The .46 calibre Kentucky Flintlock was designed and manufactured by Philadelphia's most famous gunsmith, Jacob Kuntz, after his move to the City from Northampton County in 1810, at the age of 30. His first models, produced before his move, were considered too overtly 'Rococo' and 'fanciful' for his intended market, (the mountain folks and frontiersmen of the South, and The Western 'Territories'), but his re-vamped design became an instant best-seller, making both his fortune and his reputation.
In 1832, Davy Crockett, who was already the most famous frontiersman of his time, visited the City and was presented with a 'Kentucky' by the citizens, and below is part of his acceptance speech!, (which was actually used in a 1955 film about his exploits, and starred Fess Parker).
'This here's the most beautiful rifle-gun I ever hope to see. I like a good gun, for it makes a man feel prepared for peace or war. I just don't know how to thank you enough. Such a pretty little lady, I think I'll give her a name...'Betsy' suit you folks?'.
It's a matter of conjecture where he got the name from, some folks at the time claimed he named his Kentucky Flintlock after his mother, other folks claimed he named it after Betsy Ross, the lady who headed the team of seamstresses who put together the original U.S. Flag, 'Old Glory', but there was yet another faction who felt that he just thought up the name on the spur of the moment, and this appears to be the generally-accepted explanation.
However, suffice to say that 'Ole Betsy' was never far from his side from that day to the day of his untimely death, at the age of 50, at the Alamo in 1836.
To this day, the Kentucky Flintlock is still regarded as one of the most important firearms of it's time, and an absolute 'must' for any collector of famous Western pieces!.