Gunsmith
Colonial gunsmiths were highly skilled tradesmen who worked with both metal and wood to repair firearms and tools and, in some cases, produce specialized American rifles.
A Skilled Colonial Trade
Being a gunsmith in colonial America required several specialized skills in working with metal and wood. Apprenticeships for learning the trade could take up to seven years. Colonial gunsmiths mainly repaired guns, axes, and other metal tools because most firearms were imported from England because they were cheaper.
How Firearms Were Made
In England, gunsmiths specialized in making one or two parts such as the barrel (the long tube through which the bullet passes), stock (the wooden part of the gun that serves as the grip and holds the firing mechanisms), or firelock (the firing mechanism). This kept production high and costs low and also marked the infancy stage of what came to be known as the assembly line system of production.
What Was a Flintlock?
In colonial America and England, most of the guns in existence were flintlocks. A flintlock was a piece of flint set in a moveable cock. When the trigger was pulled, the cock fell causing the flint to strike a piece of steel, creating sparks. The sparks would come in contact with the gunpowder which would ignite the main charge in the barrel.
Why Guns Were Important
Guns were more important in colonial America than they are today in America. Colonists needed guns to hunt for their food, and if necessary, protect themselves from Native Americans (in frontier lands).
The American Long Rifle
American gunsmiths, however, did produce the long rifle, a hunting rifle used in America’s frontier lands, particularly Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The long rifle allowed hunters to kill deer from long distances.
Explore the Colonial Town
Click a shop or building on the map to learn about another colonial trade.
