Mark on Barrel—Can Anyone ID it? UPDATE

[Ats5331]

I bought a fixer upper at a show a couple months ago now and took it apart today.

It’s got a Berks County architecture and style of tang carving.

When I took the barrel out, I found this mark stamped on the barrel. Can anyone ID it or tell me more about it please?

Thanks!

[Karl Kunkel]

If it's a Berks County piece Patrick Hornberger may recognize the barrel mark.  He's a member here, goes by "Eastwind" I believe.

[Ats5331]

Update: Found old Morphys pictures of a Leonard Reedy rifle with the same mark...not saying its a Reedy, but perhaps the same barrel maker?






heads or tails generator

[PHILADa]

You might want to research the Worley's on Wyomissing Creek as the barrel maker.
Good luck let us know

[Ats5331]

You might want to research the Worley's on Wyomissing Creek as the barrel maker.
Good luck let us know

Thanks for the tip, I’ll try to do some digging on the Worleys!

[Avlrc]

It could be. The couple of Worley-marked barrels I remember seeing had part of or all of the name stamped. There is a Green Lancaster book that has a lot of Lancaster makers and barrel makers in it. I don't have the book, but it could be a good place to look.

[eastwind]

The above answer on Worley is likely correct. The typeface style looks like Worley, Jess, or John. Wyomissing Creek, Mohnton, PA. At one point (1830s), Worley sold out to Cornelius Reichwine, who was more of an entrepreneur than a barrel maker, so you will see this "W" combined with Reichweins's name also. This combination usually signifies that "W" (or any other single initial) actually crafted the barrel for the Reichwine factory. If you remove the barrel you might see Reichwines name or some other factory name of the many gun barrel factories on the creek.
Surprisingly, a part of the original stone Worley Factory, with an added wood structure to make a garage, still stands on Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton.
Patrick Hornberger

[Bill Paton]

I am confused. I have seen numerous guns by various makers with barrels marked “WORLY”, usually stamped on the bottom flats. I have not seen any marked “WORLEY”. In numerous books of American gunmakers, I find many “Worleys” but no listing of  “Worly”. Can anyone explain?

Bill Paton

[Seth Isaacson]

I've seen "J. WORL" and "J. WORLY" on a few, including one being sold later this week that has both "J. WORLY" and "C. RICHWINE" on the upper left at the breech:

[Avlrc]

WOW, now that is a big picture, no magnifiers are needed on that one.

[Ats5331]

The above answer on Worley is likely correct. The typeface style looks like Worley, Jess, or John. Wyomissing Creek, Mohnton, PA. At one point (1830s), Worley sold out to Cornelius Reichwine, who was more of an entrepreneur than a barrel maker, so you will see this "W" combined with Reichweins's name also. This combination usually signifies that "W" (or any other single initial) actually crafted the barrel for the Reichwine factory. If you remove the barrel you might see Reichwines name or some other factory name of the many gun barrel factories on the creek.
Surprisingly, a part of the original stone Worley Factory, with an added wood structure to make a garage, still stands on Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton.
Patrick Hornberger

Thank you, Mr. Hornberger. I've attached some pictures of the piece. It has sight dovetails on the barrel, but no cheekpiece. I was thinking around it was made around 1800ish?

I am enjoying the conversation on this and look forward to learning more.

[Seth Isaacson]

WOW, now that is a big picture, no magnifiers are needed on that one.

Oops! I guess you can clearly see the markings now at least. 

[Bill Paton]

Greeings Ats5331,

May we see better views of the lock mortise, the bottom of the stock where the trigger guard was inset, the muzzle, the breech and tang from above, and the sight dovetails?

The visible round toe, flatish butt piece, and lack of a cheekpiece hint at a fowler. If the guard was inlet its full length (no raised grip rail) and the barrel is half round with a largish bore and no evidence of past rifling, the hint is stronger. Could the sight dovetails be later add ons? You’ve got me curious.

Bill Paton