Forestock Molding

[David R. Pennington]

My current build is loosely based on a rifle depicted in Whisker's book on WV gunsmiths and is listed as unsigned WV primitive or mountain rifle. I used a similar style lock and forged wrought iron mounts with a little earlier style wider forged iron butt plate. I was trying for a late 18th or early 19th century southern built piece, northern Va., (WV) or western Maryland. My question is what would be approppriate for fore stock molding. The rifle in the book is rather plain except for some wire inlay around the grease hole and what looks like a nicely molded forestock with a volute at the rear termination. Trouble is the b/w photos show detail poorly. A friend of mine has a relic piece of gunstock reportedly from this area with a very fine profile with concave moldings along sides of ramrod groove and a v groove along the line of the barrel pins radiusing up to the barrel. Would this be believable on a plain rifle from this area and time? Wish I had access to some originals besides on flat paper!

[SingleMalt]

I am in no way an expert, but I'd use a simple, plain incised line or a step with no other adornment.

[Pete G.]

I'm still contemplating wire inlay around the grease hole. 
That seems like a $2000 set of custom wheels on a $500 truck.

[3 swans]

Hello. Pricketts Fort, Near Fairmont, WV. has a display on now from the KRA of late 18th and 19th century rifles from that area. might be a good place to see them close, if you are within driving distance. they are in a glass case and can be seen all around and can be pictured very easy.

[jerrywh]

Amen to Pete.

[David R. Pennington]

Pete, the rifle I'm referring to has indeed the little bit of very simple wire inlay around the tombstone shaped grease hole. I plan to step it up one notch and add a very plain iron patchbox and incorporate the same style wire inlay around the patchbox. The more I look at the photo the more it looks like a nicer molded fore end. I layed it out this way and scratched in the lines. We will see.
I heard a fellow once evaluating a rifle with very plain furniture but nice lines and molded forestock and butt molding. This was a way to dress up a rifle with out a lot of extra epense perhaps, other than time.
I would love to see the rifles at Pricketts, couple hours or so away for me.