Louis Octavius Smith (1816-). 1850-59, Tiffin, OH, researched by Don Hutslar in his 1st 1 volume book on OH gunsmiths and also in the later 5 vol set on OH gunsmiths published by the Assn of Ohio Long Rifle Collectors. Of course his research was copied by Frank Sellers, American Gunsmiths. Having put together the later 5 vol set, I can tell you that your gun is typical of guns from that area. What Sellers did not bother to copy was the report to the US Census of Industry in 1850 in which re noted he had 2 men working; had bought 24 rifle barrels over previous 12 months for$66; purchased 24 rifle stock blanks for $24; made 24 rifles. His overall business yielded $1500 for the previous year. Hutslar did not locate Smith after 1859 so the field is wide open for your further research. Most OH guns c.1850 are half-stock. What is barrel length?
