South Carolina, 1835 John Murphy Rifle from Williamsburg County

[Marcruger]

That is fascinating.  Indeed, who would have thought the name plate and patchbox would have stayed the same.  I've gone from never seeing one of those rifles to now having seen two.  Thank you Dana!

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Shelby,.. Hope to get more photos soon, I haven't seen this one in person yet,... will post,...
....... Marc,.. when I got the photos, I knew I had seen that name before,... just couldn't remember where,... and to see two previously unseen guns by the same maker only days apart,.. that's amazing,... !!! ... here is one more photo I missed posting,... (full length pic). hope to have more and specs soon,...

[B.Barker]

Marc that's a dandy thanks for sharing. I wish one of them still had the trigger guard on it.

[jcmcclure]

What struck me when I first saw it was the similarities to some of the Lexington, Kentucky rifle patchboxes.
Bob

It's the first South Carolina Gun I have seen with a captured lid box. There was some influence from the Lexington/Cumerland schools. 

[BOB HILL]

A SMALL CORRECTION. Earlier I stated that William Bartell mentioned leaving his little rifle with Captain Murphy. After getting back home I found the journals and he was referred to as Mr. Murphy not Captain Murphy. Sorry for the mistake.
Bob

[Marcruger]

My sincere apologies to Dr. Whisker for omitting the intended photo here of his excellent work "Gunsmiths of the Carolinas 1660-1870."  I showed the relevant page, but somehow missed posting the cover photo.  This is a much referenced and valued book on southern longrifle makers.  Here is the book.  Best wishes,   Marc