Help IDing a longrifle

[kotkinjs1]

Hello all, I joined this forum to try and help me ID a longrifle I own. Don't know any of it's chain of custody or history. I'm not well versed in this family of arms - I usually collect military arms. It's about 48 cal at the muzzle, long, and aside from the two script initials engraved on the top barrel flat (which I can't really make out... something and an L?), completely unmarked. Does it look familiar or identifiable to anyone based on shape, design, etc? Some elsewhere have commented that it looks like a put together rifle based on the crudeness of the trigger, fit of the hammer/cone, nosecap. All I really would like to find out is maker (if those letters are indicative of that), approximate age and geographic area or production. Thank you in advance.

[Hungry Horse]

 Kind of reminds me of guns made in Georgia. The trigger does look like a replacement, but the rest looks like it belongs together.

 Hungry Horse

[Tanselman]

Butt architecture kind of reminds me of Joseph Long's work out in western PA.  Shelby Gallien

[JTR]

It looks like a Upper Susquehanna rifle to me, similar to those made by Joe Long, etc.
I doubt that the lock and trigger are original to the gun, nor is the add on patchbox.
On the plus side, it looks full length still, has nice wood, and is a fair example of an 1830's/1840's rifle.
Looks like I was typing the same time as Shelby.

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=33.0

[Sequatchie Rifle]

I have a rifle with a similar signature and here is what one of our members had to say about it- “The barrel signature sure looks like one of Sam Loudenslager's.  He was a prolific gun maker.  Most of his guns came out of his shop/farm near Mexico, PA in Juniata County.  He learned the trade in Union/Snyder County near New Berlin / Selinsgrove area.  He made single barrel & swivel-breech longrifles.  FYI... the wriggle engraving on the bow and extensions of the trigger-guard (as seen in the ALR Library photos of his other guns) are almost a signature feature.  I would definitely like to see more photos of your old gun.  Does your rifle retain the "Roman-nose" buttstock profile typical of guns from Central PA?  I would also be curious to know where your GGG Grandfather lived.  Sam Loudenslager's guns turn up all over the country.  One of his rifles is one display at The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.”  Thanks for posting the photos.

[Sequatchie Rifle]

[Dennis Glazener]

I am going with somewhere in West VA. Maybe Avlrc and homerifle will be of help.
Dennis

[kotkinjs1]

Sequatchie - thank you very much! I think those letters are a perfect match!

Also, I used the ramrod to measure the length down the inside/outside of the barrel. I also used an endoscope on my cellphone app to peek inside. It looks like there's......something there. Not round like a ball, more like something wedged in. You can see form the ramrod how far it goes when inside - to about half inch in front of where the touch hole would be from the cone. It doesn't seem like that's enough room to be a ball either, to be that close to the touch hole. Unfortunately there's no cleaning screw to be able to try and shine a light through the bolster and see if it's obstructed by a ball from inside the barrel.

Anyway, on closer inspection, there does seem to be a modification where the second trigger would have been - it's been plugged by some brass maybe. Also, the barrel does appear to be slightly swamped, maybe 2 or 3 millimeters at the middle. I just used a straightedge to judge but the picture came out horrible, I apologize. You can just see the light shining through at the middle though.

[kotkinjs1]

I have a rifle with a similar signature and here is what one of our members had to say about it- “The barrel signature sure looks like one of Sam Loudenslager's.  He was a prolific gun maker.  Most of his guns came out of his shop/farm near Mexico, PA in Juniata County.  He learned the trade in Union/Snyder County near New Berlin / Selinsgrove area.  He made single barrel & swivel-breech longrifles.  FYI... the wriggle engraving on the bow and extensions of the trigger-guard (as seen in the ALR Library photos of his other guns) are almost a signature feature.  I would definitely like to see more photos of your old gun.  Does your rifle retain the "Roman-nose" buttstock profile typical of guns from Central PA?  I would also be curious to know where your GGG Grandfather lived.  Sam Loudenslager's guns turn up all over the country.  One of his rifles is one display at The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.”  Thanks for posting the photos.

Found this on the web....mine looks exactly like it except for the patchbox.

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/lot-106884.aspx

[JTR]

Looks like you've probably found your maker!

[kotkinjs1]

Looks like you've probably found your maker!

That sounds so.....existential.