Sheetz rifle photos

[JPK]

I took these photos of a rifle that was marked Sheetz on the barrel and felt some of you would find them interesting.

[Avlrc]

A quick guess would be Michael Sheetz. From Charles Town WV. Died in 1836. But not sure, would like to see more pics. Great Patchbox. Looks like a modern lock, but I may be wrong.

[homerifle]

Is there an initial on the barrel along with Sheetz ?

I was wondering also if you have pictures of the other side of the rifle?

Nice Virginia rifle with a real neat patch box.

[Avlrc]

Toe plate has real nice engraving. Good to see some Virginia/WV Stuff. Thanks.

[homerifle]

I suspect AVLRC is correct that it is a Michael Sheetz work the side panel piercings on the patch box look to be in his style. 

[Avlrc]

However the engraving on the patchbox lid looks  more like Martin Sheetz, Michael's  Cousin. Would really like to see the cheek side.

[MGillman]

Great looking rifle!

[JPK]

Here are a few more, about all I have. They were taken years ago and I don't know were the rifle is today. There wasn't any carving on the rifle any place as I remember or can see in the photos, even the cheek piece was plain the best I can see. Does any on else have Sheetz rifle photos to share?

[Avlrc]

I don't like posting pictures  from books without the permission of the author. But if you look on page 144 "Gunsmiths of Virginia" Martin Sheetz Rifle, compare the engraving on the lid to the one you posted. See page 282 in the second edition of Kindigs, "Thoughts on the Kentucky rifle" . This one was later attributed  to Martin Sheetz. Again, the lid engraving is very similar.

http://www.cowanauctions.com/auctions/item.aspx?ItemId=101716

Also the Red Patchbox Book page 347,Martin Sheetz , compare the lid engraving.

But all of the piercings reminds me of some of  Michaels work. The blank cheek side, seems kind of strange if Martin would have done it. Why would he do   such a great patchbox, then forget to carve the gun?  Might be a restock,  I am just thinking out loud.

Maybe Fullstock longrifle or Homerifle, know.

Thanks for posting the pictures. Would like to know where it is now. Seeing it would be nice.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It's great to see pictures of original rifles, but if I may make a comment, please get rid of the white background.  Your camera will automatically set it's light meter for the white, and everything you wanted to show off is underexposed -dark.  There is no detail in your images.  The details are everything.

[homerifle]

JPK, I appreciate you posting the pictures of the Sheetz rifle. Its always nice to see a rifle that hasn't been published.

[JPK]

I found the tracing of the rifle that I made back then and see that I did mark it as "M Sheetz". Indeed some of you fellows are true students of these pieces of our heritage.