Thoughts on the maker????

[gibster]

Didn't want to highjack another topic so started a new one.  I was asked to post some pictures of a rifle that can be seen in another picture under the topic of "who made this rifle"  Feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to answer them for you.  The rifle is for sale so it may end up over there as well before this is over.

[Avlrc]

Dont know who made it, but nice.  As unique as it is someone will know the maker.    Great find IMO.   Thanks for sharing.

[jdm]

That gun belongs in K.C.
It puts me in mind of Adams county  Pa.

[Dobyns]

Is the patchbox release the front of the toe plate?

The trigger guard, side plate and buttplate appear to be late Lancaster.  The carving around the front of the comb and behind the entry pipe shows up frequently on Lancaster guns.

A real puzzle is the angular, interrupted molding on the forend.

[Chris_B]

Really a very fine one!
Thanks for sharing

[Shreckmeister]

Is the cheek inlay a replacement?  Looks like the same tacks as the 2 repairs.

[gibster]

Dobyns - Yes, the patch box release is the front of the toe plate.
Shreckmeister - I think you're probably right that the inlay is a replacement.
Appreciate the comments. 

[Shreckmeister]

I think the unusual forestock molding with the straight terminations between the barrel pin eschutcheons might be the indicator that leads you to
the maker.

[Hungry Horse]

 Shreck, is right that molding is distinctive, and I’ve only seen it on guns from North Carolina.

  Hungry Horse

[mbriggs]

I do not know who made it, but it is possible it is from the Catawba Valley School in North Carolina. I have been told that when they were trying to form the Counties of Iredell and Catawba (they are opposite of each other on both sides of the Catawba River) they did not have enough population to meet the state requirements.  They advertised in the Lancaster, PA. newspaper free land for any skilled tradesmen who wanted to move down and settle in that area.  Many people to them up on this offer, and as a result, the local decorative arts including furniture, pottery, quilts, and yes longrifles made in Iredell and Catawba Counties look just like items made in Lancaster, PA. The top gunsmiths in this school were Henry W. Huffman, Daniel Speck, Samuel Peterson, Abram Cook, and W.E. Jones.

If you own Bill Ivey's wonderful book on North Carolina Longrifle Schools, turn to page 240-241 and study rifle #174 and see if they carving does not look similar to this rifle.

Thanks,

Michael