He said this was indeed a late George Kopp rifle, typical of his post-civil war work. George had started using parts from catalogs in some of his later work, thus the "toilet seat" commercial patch box.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Late George Kopp rifle
Several months ago a friend here in western PA let me snap a few photos of his "George Kopp" rifle. He bought it at auction many years ago. I had never seen a Kopp rifle with these characteristics, and it was a relatively small gun compared to other Kopp rifles I've seen, so I forwarded the photos to Bill Vance who publishes the OWR-CSA Newsletter.
He said this was indeed a late George Kopp rifle, typical of his post-civil war work. George had started using parts from catalogs in some of his later work, thus the "toilet seat" commercial patch box.
He said this was indeed a late George Kopp rifle, typical of his post-civil war work. George had started using parts from catalogs in some of his later work, thus the "toilet seat" commercial patch box.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Andrew Kopp and George Kopp rifle photos
The best collection of Andrew and George Kopp rifle photos available online is at the American Long rifles's Virtual Museum and Library:
George Kopp Halfstock 091101-1
Andrew Kopp 091022-1
George Kopp 090923-1
Andrew Kopp 090921-1
George Kopp 090222-3
Andrew Kopp 090222-2
George Kopp Halfstock 091101-1
Andrew Kopp 091022-1
George Kopp 090923-1
Andrew Kopp 090921-1
George Kopp 090222-3
Andrew Kopp 090222-2
Kopp geneology
Johann Georg KAPP
Maria Catharina __?__ Husband: Johann Georg KAPP
Birth: by 1685
Death: bef. 29 Jan 1731/2, Bavaria Marriage: Wife: Maria Catharina __?__
Birth: by 1690
Death: 29 Jan 1731/2, Bottenweiler, Parish of Wildenholz, Mittelfranken, Bavaria
Maria Catharina __?__ Husband: Johann Georg KAPP
Birth: by 1685
Death: bef. 29 Jan 1731/2, Bavaria Marriage: Wife: Maria Catharina __?__
Birth: by 1690
Death: 29 Jan 1731/2, Bottenweiler, Parish of Wildenholz, Mittelfranken, Bavaria
Children — born in the hamlet of Bottenweiler, Parish of Wildenholz, Mittelfranken, Bavaria:
1. Johann Michael KAPP, b. 30 Jul 1705? — to Philadelphia in 1732 on the ship Pennsylvania
2. Maria Helena KAPP, b. 15 Jan 1706/7
3. Johann Georg Friedrich KAPP, b. 5 Jan 1708/9 — to Philadelphia in 1732 on the ship Pennsylvania
4. Johann Andreas KAPP, b. 19 Apr 1711 — to Philadelphia in 1732 on the ship Adventure
5. Johann Georg Veit/Vitus/Titus/Fyt KAPP, b. 12 Oct 1713 — to Philadelphia in 1737 on the ship Charming Nancy
6. Eva Barbara KAPP, b. 4 Apr 1716
7. Johann Georg Martin KAPP, b. aft. 1720, prob. in 1721 — to Philadelphia in 1737 on the ship Charming Nancy
2. Maria Helena KAPP, b. 15 Jan 1706/7
3. Johann Georg Friedrich KAPP, b. 5 Jan 1708/9 — to Philadelphia in 1732 on the ship Pennsylvania
4. Johann Andreas KAPP, b. 19 Apr 1711 — to Philadelphia in 1732 on the ship Adventure
5. Johann Georg Veit/Vitus/Titus/Fyt KAPP, b. 12 Oct 1713 — to Philadelphia in 1737 on the ship Charming Nancy
6. Eva Barbara KAPP, b. 4 Apr 1716
