W.L. Signed Rifle

[Loudy]

Jim & Bob,
Did you notice that the WL signature on the gun that sold at Garth’s auction house has what looks like a large comma engraved on the flat just behind the initials?  It looks like the WL signature on the gun that started this thread might have the same little comma engraved just behind the initials. Anyone else see this? 

Bob,
Were you able to determine if the barrel on your WL rifle is tapered & flared (swamped)?  It looks swamped in the pictures.  I’ve been thinking about your suggestion that a previous owner of your gun, during the working life of the gun, may have wanted a different caliber gun so he had the original barrel swapped out for a different caliber barrel.  For a few reasons I am more inclined to think your barrel was instead restocked. First, I imagine it would be very difficult to find a swamped barrel that just happens to fit an existing stock that was fitted to a different barrel. Second, back in the day, the only good reason to put a new barrel on an older stock would be to replace a barrel that got ruined somehow or was “shot out” due to extensive use.  Third, for the average Joe, these longrifles were typically one of the most expensive possessions owned.  The barrel was probably the most costly component of the gun. It would take a very compelling reason to justify the cost of swapping out a barrel. My suggestion is that your gun was restocked by a yet to be identified W.L. gunsmith.  Parts from an older gun made by the gunsmith that made the so-called Donald Duck gun were used.  These parts older parts included the patchbox, buttplate, rear site, and maybe the comb and toe plates, ramrod pipes and triggerguard.  The reused barrel, lock, triggers, etc. were then added.  This is just a suggested theory.  Let me know if you think it is plausible.  Also please let me know if there are holes in my thinking or details that I haven’t taken into consideration.

Jim,
I have new information regarding the Daniel Duck gun.  I think it would be best to add it to the thread started a few years ago about that gun.  I will attempt to do that. 

Mark

[Loudy]

Bob,

Last night I took another close look at the photos you sent of the underside of the barrel on your W.L. gun.  I see what appears to be a groove in the bottom flat about two inches in front of the breech end of the barrel.  It I am seeing this correctly, this would be good indication that the barrel was previously on an older flintlock gun.  A groove like that was often cut to accommodate the forward lock bolt on a flintlock gun. 

Mark 

[jdm]

Mark,  Your correct there is a coma like mark engraved after the letter  "L" on both guns. I would agree with your theory on this one being a period  restock by a Upper Susquehanna maker.

[OldSouthRelics]

Mark,  Your correct there is a coma like mark engraved after the letter  "L" on both guns. I would agree with your theory on this one being a period  restock by a Upper Susquehanna maker.

Jim and Mark,

I'd have to agree. I'm also possibly thinking there was an Upper Susquehanna Maker who was maybe well known for his "refurbishing" skills. Is it possibly he was re-stocking older guns for extra money? Maybe when you gave him your gun to restock, and he offered a patchbox engraving as well. It would be an interesting and possibly very effective way to attract customers. Then he signed the top barrel flat and put a star behind the site to separate himself from William Laudenslager. It is almost as if he was aware of other W L signatures, and tried his best to be unique and distinguishable. Just some off the wall thinking.

I think it was originally stocked with a flintlock barrel as well, and I would support that with the common damage seen where the hammer would rest. Don't see it? I didn't initially either, there is a very well performed repair. Actually there are 4 fairly well done repairs. One of them is in a very sensitive area, and was so skillfully done, if it wasn't for the grain change of the wood, I would not have noticed. Jim and Mark, both of you would possess greater knowledge on this, I'll let you guys make a more educated judgment and defer to your opinions regarding this.

Overall, I think we are getting a better perspective of not who "WL," is, but what he was potentially doing. My last thought is that if I was a gunsmith, especially around the time when Percussion was becoming more popular, I'd consider advertising my services to update the "very expensive" family firearms that were originally in Flint. As you mentioned Mark, these firearms were often the prized possession of a family, and buying a new one might not have been possible, so there would have been a niche market for gunsmiths around that time, in my mind, for doing the exact things we suspect "WL," doing.

Regards,

Bob