Maine State Museum to Feature Guns and Artifacts From the 19th Century

A part of Maine history is coming to the Maine State Museum in Augusta as guns from gunsmith and inventor John Hancock Hall and other gunsmiths will be on display.

‘Inventors and Sportsman: Maine Gunsmiths in the 1800’s’ will open Saturday, April 2 with free admission. About 30 guns from 22 Maine gunmakes will be on display including Halls who invented the breech-loading mechanism.

The Maine State museum constantly has guns on display but they have not all been in one exhibit in 30 years.

Hall is credited with patenting a breech loading rifle where parts could be interchanged. Before Halls invention parts for each rifle was made by hand specifically for that rifle. Hall left Maine and spent the rest of his career making rifles for the U.S. Army.

John Hancock Hall is considered one of Maine’s most important inventors not only for what he did for the gun industry but also for the manufacturing industry.

Hall’s inventions were used in the manufacturing of sewing machines, typewriters, railroad equipment and even automobiles.

The display at The Maine State Museum will run from April 2, 2016 to April 1, 2017 and the first day’s admission will be free. The will be more than 75 artifacts and around 30 guns from the 19^th century.

centralmaine.com