One of the best things we saw during our visit to the History Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke on Saturday was a musket rifle made by John Painter.
John Painter is my great-great-great grandfather on my mother's side. He was a gunsmith of some renown here in our area.
The rifle was huge. It was about five feet long. I don't know how men carried those things and shot with any accuracy.
I have seen one or two of his guns before but they are rare finds. This one was on loan from the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College. I know of a couple in private hands but all told, this is a very rare thing to see.
Rarer still for it be a musket made by my ancestor.
It was behind glass, so the pictures aren't very good.
How exciting is that! A rifle as tall as me!
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a firearm and what a history! How incredible for you to have this piece of history.
ReplyDeleteJohn Painter is my great great grandfather as well. Have long wanted one of his rifles. I suspect we are related
ReplyDeleteJohn Painter is also my great, great grandfather. His son, George Washington Painter was my great grandfather. His son, Earnest Marshall Painter was my grandaddy.
ReplyDeleteWell then, we are cousins, as George Washington Painter is also my great-great grandfather via his daughter, Sallie Newton Painter.
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