In early America weapons were everyday tools of survival. A hunter could be on his own for weeks in the wilderness hunting game for food. A favorite of American frontiersmen was a type of the flintlock rifle known as the "Kentucky" rifle.

You may be wondering why the barrel of the rifle is partly cut off in this picture. The Museum collects these rifles for the beauty of their workmanship. Even though they were made to be practical, the gunsmith often added artistic touches, such as the beautiful scroll ornament on this Kentucky rifle. We photographed the rifle in a way that highlights the decoration.