7. Johann Georg Martin KAPP, b. aft. 1720, prob. in 1721 — to Philadelphia in 1737 on the ship Charming Nancy
(Johann) Georg Friederich KAPP
Eva Maria GRAFF Husband: (Johann) Georg Friederich KAPP
Birth: 5 Jan 1708/9, Bottenweiler, Mittelfranken, Bayern [Bavaria, Germany]
Death: 28 Apr 1749
Disposition: buried Tulpehocken Church Graveyard, Berks Co., PA
Migration: 1732, to Pennsylvania (with brother, Joh. Michael KAPP), on the ship Pennsylvania Merchant
Religion: 1743-46, member, Tulpehock [Lutheran] Church, Berks Co., PA
Father: Johann Georg KAPP
Mother: Maria Catharina __?__ Marriage: 26 Feb 1739, Tulpehocken Church, Berks Co., PA Wife: Eva Maria GRAFF
Birth: ca. 1710s
Disposition: buried Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA
Other spouse: m2. 14 Nov 1749, Christian MÜLLER/MUELLER/MILLER; m3. Johann Georg Martin KAPP
Father: Hans Georg GRAFF
Mother: Magdalena __?__
Children — born in Berks Co., PA:
1. Johann Friedrich KAPP, bap. 22 Sep 1740, Berks Co., PA; d. 17 Apr 1823, Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA; m1. Maria Barbara Catharina STRICKLER; m2. Christina NEWMAN
2. Maria/Mary KAPP, b. aft. 1740
3. Johann George Michael KAPP, b. 25 Dec 1744 or 1745
2. Maria/Mary KAPP, b. aft. 1740
3. Johann George Michael KAPP, b. 25 Dec 1744 or 1745
(Johann) George Michael KAPP
Susanna Margaret SCHNEIDER Husband: (Johann) George Michael KAPP
Birth: 25 Dec 1744 or 1745, Berks Co., PA
Death: by 11 Nov 1794, York Co., PA
Father: Johann George Friedrich KAPP
Mother: Eva Maria GRAFF Marriage: 15 Nov 1768 Wife: Susanna Margaret SCHNEIDER / SNYDER
Birth: ca. 1749
Children: — born in Berks Co., PA (baptized Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA):
1. Eva Marie KAPP, b. 7 Mar 1772; bap. 27 Mar 1772; died in infancy
2. Maria Magdalena KAPP, b. 14 Nov 1774; bap. 11 Dec 1774
3. Eva Marie KAPP, b. 20 Feb 1776; bap. 24 Feb 1776
4. Maria Catharina KAPP, b. 20 Jul 1779
5. Andrew KAPP/KOPP, b. 13 Oct 1781
6. George Leonard KAPP, b. 6 Oct 1784; bap. 25 Dec 1784
7. John Jacob KAPP, b. 1 Jan 1788; bap. 6 Feb 1788
1. Eva Marie KAPP, b. 7 Mar 1772; bap. 27 Mar 1772; died in infancy
2. Maria Magdalena KAPP, b. 14 Nov 1774; bap. 11 Dec 1774
3. Eva Marie KAPP, b. 20 Feb 1776; bap. 24 Feb 1776
4. Maria Catharina KAPP, b. 20 Jul 1779
5. Andrew KAPP/KOPP, b. 13 Oct 1781
6. George Leonard KAPP, b. 6 Oct 1784; bap. 25 Dec 1784
7. John Jacob KAPP, b. 1 Jan 1788; bap. 6 Feb 1788
— born in Paradise Twp., York Co., PA:
8. (Son A) KAPP, b. 1790-95
8. (Son A) KAPP, b. 1790-95
Andrew KOPP
Elizabeth __?__ Husband: Andrew KAPP/KOPP
Birth: 13 Oct 1781, Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA
Baptism: 11 Nov 1781, Christ's Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA
Death: 1875, Frankstown Twp., Blair Co., PA
Disposition: buried Geeseytown Cemetery, Frankstown Twp., Blair Co., PA
Occupation: gunsmith
Father: Johann George Michael KAPP
Mother: Susanna Margaret SCHNEIDER/SNYDER Marriage: Wife: Elizabeth __?__
Birth: 1784-90
Death: 1850-60
Disposition: buried Geeseytown Cemetery, Frankstown Twp., Blair Co., PA
Occupation: homemaker
