Musket Made at Rappahannock Forge

A Virginia soldier probably carried this musket during the Revolutionary War. Made at Rappahannock Forge near Fredericksburg, Virginia, this musket is a copy of a British Army musket from the period. Only a few muskets made at Rappahannock Forge are known to survive. All are engraved “I Hunter” on their barrels, referring to James Hunter, a wealthy Virginia merchant who owned Rappahannock Forge (the letter “I” was often used in place of the letter “J” during the 1700s). Enslaved and free workers at Rappahannock Forge made pistols, muskets, swords, and camp equipment for the American Army. James Hunter employed several Pennsylvania gunsmiths, including Joseph Perkin who worked at the forge from 1775-1778. Perkin’s initials are marked on the interior of this musket’s lock plate.