Kentucky Long RiflesEvolved from mass-produced, short, heavy,
large bore, "Jaeger" rifles brought to North America by German
colonists, the Kentucky long rifle was designed to meet the
challenges of a game-fraught and often dangerous new world.
Around the mid-18th century, the rifle developed a long
octagonal barrel and smaller bore for taking better aim. The
slender slope of the beautiful native-wood stock (primarily
tiger maple) was carved with shoulder pads and a deep crescent
butt plate so that it would comfortable to shoot, lighter to
carry, and pleasing to the eye. The right side of the rifle's
rear-end handle was fitted with a clever new feature - a long
narrow box cut into the wood for carrying greased wad patches
necessary for shooting. The brass-hinged cover on these
"patchboxes" were plain in the beginning but soon this
distinctive feature on Kentucky rifles was fashioned in
elaborate rococo design with fancy engraving. Often, the left
side of the stock was carved with "C" and "S" and foliate scrol