This rifle has some very unusual characteristics for a Wm Shreckengost rifle. Although signed W * Shr which I have seen before, this
rifle also has the name J Mertilson after the maker's signature but evenly spaced between the maker's normal flower motif on either
side of the signature showing it to be original to the rifle. I am aware of 1 other rifle signed on the barrel "W Shreckengost for Daniel
Boyer" I assume Mertilson was who the rifle was made for but will try to research further. The engraving on this rifle is early work.
Other interesting features are the wrist inlays similar to Upper Susq style which I have not seen before. The lack of a two screw swallow
tail tang is also very different but similar to Wm's son Levi's work. Lot's of mysteries in this rifle. First effort will be to restore the cracked
stock. The combination brass and poured pewter nosecap is typical of his work but later rifles were more developed as in this photo.
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