Artisan Field Trip with Gunmaker Mitch Yates (Part 2)

Miss our first Artisan Field Trip with Mitch Yates? Watch Part 1 for an introduction into his work with the Museum.

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As part of the Museum’s Artisan Field Trip series, featuring interviews with living history artisans and makers as they demonstrate their Revolutionary-era crafts, Museum Gallery Interpretation Manager Tyler Putman caught up with gunmaker Mitch Yates to discuss Yates' work on producing a highly accurate reproduction of an extremely rare 1775 John Christian Oerter (also known in German as Johann Christian Oerter) rifle for the Museum to use for public and educational programs.

Yates, who called the Oerter rifle a “Holy Grail” for him, spoke with Putman about the work he recently completed on the reproducing the decorative brass wire inlay found on Oerter's rifle. Plus, don't miss behind-the-scenes clips of Yates' work!

Learn more about gunmaker Mitch Yates and his work at mitchyatesgunmaker.com and on Facebook at J. Mitchell Yates Colonial American Artist.

Read more about a rare Revolutionary-era rifle made by Oerter that was returned to its owner, the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, in a ceremony at the Museum in November 2019.

The Museum is grateful to the Contemporary Longrifle Association and their members for their support of this project.