ARTICLE'S - 11 & 12
"Muzzleloading's American Roots"
Article post; courtesy of:
CVA Muzzleloaders
The first brave immigrants to the American wilderness would have been lost without their muzzleloaders - the means of providing food and protection for their families. Though the early colonists gave much attention to their rifles, breakdowns were inevitable, and the special needs of the frontier demanded adaptations and original designs. And so the American gunsmith was born, an inventive genius who took the best features of English, Dutch and German rifles to create still more accurate and dependable guns. Like the Kentucky Rifle, adapted from the German Jaeger and English Long Fowler, with a longer barrel better suited for sighting in dim eastern forests.
By 1850, most American firearms were factory made, and the highly skilled gunsmith would soon away. But the colonists, the American revolutionists, the wilderness settlers, the Civil War soldiers and the restless Western pioneers all respected and depended on the muzzleloader as an indispensable tool.
"Muzzleloading is Contagious"
Blackpowder shooting is whatever you want it to be. If you want to relive the past, then a traditional sidelock is the way to go. If ease of operation and worry-free dependability are your priorities, one of the more modern in- line models might better suit your needs. Either way, muzzleloading is a thrilling sport, a fascinating craft and, for some, it's a whole new way of life.
CVA muzzleloaders combine a respect for traditional American standards with an appreciation for our pioneering past. Sidelock or in-Line, we offer accuracy and performance features found on custom-made guns at a reasonable price. And we stand behind our broad line of finished guns, build- it-yourself kits, and accessories.