Around 1971 Elmer Keith, Bob Thompson and Jerry Haskins were interested in making a high quality takedown production rifle. Jerry Haskins formed the Haskins Rifle Company in Rifle, Colorado. In addition to production rifles, the company was to make 200 engraved museum quality rifles that were going to be called the "Commemorative Rifle" because of the 1976 bicentennial of the U.S. Jerry Haskins approached Glenn Ems to design and build the rifles. A limited number of the "Commemorative Rifles" were manufactured, and one was presented to the NRA Museum. Shortly thereafter, the company discussed the production of 13 "Bicentennial" rifles. Each would represent one of the original 13 Colonies and be engraved accordingly. Glenn Ems designed and built the first of these "Bicentennial" rifles, and it turned out that it would be the only one manufactured. That was this rifle, and it represents the Colony of Virginia and is serial numbered "0001". The barrel features a satin grey front sight ramp and band around the muzzle which is engraved with a feather design. The barrel itself is blue and has a floral scroll and small circle design on the muzzle and breech ends with gold in the circles on the top flat near the muzzle. The upper right flat has gold inlaid "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". The rear sight is a three leaf style (two folding, one fixed" on a quarter rib. The faces of the leafs have a checkerboard dot design as well as gold inlaid sighting lines. The top of the quarter rib is engraved with floral scroll designs. The muzzle end of the barrel has a single gold inlaid wire band, and the breech end has a gold inlaid double bands. There left rear flat at the breech is marked "J. HASKINS/RIFLE, COLO./0001". The action is satin grey and is engraved with a basket weave design. In addition the left side of the action has "CORNWALLIS' SURRENDER" in a relief engraved banner over a relief engraved Revolutionary War scene. The left side has "Captured Battle Flags/OF Yorktown" in a relief engrave banner over a relief engraved ceremonial scene. The underside of the action has a relief engraved banner and gold inlaid Liberty Bell with "1776", "1976" and "VIRGINIA" in the banner. The upper receiver is engraved with floral designs with gold inlaid centers on the flowers. The same floral designs extend to the trigger guard and there is a checker board and dot design on the lower tang. Directly behind the trigger guard is signed "C Sturm" over "R.L. RONNIE". The forearm hardware is satin grey and features floral scroll and flower designs with gold filled dots and flower centers. The inside wood of the forearm is stamped "0001", "1974" and "G. EMS/RIFLE CO." The bolt handle is blue with floral engraved designs and a gold inlaid wire band around the knob. Gold follower marked "G. EMS", gold washed adjustable trigger, tang mounted safety and mounted with a checkered walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with satin grey engraved grip cap, long upper tang and stain grey engraved metal buttplate. Comes with a leather bound hard takedown case with brass corner protectors, leather straps and handle, and wine colored lining. Also comes with a typed letter from Glenn Ems' son verifying/stating much of the historic information above.