George Washington Hatfield made distinctive rifles in soud1ern Indiana from about 183 I until after the Civil War; his work shows the influences of his early training in Fentress County, Tennessee. Despite substantial infom1ation surviving 011 Hatfield himself; only a handful of his rifles were known. This two-part article will re-examine the work of Hatfield in light of two recent discoveries.
New Discoveries Alter Old Perceptions of Indiana Gunsmith Washington Hatfield Part II
Despite substantial information surviving on George Washington Hatfield himself, only a handfitl of his rifles were known until recently. This two part article reexamines the work of Indiana’s “Wash" Hatfield in light of two recent discoveries. In Part I we took a look at the two newest Hatfield Finds, in Part II we will take a look back at the other known Hatfield rifles to get a better understanding of the scope of his rifle building skills and his place among Indiana rifle makers.