To AVLRC - thank you for posting the 1850 Ohio census information. I saw Phillip Wesley Keith in a Google search... only possible Keith I could find... with listing of "mechanic" similar to your posting. But I could not find an 1850 Ohio census on-line that I could get into for free... seems like all the listings require some type of sign-up membership before I can access actual census data. I am fortunate that the superb Genealogy Dept. at the Allen County Ft. Wayne Public Library is only a short distance away, and I will verify his name and background info this week. You have given me a great start with the 1850 reference to "gunsmith," I think this is our man, and I appreciate your 1850 census post... with him located in the county of Morgan when I thought he was probably in Noble County where his parents were.
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As to originality of the rifle, it is a good quality, all original rifle with its original percussion lock. Unfortunately, it was left in an open attic for over 100 years and got "weather beaten" to some extent, and the stock broken in multiple areas for being thrown around and bumped into stuff over those years... I'd guess as more and more "old junk" was piled into the old family home's attic. It "came out" with several other old "attic condition" black powder guns at the estate sale, all in about the same weathered condition.
I initially wondered about possible reuse of an older patchbox due to the odd rear shape of the side leaves, i.e. the cut-out areas. I've had the gun since last Tuesday, and I am convinced it is an original box, not recycled, for these reasons:
1) Box has good length, and lid has neatly engraved line to match up with edge line of butt plate, making them look like they go together.
3) The short ends of the side facings that touch the butt plate are both well shaped and fit snuggly against the butt plate curvature. Often on a recycled box, the butt plate fit is slightly off.
2) The engraving was done on the box in its current configuration, or shape, as indicated by the "wriggle" engraved borders that don't "run off" the box in the "odd" spots, but rather match the box's current profile.
3) An earlier box would probably have used screws to attach the side leaves, and there are no indications of old screw holes. If an earlier box had pinned/nailed side leaves as they are currently attached, it would have been virtually impossible to remove so many small nails without doing some damage, somewhere, to some of the nail holes. Yet all current nails and nail holes are clean and tight, indicating 1st generation, i.e. original, work, at least to my eyes.
It's just an odd-looking patchbox on an otherwise decent gun that's gotten a little beat up during its "retired" years the last century, and that's the reason for this post, to find out who might have made such a gun. When we find him [as we probably have], we can start making comparisons to other guns made in the area by his competitors to see if common details can be found to help support Phillip Wesley Keith as the maker. I have to admit, the triggers have the "slightly clunky" look of triggers in many 1840s-1850s Ohio rifles. I now think my first dating effort was too early. Phillip Wesley Keith reached 21 years old in 1848 and married in 1851... so VERY good chance the gun dates to the 1850s.
Shelby Gallien
