Bear Creek, North Carolina, circa 1806, full maple stock, 45 in. octagonal barrel signed D KENNEDY on top flat, 45. cal., double triggers, iron furniture, lock engraved LONDON WARRANTED, lock backplate engraved 1806, grease hole in stock, ramrod with iron twist tip.

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Overall length 61 in.

Private Collection, Lexington, North Carolina

The Bear Creek School was dominated by the Kennedy Family of gunsmiths whose shop was located on Bear Creek at Mechanics Hill (present day Robbins) in northern Moore County. It is believed that (John) Alexander Kennedy the Elder (1738-1805) was the first of the Kennedys to make guns and was the father of the most influential David Kennedy. This long rifle is extremely rare in that it is both signed and dated.

The iron butt plate on this rifle has an indention for a patchbox lid indicating this rifle originally had a patchbox. This rifle appears to be an old restock using David Kennedy parts and probably done in the late flint period, hammer does not set, stock has old insect damage in multiple areas, 5 in. and 2 in. stable cracks left side, 3 in. stable crack right side, ramrod thimbles have worn and missing metal, oxidation to iron elements.