Dave,
I agree with you about the resemblance. In fact, there is such a heavy Germanic influence on some Virginia rifles that I've been led to wonder if they aren't in fact the product of wave after wave of recent immigrants who never even passed through Pennsylvania or Maryland, but simply adapted what they were used to building to available materials and local preferences, possibly with some reference to existing longrifles and/or fowling pieces. Some of the characteristics of the so-called "transitional" rifle, for example, are seen well into the 19th century in SW Va. and points west. Until we see the big book of Virginia rifles, it seems like they are treated as secondary and/or derivative when compared to PA rifles, but I suspect their development may as interesting as and independent in many ways from their better understood northern counterparts. The influence on and specifics of German immigration in Virginia (and the frontier to the west) has been inadequately studied (in fact it was purposely minimized for a good part of the 20th century), so I believe there is much to be learned still. Anyway, just my uninformed opinion.
