The rifle appears to have come from somewhere along the Ohio River north of Louisville, based on its long barrel, later guard style and clean butt lines...kind of reminiscent of the work of Michael and Benjamin Sells of Bracken Co., KY; Benjamin later moved back across the river to Brown Co., Ohio where he worked most of his life. I checked my Kentucky records and found a good possibility. It is William E. Duncan who was working as a gunsmith in 1860 at Ghent in Carroll County, KY on the Ohio River north of Louisville, about half way up to Cincinnati. I have not seen a gun by Duncan, so don't know for sure about the attribution, but the location is almost perfect for this style rifle with long barrel, triangular butt, and guard with a spur off the bow and a double spur at the rear.
Jack... if possible, would you mind e-mailing (sgallien@comcast.net) me pictures of your rifle shot in a little higher resolution, so I could keep them for my ongoing research into early Kentucky gunmakers? Your posted pictures are well done and clear, but a little too low on resolution for my work. If this might be possible, I'd greatly appreciate shots of:
1) Front half-length view showing from butt out to about 10" past lock plate,
2) rear half-length view showing from butt out to about 10" past where lock is on other side;
3) full length view of front side
4) barrel signature...but with about an inch of barrel showing on either side of the initials.
I'd greatly appreciate getting these pictures, since if I gather enough new information and pictures of new rifles, I hope to do a third and final volume of 'Kentucky Gunmakers 1775-1900" to help complete the story of early Kentucky gunmaking.
Thanks, Shelby Gallien