Children — born in PA, probably York Co. (data in braces are {year: age, birthplace} from the 1850 Census):
1. Jacob KOPP, b. 1802/3 {1850: 47, PA; 1860: 50, PA; 1870: 61, PA; 1880: 73, PA}
2. Eliza KAPP, b. 1811/12
3. George KOPP, b. 1813/4
2. Eliza KAPP, b. 1811/12
3. George KOPP, b. 1813/4
George KOPP
Margarett __?__ Husband: George KOPP / COPP
Birth: 1813/4, PA
Occupation: gunsmith
Father: Andrew KOPP
Mother: Elizabeth __?__ Marriage: Wife: Margarett __?__
Birth: 1817/8, PA
Occupation: homemaker Children:1. (Son) KOPP, b. 1835-40; d.s.p. by 1850
4. Andrew KOPP, b. 14 Nov 1814/5
Jacob KOPP
Sarah A. FAUST Husband: Jacob KOPP
Birth: 1802/3, PA
Death: aft. 1880
Occupation: laborer, farmer
Father: Andrew KOPP
Mother: Elizabeth __?__ Marriage: Wife: Sarah A. FAUST / FOUST
Birth: 1802/3, PA
Death: 1870-80, Cambria Co., PA
Occupation: homemaker
Children:
1. George Washington KOPP, b. 17 Apr 1833, Frankstown Twp., Huntingdon [now Blair] Co., PA; d. 19 Aug 1911, Burnside Twp., Clearfield Co., PA; m. 12 Jun 1856, Clearfield Co., PA, Hester/Esther "Hettie" KEIRN, d/o Nathan & Susannah
2. (Daughter A) KOPP, b. 1835-40
3. Andrew H. KOPP, b. 1836/7
4. Margaret KOPP, b. 1843/4
2. (Daughter A) KOPP, b. 1835-40
3. Andrew H. KOPP, b. 1836/7
4. Margaret KOPP, b. 1843/4
Andrew H. KOPP
Martha KEIRN Husband: Andrew H. KOPP
Birth: 1836/7, PA
Occupation: carpenter
Father: Jacob KOPP
Mother: Sarah A. FAUST Marriage: Wife: Martha KEIRN
Birth: 1840/1, PA
Occupation: homemaker
Father: Nathan KEIRN, b. 1801/2, MD (stonemason)
Mother: Susanna CARL
Children:
1. Amanda Bell KOPP, b. 1861/2
2. Henrietta KOPP, b. 1864/5
3. Mary A. KOPP, b. 1867/8
4. George W. KOPP, b. 1870
5. Margaret "Maggie" KOOP, b. 1871/2
6. Catharine E. "Kate" KOOP, b. 1874/5
7. Harry KOPP, b. 1878/9
2. Henrietta KOPP, b. 1864/5
3. Mary A. KOPP, b. 1867/8
4. George W. KOPP, b. 1870
5. Margaret "Maggie" KOOP, b. 1871/2
6. Catharine E. "Kate" KOOP, b. 1874/5
7. Harry KOPP, b. 1878/9
Residence: Logan, Blair, Pennsylvania
Birthdate: 1871
Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
Father's Name: Andrew H. Kopp
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
Mother's Name: Martha Kopp
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
Household Gender Age
George W Kopp M 39y
Spouse Alice R Kopp F 38y
Child Lorana R Kopp F 12y
Child Margaret J Kopp F 9y
Child Richard G Kopp M 2y
Child Donald J Kopp M 2y
Laselle Vanormer M 48y
Donald J Kopp
Born 1908
Spouse: Josephine Fischer (b. 1910)
Child: Patricia (b. 1932)
Child: William Newell (b. 1935)
Child: Donna Joann (b. 1937)
William N. Kopp
Born 1935
Spouse: Mary Louise Franks (b. 1935)
Child: Mark W.
Child: Constance L.
George W Kopp M 39y
Spouse Alice R Kopp F 38y
Child Lorana R Kopp F 12y
Child Margaret J Kopp F 9y
Child Richard G Kopp M 2y
Child Donald J Kopp M 2y
Laselle Vanormer M 48y
Donald J Kopp
Born 1908
Spouse: Josephine Fischer (b. 1910)
Child: Patricia (b. 1932)
Child: William Newell (b. 1935)
Child: Donna Joann (b. 1937)
William N. Kopp
Born 1935
Spouse: Mary Louise Franks (b. 1935)
Child: Mark W.
Child: Constance L.
Child: Brian J.
Child: Timothy J.
