This is not an uncommon style of patch box release, but the earliest example I have seen in the research I have done I attribute to John Shriver of York county PA. But that is just because we don't have any of Ludwig Shriver's work, his father, to see if he learned it from him.
If you look at Majorjoel's excellent post on the Frederick Sell rifle, he uses a similar release. If you compare the work of sell with that of John Shriver, a good case can be built that Sell apprenticed under Shriver. Even some of his patch box engraving was almost an exact copy of Shriver's. And of course, they both resided in York county, PA. Some people might argue that Frederick apprenticed with his father, Jacob, and I would agree that he did. But I also believe he apprenticed with Shriver, for some reason or another. Much as today, many of the ancient gunsmiths knew of one another, traded work, and generally helped each other out for mutual benefit.
How the Vogel's came to settle on this design, I have not discovered yet. Perhaps someday, I will find something that will be indicative.
Matt
