Lebanon Borough - C. Beck

I want to begin with a brief history lesson from the research of  S.E. Dyke published by the Lancaster County Historical Society in 1968 titled “The Beck Family of Gunsmiths, Lancaster County, PA.” What is now Lebanon was part of Lancaster until Lebanon County was established in 1813. That simply means that in my own opinion, J.P. Beck must be considered a Lancaster gunsmith. His father, German born Johann Christian Beck, moved to America in 1749 and settled down in Lebanon Township as a powder maker until his death in 1792. Two sons were born, John Christian in 1750 and John Philip in 1751. John Christian became a powder maker just like his father before him and ultimately perished in an explosion in 1806. The other son John became a gunsmith. A few known rifles are signed by John Christian or Christian Beck and I believe these are by this brother or possibly the father. There is some speculation another Christian or “C” Beck may have existed, but the similarities are too overwhelming and this family too gifted not to be the same family.  J. P. Beck was one of the finest of gunmakers who was known to cast his own buttplates and triggerguards in silver instead of yielding to English imported brass mountings.  He was well known for beautiful carved curly maple stocks and lightly detailed engraving. He worked in Lebanon from the late 1760’s until his death in 1811. This style has become known as the Lebanon School.

We are offering a pre-shaped stock designed in the Lebanon School after the manner of the later Christian Beck style. The Christian Beck rifles (of which heritage we really don’t know) are quite well designed in relief carving and matches the stock we have presented here. Whether you wish to build for your children, your wife or a customer who needs something finer and smaller, this stock has been designed with that purpose in mind. It is not available for other than a straight octagon barrel in either 3/4", 13/16” or 7/8”and is not available for swamped barrels due to the fineness of the pattern.

Lebanon School Longrifle. A full Size longrifle but maximum trigger pull of 14-1/2” correctly reduces the buttstock architecture and accurately locates the cheek for a shorter length of pull. This stock is more architecturally accurate than most full size rifles because the cheek has been pushed forward for allowing shorter trigger pulls! I highly recommend it for anyone with pulls of 12-1/2” to 14”. I have made this particular rifle for women and a 36” barrel makes a 7-1/2 pound fullstock rifle in 13/16” x .45 caliber! Extremely sleek and very well designed.
Susanne Warren-Bicio

This stock has been proportionally slimmed down. The cheek has been positioned more forward for shorter trigger pulls. It  retains the same Lebanon School lines, but has been redesigned to use a thinner buttplate and designed for shorter trigger pulls between 12-1/2” to 14”.  I emphasize that this is still a full size rifle but slimmer for those who love the Lebanon or Lancaster style but wish it made with a finer butt stock. The architecture is excellent and absolutely correct with proper cheek placement for shorter trigger pulls. Pre-shaped stock comes standard with straight barrel channel and ramrod hole drilled. Specify barrel size from 3/4" diameter, 13/16” or 7/8” maximum. Watch the buttplate width when choosing. Its slim! A beautiful gun appropriate for anyone requiring this length of pull, folks of smaller frame, women or even kids! A builders note: Beck rifles were often fitted in mountings of german silver. This family cast their own mountings. Right hand only.