Child: Roseann
Andrew Kopp and George Kopp Pennsylvania Kentucky long rifles
I took my Andrew Kopp rifle to Mark Wheland in Williamsburg to drop it off for restoration. On the way, I grabbed a couple quick pictures of an Andrew and George Kopp rifle that are already in my family.
My dad's Andrew Kopp rifle has the darker stock coloring and larger bore, my Andrew Kopp rifle has the cable ties holding it together prior to restoration, and my dad's George Kopp rifle has the lightest stock color:
If anyone has photos of Kopp rifles they would like to share, or knows of any that are available, please send me an email at docpolycarp_at_yahoo_dot_com. Also, David Douglass of Huntingdon County was a Pennsylvania Kentucky long rifle maker who worked under/with Andrew Kopp in the Geeseytown gunsmith shop. We are looking for more information about him, as well as any photos of his rifles and any examples of his work that might be available.
My dad's Andrew Kopp rifle has the darker stock coloring and larger bore, my Andrew Kopp rifle has the cable ties holding it together prior to restoration, and my dad's George Kopp rifle has the lightest stock color:
If anyone has photos of Kopp rifles they would like to share, or knows of any that are available, please send me an email at docpolycarp_at_yahoo_dot_com. Also, David Douglass of Huntingdon County was a Pennsylvania Kentucky long rifle maker who worked under/with Andrew Kopp in the Geeseytown gunsmith shop. We are looking for more information about him, as well as any photos of his rifles and any examples of his work that might be available.
Andrew Kopp Pennsylvania Long rifle
I live in Central PA, and grew up in Hollidaysburg, PA. Andrew and George Kopp were Pennsylvania long rifle makers. Andrew Kopp was my great great great great grandfather, and George, his son, was my great great great uncle. Their last gunsmith shop was located in Geeseytown, Frankstown Township, just outside of Hollidaysburg. At the time Frankstown Townnship was part of Huntingdon County, so Andrew Kopp and George Kopp are identified as Huntingdon County "Kentucky Rifle" makers.
Years ago, I asked my local gun shop to call me if they ever got in a Kopp rifle, and the call finally came in last month.
An elderly gentleman was going into a nursing home, and brought in several firearms to them to sell. Among them was the following piece with "An. Kopp" markings on the barrel and lock.
Apparently the percussion cap assembly and hole was long ago rusted away. He was a machinist and years ago had attempted to make this rifle "work" by machining a percussion cap mount and re-drilling and re-tapping the barrel. In the process he made a large crescentic cut in the lock plate to accommodate his "custom gunsmithing."
UPDATE (January 15, 2011):
I went back to the gun shop and asked them if they could contact the gentleman who had brought in this Andrew Kopp rifle. They were kind enough to call him and I had a very nice conversation with him about the history of this rifle.
Earl is 89 and lives in Johnstown. The rifle has been in his family since he was 9 years old, and the prior owners lived at the Spangler farm in Shanksville PA, near the current Flight 93 Memorial. Earl recalls being told that this rifle was brought to Somerset by the previous owners from Indiana County PA, and that it might have been manufactured around 1860. (Andrew Kopp retired from the trade in 1863.)
Earl always liked to tinker with stuff.
When he was 12, Earl took apart the rifle and tried to remove the breech plug, which was seized.
He couldn't get it apart, so he put the breech end of the barrel in his family's wood stove to heat it up, to see if that would let him free up the seized breech plug.
He didn't know the gun was loaded, and the gun fired off when it heated up. Shocked
Fortunately, no one was injured!
Earl subsequently worked as a machinist for US Steel in Johnstown PA starting in his teen years.
He machined the sealed ignition device in these photos when he was nineteen, 70 years ago. He also ground off the surface of the hammer at that time, so it would contact the pin on the sealed ignition device. He was never able to get the gun working, but the gun has been in his possession ever since, providing an 80 year history of the provenance of this particular Andrew Kopp rifle.
However, he was clearly very fond of this old rifle, and was very pleased that someone had bought it that would treasure it and have it restored.
