Flintlock rifle c. 1785 - 1790

This Flintlock rifle was made by Jacob Dickert, a Pennsylvania gunsmith, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. Dickert was known for the quality of his rifles, which were prized by frontiersmen and hunters. The rifle is made from a combination of materials, including a long, slender wooden stock, likely of maple. The metal parts, such as the barrel, lock, and trigger guard, are made of iron or steel. The rifle's design reflects the practical needs of its users: its long barrel provided accuracy at a distance, while its flintlock mechanism allowed for reliable ignition in the wilderness. The making of a rifle like this involved a wide range of skills. Gunsmiths like Dickert were highly skilled artisans who combined metalworking, woodworking, and a knowledge of ballistics to create functional and beautiful objects. The production of rifles in early America was closely tied to the expansion of European settlement and the displacement of Native American populations. While rifles could be works of art, they were also tools of conflict and conquest. So when you look at this rifle, you're seeing the legacy of craft skill, but also a complex history of violence and dispossession.