Restoring History - One rifle at a time

[allingeneral]

Caroline man puts in long hours making working re-creations of early American rifles

Date published: 6/23/2009
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009 ... 009/475076

Written By Rob Hedelt

WHEN AL EDGE picks up a muzzleloading rifle in his Caroline County shop, he doesn't just see that it's an old Virginia flintlock.

The self-taught gunsmith, who once fixed cars for a living, scans each part of the gun from its butt to the sight on the barrel.

Though each year Edge will build, repair and restore dozens of these Colonial-era rifles and pistols, each has a unique history he feels privileged to share.

Which is why, when he pulls out a particular Virginia rifle, chances are he knows in which year between 1750 to 1830 it was built, where it was constructed and often, by whom.

His business motto: "Restoring history, one rifle at a time."

"I'm truly blessed to be able to do something for a living that I not only enjoy, but appreciate and value," said Edge. "I didn't set out to do that, but I'm thankful it worked out this way."

The Alexandria native made the jump to a pristine parcel of land near Chilesburg in the 1990s.

The fateful moment for the friendly craftsman came when he saw some unique muzzleloading flintlock rifles at a gun show.

The firearms, which use gunpowder to propel a round iron ball loaded with a patch and powder through a gun's barrel, were used by Colonial settlers to fight the British and put food on the table for generations following.

Edge, who loves history--especially that of his native Virginia--was drawn to the centuries-old firearms.

He discovered a whole community of people who make, restore, buy, collect and hunt with these rifles that require a ramrod, powder horn and steady aim.

In due time, he'd made himself a replica and enjoyed shooting it so much that it became a favorite activity.

As sometimes happens for those lucky enough to be skilled at something they love, Edge's interest slowly grew from hobby to profession.

His first job was making a working re-creation of an early-American muzzleloader for a client.

Now there's a steady backlog of work, a full-time assistant/apprentice in retired biochemist and mechanical engineer Jack Staton, who loves muzzleloaders as much as Edge, and an upgraded workshop.

Though much of the pair's work involves building re-creations of the long, elegant flintlock rifles with whatever woods and fancy flourishes the customer wants, they also do repairs and restorations that sometimes qualify as salvage miracles.

"We've had many a rifle come in with tape holding a barrel together, with pieces from it either in a bag or missing altogether," said Edge. "I enjoy the challenge of putting them back in as close to original condition as I can."

When possible, that means searching high and low for authentic parts.

When that's not possible, he will buy or even craft parts for locks, finger guards, picks, ramrods and more.

Scrapbooks of guns he's built and restored make it clear that they're more than just jobs.

One's a pistol with amazingly intricate silver patterns worked into the handle.

Another's a Civil War rifle a customer had restored because it belonged to a relative who fought at Antietam.

The jobs can cost from several hundred for a small repair to $12,000 for extensive or elaborate work. Word of mouth keeps Edge and Staton busy.

They're in the workshop most days for long hours, using breaks to walk the dogs, who keep them company in the farm fields nearby.

Or when they reward themselves with test-firings, one day an English trade gun that dates back to the early 1700s, the next a flintlock pistol older than many American states.

aledge.com, or call 804/448-1119

Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com