Percussion Longrifle

Joseph Douglass Jr.

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Huntingdon County longrifles represent one of the last stages of the American longrifle tradition. This example displays the major characteristics of a Huntingdon County rifle: slimmer architecture, particularly the small, thin buttstock, which has straight lines on the top and bottom; a deeply engraved patch box with a concealed hinge; an absence of incised or relief carving; a large number of engraved silver inlays (thirty in this case); and a heavy .40 caliber barrel.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art