Kentucky Rifle Restoration

[gunyooper]

I recenty bought a Kentucky Rifle that was found in wall of a house that was being torn down.  It weighs approximately 13 pounds, a very heavy barrel.  Overall it measures 54" and the barrel measures 39". It has some parts missing.  I don't want to take away the value of the gun, but would like to have it have a "presentation look".  Any help with information about the gun and restoration would be great.  The maker's name maybe Fleming.
The maker's name appears to read L M ???m?y but I am not a expert.  Thank you, Roger

Click on link below to view photos
http://photobucket.com/KentuckyRifle

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

The gun is a significant find and should be restored but only expertly. Several will add here. There are several reference in the Library that link to previous discussions on this site about restoration.
It would be great if you could better interpret the makers signature of the barrel....a rubbing with pencil, perhaps. I suspect someone will recognize the gun and maker. When the thread dies down we would like to have the gun as an exhibit for the Museum.

Sellers book lists a L.M. Fleming as maker of half and full stock percussion guns. Location unknown.
This, perhaps, fits ?

Please contact me : fgarner@verizon.net
Hurricane ( Moderator of the Museum and Library.

[mr. no gold]

This is a very nice rifle with a ton of potential. It appears to be an Ohio gun and the silver inlays resemble the recently presented Clark piece in the Library. The lock has the mark of a Cincy maker and strongly suggests that the rifle was made somewhere in that region.
You have been given good advice by Hurricane; don't rush into anything and select a good restorer to do the job unless you do that work yourself. There are several people on this Forum that can help you and this is a fine place to start. Hope that you will put photos of it into the Library before and after the restoration. Thanks for showing the gun to us; much appreciated.
Dick

[JTR]

Gunyooper,
That was a fine purchase for sure!
The gun has certainly seen better days, but, it's all there more or less, minus the trigger guard. I would say it needs more of a stabilization, than a restoration.
The area between the barrel, tang and lock needs the most attention. It's difficult from the pictures to see if anything  is actually broken, or just rusted, eroded, maybe bent a bit. None the less, all that can be put back into reasonably good condition, and would strengthen that area of the rifle as well.
A trigger guard, a ramrod, replacing a few missing splinters of wood and a couple other things here and there, and it'll be a fine looking rifle again!
It looks like you have the lock area supported with twine which will help to keep things together, and with the heavy barrel, care is really really necessary!

Besides the name on the barrel can you read the inscription on the cheek piece inlay?

John   

[gunyooper]

Thanks for the advice and direction, I am looking at all of the possibilities.  Have you ever heard of a place called, "HTF"?  Thanks, Roger