Oops! I pasted the wrong Email from a friend in the now deleted post above. Here's what it should be:
I really like your Young Rifle. Does the patchbox open from the toe plate? Every Young I’ve ever looked at has this unusual feature for a Snyder County rifle. I’m beginning to think that you really like these upper Susquehanna pieces.
Young, D. – c. 1840 – Middleburg – a rifle made by him is in the collection of the Snyder Co. Historical Society. This rifle indicates that he was a fine maker. He was mentioned in Smith’s article for the Snyder County Historical Society. He probably later worked in Centre County. The information on this rifle states: The information on the gun identifies it as: “ made by Daniel Young, Middleburg, Pa. 45” barrel, 12” stock decorated with flowers and ornaments bronze and silver inlayed fish on the barrel engraved on the firing mechanism: J&W Aston Abranter”
The piece at the Snyder County Historical Society is somewhat like yours and has his typical patchbox (like yours) which he didn’t seem to vary very much. I have seen a few of his guns which look very late and have a mid western look to them. I even saw a half stock by him once.
