What style or school is this butt plate?

[Ky-Flinter]

I got some brass parts in a trade and I've been trying to identify the pieces, but this one has me stumped.  It has 105 or 501 written on it.  I don't know what that might mean.  Cast in on the inside is the name R. Kern Ligoner, PA.  Any idea what style, school, time period this butt plate would fit? 









-Ron

[rich pierce]

So guessing 1 and 3/4" to 1 and 7/8" wide and over 4 and a half inches tall. I think this may be off a 1780s to 1790s eastern Pennsylvania rifle with a side opening patchbox sometimes labeled Lehigh and sometimes labeled early Bucks County.

[HIB]

Gentlemen,  Rich may be almost correct about the eastern area of Pa. assessment, however, the top portion of the casting suggests an earlier period than found on Bucks Co. or Lehigh Valley guns. Suggest you examine known early rifles from Reading and Lancaster that are a little further west to solve the problem.

Good examples can be found in the pre-Rev War sections of Shumway and Kindig. Pay specific attention to the facets on the top of the butt plate casting and the width of the butt plate.

Perfect for an 1760 style rifle.  Regards, HIB

[Ky-Flinter]

I should have given dimensions.  5-1/4 inches high, 1-7/8 inches wide.  The return is 2-3/4 inches long with 3 facets.  Thanks for the input.

-Ron

[Stoner creek]

Ron
I just bought an unfinished rifle built in the Christian Oerter style. The butt plate on my new purchase is very similar. Christian's Springs 1760s (mid) - 1775. Look in RCA vol 1.