UPdated with new photos - Copy of an original Patch Box

[bama]

Here is my attempt to copy an original box that I picked up at the CLA show a while back. I did not get the side plates so I had to get creative for the side plates. See if you can figure out what style or school it fits in.

I have added a picture of the original box lid. Note the edge treatment of the engraving on the box lid. Then look at the pictures of the other original rifles with similar treatment on the box lids.

I ask those that are more knowledged than I if that is enough to tie my box to that area.

I did use the John Sheetz rifle pictured in the book Three Centuries of Tradition for the inspiration for this rifle. Not an exact copy but maybe a kissing cousin.

[smylee grouch]

Reminds me of some Virginia guns I have seen. Looks nice too.

[Dennis Glazener]

Nice work Jim.
Dennis

[greybeard]

Juat a minute please. I have to go get a paper towell to  mop the drool offen my keyboard.
         Cheers    Bob

[J. Talbert]

Hey Jim,
That's some nice looking engraving!
Those side plates look like a good match to me.

Nice work,
Jeff

[B Shipman]

Very VA I think. You think the same judging from the rifle.

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

Are those little wood inlays in the Buttplate?, very creative. Beautiful work.

[Tom Currie]

Nice work.Well done.

[bama]

Micah I relief carved the metal with a flat graver much the save as relief carving the wood. Thanks for all the comments. I will give some hints as to the possible origin of the box this evening.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Whoever P Mitchell is, he has to be one pleased individual.  That is truly a work of art to be proud of!!  Way to go Jim!!!

[Lucky R A]

   Nice work!   It is nice to see an original part inspire such a rifle.

Ron

[whitebear]

Man!!!when you go creative you don't play do you .  I love everything about the rifle, especially the three crosses on the but plate .  I have thought about using this on my next gun behind the cheek piece .

[stuart cee dub]

Not just Virginia but the maker Sheetz comes to mind .

Not just the patchbox and the use of the multi line graver  but the wire inlay especially mixed in with the carving .

I like the three crosses on the hill too; nice touch ,unusual and evocative .

I really enjoyed viewing your work 'Bama. Lovely .

[Ed Wenger]

I would also guess Sheetz.  The patch box design, architecture of the rifle, and the carving design with the pedals (or what ever you call them) between the top and bottom scrolls has me leaning towards Sheetz, or that northern area of Virginia near Winchester....  Excellent work by the way!


                      Ed

[bgf]

Upper Valley is a good guess, but really there is only the finial, lid and the hinge to go on!  The 3-petaled flower and the spade piercing are not something I've seen exactly before (probably belong to a specific maker), but that doesn't mean much; the general outline is similar a number of others in that area, for example.  Nice job on the rifle and the copied/completed patchbox.

[bama]

Thanks for the replies. I think the box fits design wise in the Virginia schools very well. The engraving along the edge of the box lid is very similar to the Emmitsburg boxes that I included, but nobody seems to be making that connection.

Dr Tim, P Mitchell is a personal friend of mine who was very instrumental in helping me develope in my rifle building. I got these parts from Perry a number of years ago and I have been slowly working on it off and on since. I have done a few things extra on this rifle that I am sure he is not expecting. I will post the whole rifle when it is finished. I still have finish engraving a few things on the barrel and rework the triggers a little.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

So the three crosses are your maker's mark on all of your guns? It is very cleverly (and well) done on the heel of the butt plate like that.