Thanks guys - I bought an old rifle from photos because the butt stock shape looked rather early to me. Roman nose with heavy drop (I thought maybe it was berks county), flat buttplate a bit over 1-1/2 inch wide, long 48 inch octagon to round rifled barrel of a larger caliber, maple, early type triggerguard without a rail mounted with a screw at the rear and simple finials, double set trigger, simple teardrop wrist inlay, simple incised lines along forestock and buttstock - otherwise a plain gun, no patchbox.
When I got the rifle, I was surprised by the markings - it is signed "Geo. Slaysman" on the barrel clearly in script, and inscribed "Lewis Town 1804" clearly on the long sideplate in script. I was hoping to see some other examples of his work, especially earlier ones and would be interesting to know who he learned from. Need to do a bit of work on it and it needs a lock, and some idiot removed the mortise wood around the lock when it was converted - so it needs restoration there. Based on the mortise it had a large lock (about 5-5/8) with a banana shape along thre bottom and matching long sideplate (flush with the wood not beveled).
I'm trying to decide whether to use a germanic lock or english one - any thoughts? I am having a hard time finding a repro lock large enough but suitable to this timeframe and any thoughts are appreciated.
So George would have been only 22 when this was made, perhaps one of his first efforts. The sideplate and ramrod pipes are simple very thin sheet brass and the triggerguard looks like he probably made that also. I'll do some pics after it looks presentable.
