Who signed this barrel?

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Anyone recognize these initials?

[Sequatchie Rifle]

The rifle belonged to my 3rd Great Grandfather. It is a mixture of parts from older guns and it was used from the 1840 until the 1890. It was kept in the gallery of his house with a number of other rifles that were used by the household for hunting and hog-killing.  After the War Between the States it was given to his young grandson as his first rifle. It is walnut stocked, has a back-action lock, DSTs, brass buttplate and triggerguard. The buttplate came off a rifle that originally had a patchbox, as evidenced by "cuts" on the right side.  I can post photos if anyone is interested. The gun is in rough shape.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Do post more pix... !!!  We're always interested in old guns.....especially those with southern provenance.....many useful guns were put together from parts of disabled ones... !!! ..... Regards, DGB ....

[Levy]

Look in the library at the signature of Stephen Laudenslager.  Looks like it might be him.  I have a perc. squirrel rifle signed H. L. (that is a later Laudenslager maybe related).

James Levy

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Thanks James! I am almost certain it is Samuel Laudenslager of Pennsylvania. I've attached a few photos showing the rear site, triggers, broken triggerguard and buttplate.





















ssl image hosting

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Comparison with another one of Samuel Laudenslager.

[Loudy]

Sequatchie,

The barrel signature sure looks like one of Sam Loudenslager's.  He was a prolific gun maker.  Most of his guns came out of his shop/farm near Mexico, PA in Juniata County.  He learned the trade in Union/Snyder County near New Berlin / Selinsgrove area.  He made single barrel & swivel-breech longrifles.  FYI... the wriggle engraving on the bow and extensions of the trigger-guard (as seen in the ALR Library photos of his other guns) are almost a signature feature.  I would definitely like to see more photos of your old gun.  Does your rifle retain the "Roman-nose" buttstock profile typical of guns from Central PA?  I would also be curious to know where your GGG Grandfather lived.  Sam Loudenslager's guns turn up all over the country.  One of his rifles is one display at The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.  Thanks for posting the photos. 

Mark Loudenslager             

[Levy]

Don't know why I said Stephen when Samuel is what I looked at in the library.
James Levy

[Sequatchie Rifle]

Thanks James, you were dead on! I'll try to post a few photos of the rifle this weekend. It's not a bit attractive. The family moved from has been in Tennessee since the Revolution. My 4th great grandfather was a King's Mountain. He was born in 1759. His son was the first owner in our family. So it has been in Tennessee since around 1840. He died in 1869. I know it was in Marion County, Tennessee from the 1840's until a few years ago.