I recently picked up a well-used flintlock rifle that I initially thought hailed from Pennsylvania. Upon doing a bit of research, I conclude it is Virginian, more specifically from the lower Shenandoah Valley area. Could be a product of the Sheetz clan but there are details that don't entirely fit any particular maker, at least to my eye.
So, here I am looking for opinions from those more knowledgeable than myself, as to is most likely to have built this unsigned piece, and about when?
This is a heavy rifle with a .556" caliber, 42.0" long swamped barrel. The barrel 1.12" at the breech, tapers to about 1.025" at 35 inches, then flares to1.10" at the muzzle.
There is some very nicely done relief paneling along the forearm and it appears as if there was once some paneling around the lock paels but otherwise no carving. The patchbox is ingraved and features 4 cutouts. The box still has remnants of animal fat now heavily oxidized.
The gun has set triggers that seem original to the piece and the trigger guard is somewhat narrow.
The sideplate features prominent horns, a detail seen on only a few rifles from this area. The lock is clearly a replacement, but done long ago. It would appear that the current lock was in use on this rifle for many, many years.
Finally, the unusually large .556" bore is rifle with 7 deep (.024") round bottom grooves. The grooves are a bit dirty looking but the bore is generally bright and quite serviceable.
Any thoughts you might offer are welcome. Rifles of this type are a bit out of my range of experience.
