Where did this rifle come from?

[David R. Pennington]

Any one have any input on where this rifle might have been produced. It is in James Whisker's book "Gunsmith's of West Virginia. I am thinking of a build based loosely on this rifle.

[WElliott]

I assume Dr. Whisker believed this rifle to be from, or to be typical of, Western Virginia mountain rifles. The long bow of the guard and the butt architecture does, indeed, suggest Virginia or SW Virginia. This is certainly an appealing rifle.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Right "Sassy" architecture!! 

[moodyholler]

Typical of rifles made around Winchester area. I would say eastern panhandle of WV. Probably trained under Sheetz. Later, moodyholler

[Don Stith]

 It might not be the same rifle and my memory may be way off. However,I think Gusler had that rifle in a display at Friendship one year and was touting  it as Tennessee. I must have misunderstood him though.
 I have a Jacob Altland that has similar lock panels. Would have to dig it out to compare the butt stock architecture.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It is likely just 'me', but there's something wonky about the image of the rifle presented.  Look at the length of the lock plate, and in particular, the length of the pan from the fence to the frizzen pivot...seems like the image is stretched lengthwise to me.

[PPatch]

It is likely lens distortion from the book page being on a copy machine which would effect the outer edges just so.

dave

[WElliott]

Yes, the image is distorted from copying. I remember handling this rifle many years ago and one of the features difficult to see here is that the grease hole is surround by silver wire. Very unusual- and very Virginia.  

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

That makes me feel better.  Thanks for the clarification.

[bgf]

It might not be the same rifle and my memory may be way off. However,I think Gusler had that rifle in a display at Friendship one year and was touting  it as Tennessee. I must have misunderstood him though.
 I have a Jacob Altland that has similar lock panels. Would have to dig it out to compare the butt stock architecture.

Not impossible as East Tn is directly adjacent to SW Va!  I may be misremembering, but the squared hole with slope up toward buttplate seems to have once been associated with E. Tn.  The trigger guard, as Mr. Elliot points out, is pure SW Virginia in proportions, as is most of the stock shaping.