J.Clippinger and dated patchbox

[cyrus1066]

[cyrus1066]

Questions:
            - Clippinger Ancestors alive today that may have an ability to shed light on the significance of the PB             
                  date?
            - heavy barrell and about 40 cal
            -9 inlays
            - original perc.  lock
            - Finally I believe that the poor soldering job as seen on the hinge on  the
               patch box   has caused malignment to the butt plate.....my opinion is to re work this and align decently and have a better "fix "
              Would that be the consensus ..to me currently it is just plain ugly ,on an otherwise nice later  Ky that ticks
              most of the boxes ........
           Don

[smokinbuck]

Don,
The Clippinger ancestors are alive and well and friends of mine. If you PM me this evening I will give you their contact info.
Mark

[Hlbly]

Anybody besides me see a difference in the lid brass and the rest of the brass on the gun?

[Dennis Glazener]

No question the lid is from a different lot of brass. Wonder if it might have ties to the 1851 date?
Dennis

[cyrus1066]

the shadow engraving on patchbox finial
near hinge and shadow engraving at hinge on lid are identical .
The soldering fix is bad and i believe  that the :
            lid is period to the gun
           lid is a slightly different brass that seems highlighted in the photo
            (this difference is not noticeable when looking at the gun.)
           but with the lid sitting proud a bit due to the bad  solder work it is also
            a bit worn.
       
           

[Hlbly]

Keep in mind that copying that kind of engraving is not very difficult.

[cyrus1066]

[cyrus1066]

On closer inspection:
      the finial and lid brass are a match...
       patch box sideplates are a heavier gauge almost twice the thickness
      same gauge as the RR Pipes which have similar /same colour as Finial.
      the toeplate is also same colour as Finial and PB Lid
      .......the signature is semi worn as is the date on PB etc
      Somehow it feels right.......
      there are 2 definite brasses used though and I ask would that be uncommon?