Thanks so much for the kind responses to the Bucks Co. guns that I posted. The approval of your peers always makes your blood run a little warmer. There have been a number of questions that I will try to address.
Roger, I sure will be at Lewisburg, unless the weather gets a lot worse than it was the first year. Patty always makes our reservations way early. I hope that you got a chance to "exercise" one of your guns this year.
Fred, The hinge tab is indeed screwed into place. I do undercut the vertical side of the patchbox cavity at the point of attachment. This allows the hinge to sit ever so slightly back out of the cavity. The opener works this way: Pressure on the forward end of the toe plate pushes the push rod upward against the catch spring, causing it to move away from the catch attached to the patchbox lid. The spring used here is made from metal strapping material and is screwed to the bottom of the patchbox cavity. The originals were hand forged and were driven into the bottom of the patchbox. I feel that the springs I make from strapping are easier to make, less likely to come loose, and easier to adjust. (as Jerry H. used to say-No Charge). The trigger guards and butt plates are from Reaves Goehring. He handles three sets of hardware appropriate for Bucks Co. guns. He has two Shuler sets, a large and a small. I usually use the large set. He also has the Verner style hardware. The Verner hardware does not have the thumbnail finuals. I have not seen a Verner gun (signed or attributed) that used the thumbnail furniture. However, I have seen Shuler rifles using either style. The Fort Ticonderoga Shuler rifle is a good example. These guys lived close to each other and seemingly co-operated with each other. I can just imagine John Shuler jumping on his horse and riding over to Andrew Verner's farm and asking, "Vell Andy, have you any extra parts? I need to make a rifle and I haff no hardware." Let's not forget that adjoining Shuler's farm was the elusive David Thomas who made at least one gun. His excellent patchbox is still around, although the gun is long gone.
Bucktail, Most of the "classic" Bucks Co. guns were made in a period of about 20 years from about 1800-1820. Eric Armstrong, posting here as Daniel Russell, says that there is reason to believe that Shuler, Verner, etc., all worked at Allentown in the Rev War gun factory. Eric can tell those stories in the book he hopes to write after his retirement.
The best of wishes, and the Merriest of Christmas to all of you.
Ron
