Ohio or Indiana Rifle?

[boman]

I'm hoping someone can decipher the script on the barrel of this rifle which might point me to the maker.  It most probably is a sw Ohio or se Indiana gun as the lock is marked T.(Thompson) Neave and Sons who were located at 83-85 Main st. in Cincinnati from 1849 to 1860. Hoping someone on here has the books about Ohio makers once I/we figure out the initials. breech is at the top in first photo(tried to rotate it so you could read it left to right. breech is at the right in the second photo si it would read right to left. (Don't know if this maker was left or right handed) other distinctive photos are included but the rifle is basically plain 3rd or early fourth quarter 19th century 35-36 cal hunting rifle. Feel free to express your opinions on the letters, might get a consensus

 

[Seth Isaacson]

Lot of Cincinnati goods were shipped all around the Midwest in the 19th period, so the lock won't be too helpful. For example, businesses from Cincinnati sent a lot of goods to St. Louis, and from there they went up and down the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries.

[MGillman]

D S?

[boman]

Lot of Cincinnati goods were shipped all around the Midwest in the 19th period, so the lock won't be too helpful. For example, businesses from Cincinnati sent a lot of goods to St. Louis, and from there they went up and down the Mississippi and its navigable tributaries.

 I appreciate your input. This particular rifle was purchased in Connersville Ind. 45 years ago which keeps it very near Cincinnati so I suspect/speculate on the maker being a hoosier or from sw Ohio'

Steve

[Seth Isaacson]

That makes sense.  I was just going off this particular part of your post:

It most probably is a sw Ohio or se Indiana gun as the lock is marked T.(Thompson) Neave and Sons who were located at 83-85 Main st. in Cincinnati from 1849 to 1860.

Hopefully you find out more from some of those here who know about that region's makers. It looks like its in pretty good shape. Rifling looks pretty clean even from what is shown.

[retired fella]

Those initials look more like a D G to my eye.

[TMerkley]

Maybe try a pencil rub on paper.  It may show some shallow engraving not very well visible...

[Arcturus]

Looks like "D G" to me, also.

[Gaeckle]

I wonder if that barrel has been reamed and re-rifled. The picture showing the muzzle looks to modern. 7 lands and grooves with wide grooves. Most old barrels I've seen have narrow deep grooves.....the barrel looks like a modern made barrel....

[Seth Isaacson]

It just looks like a later gun to me. That kind of rifling isn't rare by the mid-19th century.

[Don Stith]

I wonder if that barrel has been reamed and re-rifled. The picture showing the muzzle looks to modern. 7 lands and grooves with wide grooves. Most old barrels I've seen have narrow deep grooves.....the barrel looks like a modern made barrel....

Maybe my tired old eyes are not working, but looks like wide lands and narrow grooves to me

[flinchrocket]

I would just like to mention that the muzzle treatment is very similar to J.S. Burson who worked in Wabash,IN.maybe the maker was connected to Burson in some way! Pictures in the ALR library.

[boman]

I wonder if that barrel has been reamed and re-rifled.

Pretty sure it period rifling but could have been "freshened" long ago.

I would just like to mention that the muzzle treatment is very similar to J.S. Burson who worked in Wabash,IN.maybe the maker was connected to Burson in some way! Pictures in the ALR library.

Could be or maybe just an "Indiana thing" I know I would like to have a J.S Burson rifle. also wish I could track down the book mentioned in his bio," Gunmakers of Indiana".

Keep the comments coming guys especially opinions on the initials even if you agree with what has already been posted.

Steve

[Joey R]

Need input from Tanselman.