PENNSBURG PA – An “extraordinary collection” of early southeastern Pennsylvania Longrifles, assembled in a collaboration between the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center and the Kentucky Rifle Foundation, is now on display at the center through Oct. 18 (2026; Sunday).
Located at 105 Seminary St., the heritage center has worked with the foundation to provide what they describe as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to see the early, historic rifles. Many are from private collections and have never been displayed, including three that are newly discovered and unrecorded.
The exhibition is titled “Southeastern Pennsylvania Longrifles – The Early Years.” It showcases regional design influences by highlighting the German and immigrant cultures of Bethlehem, Reading, and Lancaster. Additionally, three educational programs are scheduled during August and October to coincide with the display.
Guest curator Harry Nowak organized the exhibit. Support from the foundation, a grant from the federal Institute of Museum & Library Services, and the assistance of several generous individuals made the display possible.
Photo by Kenneth Orr, provided by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation
A Full-Day Aug. 22 Symposium
The first of the three programs is set for Aug. 22 (Saturday). It is a full-day symposium, free and open to the public, also thanks to an Institute of Museum & Library Services grant. The symposium features four speakers:
- Curator Nowak will discuss the Caspar Wistar papers, covering the early evolution of the Longrifle;
- Scott Paul Gordon, historian of early Pennsylvania Moravian communities, will talk about the German immigrant culture of southeast Pennsylvania;
- Tim Hodges, director of the Kentucky Rifle Foundation, will address the use of Baroque and Rococo art on early rifles; and
- Collector Art DeCamp will further discuss regional techniques and design of the Longrifle.
In-person attendance at the event is already filled, but those interested have two other options. They can register to be on a waiting list for the in-person program, or attend virtually by requesting a Zoom live video link using a form now available online.
Two Other Workshops Planned
Also part of the longrifles exhibit programming are two additional workshops.
On Aug. 23 (Sunday), a technical workshop on “Measuring and Recreating the Wm. Antes Swivel Rifle” will be held from 1:30 to 3:30pm. This workshop focuses on the process of building and documenting early Kentucky rifles, by studying the re-creation of the William Antes swivel breech rifle owned by the Kansas State Museum of History.
Dr. William Paton of the Kentucky Rifle Association and master craftsman Randy Steffy will describe their collaboration in making the bench (handmade) copy. It and another William Antes rifle will be on exhibit during the program. The workshop is considered “a must-attend” for early Longrifle and local Antes family enthusiasts.
Seating is limited, and a $10 fee is being charged. Advance registration is necessary. Call 215-679-3103 to register, or use the shopping cart available online.
On Oct. 3 (Saturday) the Schwenkfelder also will conduct a family-oriented workshop. It will explain how the Pennsylvania Longrifle was essential to life on the frontier.
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is the largest museum in southeastern Pennsylvania. It offers stories of the Pennsylvania German experience.
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