UPDATE (January 16, 2011):
I took my Andrew Kopp rifle to Mark Wheland in Williamsburg today to drop it off for restoration. We took along my father's Andrew Kopp rifle for Mark to look at. He is going to use the cheek plate on my father's rifle as a template to recreate the missing cheek plate on my rifle, so he took several macro close-up photos.
Mark examined my rifle closely and said the metal work on my rifle indicated it was actually an earlier rifle than my father's Andrew Kopp rifle, based on the trigger guard and butt plate. He also checked the bore; this rifle is a 38 caliber.
However, (as hurricane pointed out in the next post on this thread) the stock architecture has a higher comb than usual.
Mark thought the rifle might have been re-stocked by George Kopp after he returned to Geeseytown from his ten years of working in Illinois, as the current stock has some western features, like the higher comb and stock angle, not usually seen in Bedford/Blair/Huntingdon PA rifles.
My son and I talked with Mark in his shop for about an hour and a half, and we learned more in that time about these Kopp rifles than everything I've learned up to this point. He was a great guy to talk to, and his current work that he showed us in his shop was just spectacular.
He estimates our rifle will be completed sometime this summer.
Years ago, I asked my local gun shop to call me if they ever got in a Kopp rifle, and the call finally came in last month.
An elderly gentleman was going into a nursing home, and brought in several firearms to them to sell. Among them was the following piece with "An. Kopp" markings on the barrel and lock.
Apparently the percussion cap assembly and hole was long ago rusted away. He was a machinist and years ago had attempted to make this rifle "work" by machining a percussion cap mount and re-drilling and re-tapping the barrel. In the process he made a large crescentic cut in the lock plate to accommodate his "custom gunsmithing."
UPDATE (January 15, 2011):
I went back to the gun shop and asked them if they could contact the gentleman who had brought in this Andrew Kopp rifle. They were kind enough to call him and I had a very nice conversation with him about the history of this rifle.
Earl is 89 and lives in Johnstown. The rifle has been in his family since he was 9 years old, and the prior owners lived at the Spangler farm in Shanksville PA, near the current Flight 93 Memorial. Earl recalls being told that this rifle was brought to Somerset by the previous owners from Indiana County PA, and that it might have been manufactured around 1860. (Andrew Kopp retired from the trade in 1863.)
Earl always liked to tinker with stuff.
When he was 12, Earl took apart the rifle and tried to remove the breech plug, which was seized.
He couldn't get it apart, so he put the breech end of the barrel in his family's wood stove to heat it up, to see if that would let him free up the seized breech plug.
He didn't know the gun was loaded, and the gun fired off when it heated up. Shocked
Fortunately, no one was injured!
Earl subsequently worked as a machinist for US Steel in Johnstown PA starting in his teen years.
He machined the sealed ignition device in these photos when he was nineteen, 70 years ago. He also ground off the surface of the hammer at that time, so it would contact the pin on the sealed ignition device. He was never able to get the gun working, but the gun has been in his possession ever since, providing an 80 year history of the provenance of this particular Andrew Kopp rifle.
However, he was clearly very fond of this old rifle, and was very pleased that someone had bought it that would treasure it and have it restored.
UPDATE (January 16, 2011):
I took my Andrew Kopp rifle to Mark Wheland in Williamsburg today to drop it off for restoration. We took along my father's Andrew Kopp rifle for Mark to look at. He is going to use the cheek plate on my father's rifle as a template to recreate the missing cheek plate on my rifle, so he took several macro close-up photos.
Mark examined my rifle closely and said the metal work on my rifle indicated it was actually an earlier rifle than my father's Andrew Kopp rifle, based on the trigger guard and butt plate. He also checked the bore; this rifle is a 38 caliber.
However, (as hurricane pointed out in the next post on this thread) the stock architecture has a higher comb than usual.
Mark thought the rifle might have been re-stocked by George Kopp after he returned to Geeseytown from his ten years of working in Illinois, as the current stock has some western features, like the higher comb and stock angle, not usually seen in Bedford/Blair/Huntingdon PA rifles.
My son and I talked with Mark in his shop for about an hour and a half, and we learned more in that time about these Kopp rifles than everything I've learned up to this point. He was a great guy to talk to, and his current work that he showed us in his shop was just spectacular.
He estimates our rifle will be completed sometime this summer.