Visitors to Historic Rock Ford, in Lancaster, Pa., have the opportunity to view a special item on loan that has never before been displayed to the public. Upon entering the John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts, visitors will discover an iconic American long rifle on exhibition now through the end of October. The rifle is engraved to James Fenimore Cooper (17891851), author of The Leatherstocking Tales, The Deerslayer, The Last of the Mohicans, The Pathfinder, and The Pioneers and the Prairie. Coopers writings were centered around the fictional character Natty Bumppo or Nathaniel as portrayed in the movie The Last of the Mohicans by actor Daniel Day Lewis. Cooper acknowledged that his stories were inspired by the well-known 18th century mountain man and trapper, Jack Hays. Historic research has attributed this rifle to having been made in Augusta County, Va., probably before 1740 for a mountain man named Jack Hays, possibly by John Walker, a neighbor and gunsmith. According to oral tradition of the Hays family, the rifle was used by Hays on the Appalachian frontier and in the French and Indian War and by his descendants in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. According to family history, the rifle was given to James Fenimore Cooper by the Hays family in the early 19thcentury, where it remained until the early 20th century. It was then known by collectors to be in the possession of a Cooper descendant. In her book, Hays Family History, by Rachel Hays Walker, written in 1894, she states, Because of Mr. Coopers fascination with the tales of Jack Hays and his long rifle and Mr. Cooper idolizing our relative Jack Hays as his Natty Bumppo character in his novels, my brother, John and I, gave our family long rifle to Mr. Cooper. This rifle was pictured and discussed in an article by George Shumway written for Muzzle Blasts magazine in 2001. Shumway mentions in the description that it has an American maple stock. The rifle is about 50 inches long, features a 36 3/4 inch, 60 caliber tapered and swamped octagon barrel with a brass blade front sight and notched iron rear sight. The early convex banana lock plate is unmarked and features an unbridled pan. The engraved brass furniture appears to be European. Many of the parts used in the manufacture of American long rifles in the Colonial Period were imported from abroad or reused from European firearms. The brass nose cap is decorated with gadrooning and appears to be of American style and manufacture. The butt plate is vertically engraved with the inscription, J FENIMORE COOPER. The full-length stock is of early form with no toe plate, a wide 2-3/16 inch butt plate which is 4 11/16 inch high and the carving is Baroque in style. There are relief-carved acanthus designs around the barrel tang, in front of the trigger guard finial and behind the ramrod entry ferrule. There is also carving on top of and on either side of the comb and ornate c-scrolls carved on both sides of the long relief cheekpiece. The original side plate was lost during the rifles use and carving was added in the period to make the loss more attractive. The rifle shows heavy wear, consistent with having been used. Historic Rock Ford would like to thank the anonymous lender for being able to showcase such an interesting piece of American history. Further acknowledgement should be given to the late Ed Louer of Williamsport, Ohio, and author Gordon Barlow of Swope, Va., who have both done so much to uncover the history of this rifle. Historic Rock Ford, located at 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, Pa., is the home and estate of Gen. Edward Hand who served as adjutant general to George Washington. The historic site is comprised of the ca. 1794 General Edward Hand Mansion and the John J. Snyder Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts. It is a 501(c)(3) organization operated by the Rock Ford Foundation. Photographs courtesy of Morphy Auctions. For ticketing information, visit www.historicrockford.orgor call during business hours 717-392-7223, ext. 103.