Help identifying maker

[Bill Weedman]

Anyone know the maker of this rifle. Signed LHM between set of dots. Lock is T. Davidson, Cincinnati OH who was in operation 1850-53.

[Avlrc]

The rifle looks like Ohio, IN, IL.    Ohio book has an L Morath, 1853 Directory, Newark.  & an L Morrett, Columbus 1850.

[Bill Weedman]

No doubt midwestern rifle. I am hopeful that someone recognizes the way the Rifle is marked. I have books on Missouri, Illinois and Indiana but none on Ohio other than the databases you can find online. The script initials and dot group on the ends could be distinctive.

[Avlrc]

If you have deducted makers from IL, MO, IN, then I would think L. Morrett from Columbus, deserves a little research. 

[Bill Weedman]

I will check him out.
Thank you for your help.

[Tanselman]

Before anyone does a lot of research on the initials, I think they have been "deciphered" upside down. The middle initial is an "A" rather than "H" and when inverted I read the barrel inscription as "W A T," or perhaps "F" for the last initial. Can you provide a good image of the last initial, for better identification?

Shelby Gallien

[Avlrc]

Before anyone does a lot of research on the initials, I think they have been "deciphered" upside down. The middle initial is an "A" rather than "H" and when inverted I read the barrel inscription as "W A T," or perhaps "F" for the last initial. Can you provide a good image of the last initial, for better identification?

Shelby Gallien

Good eye.

[Bill Weedman]

I inverted it from the original configuration for you. I have trouble reading the faint script letters. I am glad someone has better eyes than me and is more familiar with the script letters.

[bama]

Shelby you are correct, the letters read W. A. F, you can barely see the cross bar for the F but it is there. Good luck with your search on the maker, it's always nice to know this information.

[Bill Weedman]

You guys are amazing. Thanks for helping me out.

[Avlrc]

If the last name was a T, there is a William A Throckmorton, Ohio, but the gun pictured does not look like this one.
At least six gunmakers listed in the Ohio books with the initials W. F.  But the couple I looked up had different middle initials.

Why all the lazy gunsmiths back then, could not even engrave their last name,   

[Bill Weedman]

There are so many possibilities that I don’t believe the maker will be found unless by chance. It would take some time to research each individual possibility and there would still be questions.
Thanks everyone for your assistance.

[Avlrc]

There are so many possibilities that I don’t believe the maker will be found unless by chance. It would take some time to research each individual possibility and there would still be questions.
Thanks everyone for your assistance.

Ye of little faith.     Are you sure that the last initial is an F? 

[Hungry Horse]

Am I the only one here that rubs a little chalk dust into engraved, or stamped name so they can be read easier?

Hungry Horse

[bama]

I have no doubt that if the chalk dust was applied it would probably help. I have saved and cropped the picture and then outlined what I see as a Capital F with a little flourish. It is very faint but once I point it out I think everyone will see it. Please see the attachments. I have no dog in this fight but I would hate for the OP to spend a lot of time looking for a wrong last name.

Jim

[Avlrc]

Bama, that helped a lot. 

[Avlrc]

I just searched several of the makers in the Ohio book with W F initials.  Even checked them out on ancestry & unless I missed something which is very possible, none of them had the middle initial A. Maybe more Westward.