Judd Franklin Ledbetter was born in 1835 and died in 1874. His gunshop was located at the corner of Guilford College Road and present day Akela Drive. He worked in the 1855 to 1870 period. All of his rifles that I have seen are halfstock with percussion locks. I own the best example that I have seen and will post some photos of it.
The guesses above for the Roman Numeral on the barrel are not correct. Approximately 80% of Jamestown School rifles will have a roman numeral somewhere on the barrel, most behind the rear site. Each rifle came with it's own bullet mold, the mold will have the same Roman Numeral stamped on the top flat. That is how you knew which mold went with which rifle.
As to the "address" stamp on the barrel. That guess is also incorrect. Stamped below or beside the word address was also stamped Jamestown NC. I see it on many local rifles. This line might not have been stamped as hard and is no longer visable.
I have not held the posted rifle in my hands, but from the photos I feel it is probable that the barrel is from an original J.F. Ledbetter rifle that has been re-stocked during the period of use. I have never seen the side plate that is on this rifle on any Jamestown rifle. I have owned over 100 and seen close to 1,000. The Patchbox on this rifle is not similar to any I have ever seen in this School, nor have I ever seen a patchbox on any Jamestown rifle made this late.
The stripes on the stock are artifical. A piece of string was soaked with nitric acid and wrapped around the stock in most cases, but I have owned a few that were hand painted.
Here are a few photos of my J.F. Ledbetter rifle to compare with.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Michael
