spur brass trigger guard. 

.31 caliber,  rifling still sharp

Deep incised carving.

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 GLAZE KENTUCKY PISTOL

As many of you know a genuine antique Kentucky pistol is very hard to find.  Discovering a  signed Virginia/WV specimen  would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. I would think one  in original condition , with the original W. Ketland & Co. flintlock, is a gift from Divine Providence.


The following George W Glaze pistol was made about 1810,  at Glazes gun shop along the South Branch of the Potomac 3 miles from Springfield WV.
                                                                   

W. Ketland & Co. Flintlock

8.5"  barrel 48 caliber.

G W Glaze

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the wonderful work of George W Glaze. Thanks to the collectors who shared  them with us.
Please do not reproduce pictures.
JDM BMS