Melchoir Fordney Rifle
This rifle is an exacting copy of a rifle by Melchoir Fordney.  The original is displayed by the Lancaster Historical society, Lancaster, PA.  The beautifully figured piece of curly maple was faithfully carved as Fordney had done on the original.  The patchbox was handcut as well as the inlays.  The cheekpiece inlay is of a swan in a PA Dutch motif.  The gun was supplied along with a copy of a court transcript of the trial of Jos. Haggerty, who murdered this accomplished gunsmith in the early 1800’s.  (Haggerty was found guilty, but insane…he was hanged none the less.)