Vore, to my knowledge was never in West Virginia. He was born in Napier Township in 1814, in 1830 the family moved to Creek Township, Somerset County. In 1835 he was in the census of Napier Township and taxed as Benj. Fore. and the entry was not repeated. His first shop was on the Bedford - Stoystown turnpike. From there he and his wife had a farm near New Baltimore. Then from there they moved on to Oakland, Maryland, this is where his wife passed away and from there moved with his Daughter and Son in Law to New Paris. Ben Vore passed away on July 3rd 1886 and was interned at Lambertsville, Somerset County. This is an attractive little rifle that is in excellent condition, the hammer I believe is not original to the rifle (notice the hammer is darker than the lock plate). I believe it was originally flintlock. The lock plate is initialled in Bedford form, I believe that the barrel was shortened at the breech because the pull is 12.5 inches, but the ramrod pipes are evenly spaced without showing any sign of being moved. The barrel is 40 inches, flat to flat is 7/8 inches.There is some engraving on the patch box, but it is minimal.