Clark, it's not a copy. As with any other type of gun, to me some of the early composite guns stand out as being more artistically successful than others. I was working from the idea of a simpler gun which had been built utilizing parts salvaged from several guns (English and French) and also using a few parts that may have been made by the smith. Even though it may have been stocked in a hasty manner, attention was paid to line and form, and even though it exhibits a certain "stripped down" character, some simple carved decoration was added.
A gun of this type can be symbolic of many things. While it may be an object of great beauty and character, and tells us something of the gun's maker (he aspired to do more than build a utilitarian object) , ultimately this object was likely made to be carried into battle.
