George Schreyer (1739-1819) was active from before the American Revolution through approximately 1813 or 1816 in York County, Pennsylvania. He died in 1819. Schreyer's work influenced many early American gunmakers most notably that of master craftsman John Armstrong of Emmitsburg just twenty miles away. The patch box design on this rifle is similar to the top rifle on the opening page of "The Emmitsburg School" section in "The Kentucky Rifle" by Merrill Lindsay. Also not the silver inlays in the stock on this example and those shown in this section. The shape of the stock and patch box of this example suggests is was manufactured earlier in Schreyer's career. Note that there is little carving, and the butt shape is more rounded "Roman nose" shape like a French fusil-de-chasse or other fowling piece which, along with the German jaeger rifle, helped lead to the genesis of this uniquely American form of firearm. The patch box shape is very similar to the Schreyer rifle on page 87 of "George Schreyer, Sr. & Jr.: Gunmakers of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania" by George Shumway. The author notes that this was Schreyer's most popular patch box design. The rifle features standard blade and notch sights, "George Schreyer" signed on the barrel towards the breech, double set triggers, an unmarked lock, and a full length maple stock with brass furniture including the patch box noted above along with a second patch box below the cheekpiece, and 10 silver inlays. Two patch boxes are rarely seen. The cheekpiece inlay and patch box are engraved.

Fair as poorly reconverted to flintlock configuration. The barrel displays a dark brown patina with brighter wear at the edges. The lock has a gray patina and is an old replacement. There is some mostly light pitting throughout. The brass and silver primarily have an aged patina, but the right patch box is brighter. The front wedge is absent. The wood is good as restored with some repaired cracks, a filled section at the toe on the left, scattered light scratches and pressure marks, small cracks, and a few chips. The lock and set triggers are currently not functional but appear complete. This is a representative example of the earlier work of influential early American gunmaker George Schreyer, Sr.