Joseph Mills gunsmith Bedford County PA

[jdm]

Rob,  You are my HERO!!!!
Collectors dream of going to a auction and coming  home with something like that.
Does it have nice forestock molding? How about the toe plate?

I have a J.A. ( John Amos ) marked lock . The initials are nothing like  Joseph   Mills.

[Pukka Bundook]

Shreck,

I don't know, but I like this hammer More than the usual Bedford hammer!

[Shreckmeister]

Thanks Jim.  Here is the forward part of the rifle.

[wildcatter]

What a find!! You need to head down my way and help me find one! Great rifle and story, thanks for sharing.

Matt

[Buck]

Rob - congrats on an excellent find. The horse shoe pays dividends once more.

Buck

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I feel certain that the notch cut along the bottom edge of the plate in the vicinity of the screw anchor hole for the frizzen spring, is just decoration to designate the area for the spring's boss.

[Shreckmeister]

I’m sure you’re right Taylor.

[WESTbury]

Westbury, Just decoration.
Bedford percussion locks are very distinctive.
John

  I believe there is a nib on the back of the frizzen spring extension that anchors into that depression to keep the spring from moving.

Normally the "nib" that keeps the frizzen spring from pivoting about the frizzen retaining screw is located farther from the screw and closer to the bend of the upper and lower leaves of the spring.

Whatever the notch was meant to be, it is definitely not for the frizzen spring.

[Metequa]

Incredible, glad the two were reunited! 

[Shreckmeister]