Research on New York Gunmaker?

[Ralph Meisse]

Hi All,

I am new to this group and I hope I am in the right section.

I am trying to learn something about a gunmaker from NY state. I am told that this man was upstate somewhere. He built a friend of mine, [who has since gone to the happy hunting ground], three Kentucky type rifles.

I don't know how long ago he made these guns but I do know that he was a pretty good builder, at least I think so. Over the last 25 years, I have had the good fortune to buy all three and hunt every year with two of them. The first two are flint locks and don't belong in this catagory, but the third one was made for this man's wife in cap lock.

His name is or was M. Mattesen. The only way I know his name is he signed the ladies gun with his name and the lady the gun was built for. Pretty neat little gun. The patch box is in brass and the shape of a lady in a period dress. The rest of the gun has inlays and a moon on the check rest and so on.

I will try to take some pictures and post them on here-----as soon as I figure how to do that. Anyway, acn anybody out there help me with this info I'm looking for?

Thanks,
Big Ralph

 

[Coot]

I do not see his name on the list of known builders on the Contemporary Longrifle Association website so I cannot help you with info there. There have been (and still are) numbers of builders that never joined the CLA or produced enough guns to be known outside of their immediate circle. Hopefully the name will ring a bell with others.

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Hi Coot,

Thanks so much for trying to help. How far back in years does that list of names go? I have another gun I am going to be asking you about in the near future. I have to dig it out of the closet and get the info on it right.

One more question about the first gun. When I post pics, do I do that on this thread or in the photo section?

Thanks,
Big Ralph

 

[Coot]

Photos relating to this thread should go in this thread. That way we can see what you are talking about & hopefully someone will have an answer. Re the CLA list, I do not know how far back it goes but it is far from a complete list of builders (which will likely never exist anyway).

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Hi Coot,

Well here goes. Let's see if I did this right. If I didn't,I'll have to try again. Anyway, this is the gun or one of them by that NY gunmaker.

Big Ralph

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[Dirk Perry]

Love that box, (scuse the pun :redface: )

 

[Zonie]

Boy!
I'm a bettin that patch box raised a few eyebrows back in the day! :hmm: