Tyler Rifle Works

The Tyler Rifle Works, established in Vienna Township in 1852 by Nathan Bailey Derrow Tyler, manufactured rifles, shotguns, pistols, ammunition, hunting knives, gun barrels and trimmings.

Tyler's Rifle Works advertisement.Western Reserve Chronicle, on December 7, 1864.

The gun works was located on the southwest corner of Vienna Center. In this building Tyler had earlier operated a hotel.

The owner of Tyler Rifle Works and a fine marksman in his own right, N. B. Tyler, moved the business to Warren in 1867.[1] The business was active in Warren until 1891. [2]

PRIVATELY OWNED N. B. TYLER GUN.
Images courtesy of the Vienna Historical Society.

MAGES OF A SECOND PRIVATELY OWNED N. B. TYLER GUN & DESCRIPTION:
N.B. Tyler .36 caliber half-stock percussion rifle, serial #19.
Gun has a 35” octagonal barrel.
Barrel is stamped: “L&D Little."
Back action lock by Henry Parker.
Images courtesy of the Vienna Historical Society.

Updated 8/13/2020

This article is adapted from Fred L. Martin and James Bradley, "A Genealogical History of Vienna," in Vienna, Ohio, Where We Live and Let Live: Town 4, Range 2 of the Connecticut Western Reserve (Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1999), pp. 72-73. Additional research by Shirley T. Wajda, March 2012.
[1] Tyler's gunsmith shop in Warren was burglarized a week after opening. See "Burglary," Western Reserve Chronicle, May 8, 1867, p. 3.
[2] Robert E. Gardener. American Arms and Arms Makers. Columbus: College Book Company, 1944, p. 151.