a friend's rifle

[charlie44gs]

A friend has owned this rifle for 20+ years but knows little about it. We would appreciate any thoughts you might have about its age, style, origin, or maker. Know this will be difficult since it carries few markings. There are 9 or 10 stars on the barrel aft of the front and rear sight.
Thanks for your ideas.
Charlie

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

...What wood is the stock..??... are fittings brass or iron..? ...is lock marked..?...I have a similar half-stock with wooden barrel rib...Tennessee style architecture....
 

[Molly]

Neat trigger guard.  Suggests to me features similar to something further "south" than TN...but better thoughts will come from the experts, I'm sure.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

...Molly...I'm saying my similar rifle has definite E. TN. architecture....all iron, curley maple half stock, "lollipop' tang....The rifle pictured might be southern, but NOT E.TN. style....although we have all seen rifles not true to accepted style by known regional makers....
 

[charlie44gs]

Thanks for your thoughts.
The fittings are brass. The rib is riveted to the barrel, which is 42.5 inches long. The wood is a puzzle; could be a fined grained walnut or cherry. Does not resemble oak, and there is not a distinctive grain pattern. There are two brass fittings on the lock side of the stock. Can't tell if they were replacements for a broken stock or if they were original.

Have not fired it but we would like to do so.
Charlie