Kentucky Gunmakers Epilogue
Kentucky Gunmakers Epilogue is a hard-cover wrap-up volume to Kentucky Gunmakers Volumes 1 & 2. It fills in research gaps, identifies two new schools of Kentucky gunmaking, and illustrates rifles from all known schools in detailed photographs. Combined with the original two-volume set, it offers the most thorough study available today on Kentucky’s early gunmaking history.
About Kentucky Gunmakers Epilogue
Since Kentucky Gunmakers 1775-1900 Volumes 1 & 2 was published in 2012, ongoing research identified gaps that required Epilogue. It is not a stand-alone volume, but a complement to the first two volumes, Volume 1: Gunmaking History and Volume 2: Biographies. It presents new discoveries and wraps up loose ends in the first publication. Epilogue also identifies two new schools of Kentucky gunmaking and adds over 250 new names to the list of early Kentucky gunmakers. It is likely that the vast majority of Kentucky’s gunmakers are now documented and all major schools of gunmaking identified. Epilogue’s significant additions are in three parts:
Part A: The lives of Kentucky gunsmiths are explored, including: newly identified 18th century gunsmiths; black gunsmiths in Kentucky; gunsmiths’ many skills; injuries and deaths suffered by gunsmiths; significant updates on important gunsmiths; gunsmithing dynasties in Kentucky; and interesting anecdotes.
Part B: Updates and major discoveries in each of Kentucky’s known gunmaking schools, including the new Clark County and Cumberland Schools, with significant rifles from each school presented in large photos.
Part C: Over 250 newly discovered gunsmiths are documented, increasing Kentucky’s known muzzle loading era gunsmiths to more than 1,350. In addition, the biographies of over 230 previously documented gunsmiths have been significantly expanded.