Can anyone identify this rifle?

[bdixon]

Rifle found in Central Pa. 44 inch barrel, 1 1/8 dia. 4 3/4 drop, approx 10.5 lb.

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

Would appreciate some additional pictures. A profile of the gun, both sides. Butt plate to front of lock both sides and a more complete patchbox close up.
Hurricane

[Robert Wolfe]

Hurricane, if you click on the pics they will open up larger.

[nord]

Barring a signature and in view of condition I doubt the maker will ever come to light.

You say Central PA... I suspect the rifle never got far from where it was made. Features say Upper Susquehanna to me. North of Harrisburg. Lewisburg north to the Scranton area. Possibly north of that, but I doubt it.

[bdixon]

I forgot to post it does have SD stamped on the rear of the barrel.  Sorry about that.  The rifle is not "finely" finished, perhaps some kind of barn gun just to get the job done.  Found it cheap so it was at least worth the curio.

[frogwalking]

Why is the patchbox lid too long?     I have seen several like that and know they were not made that way.  Could the wood have shrunk in drying over the years?  It does not seem likely  but I cannot think of another reason.  Someone enlighten me if you will.

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

In my experience, when the patch box does not "fit," it likely means it has been added after the gun was originally made.

[T*O*F]

when the patch box does not "fit," it likely means it has been added after the gun was originally made.

That poses more questions than it answers in this case.  It fits well, but the lid is too long...why?
a. How is it held closed?  Does it just flop around or does it fit the latch.
b. Why would anyone go thru the trouble of adding the box only to leave the lid too long?
c. Maybe  the buttplate was missing and someone added a different one...shortening the wood in the process.
d.  Any other options?

Having asked all that, it seems the wood under the missing sideplate is awful clean like someone started to inlet a replacement there.  Forensic mysteries abound.

[flintriflesmith]

The patchbox, guard, and triggers seem to be off a much nicer and earlier rifle. My guess is a late nineteenth century restock of an early nineteenth century rifle. With better pictures of the box and its engraving it may be possible to attribute it to a maker.
Gary

[tclawson]

Wow!  And I thought my rifle needs restoration.  Dixon's muzzleloader shop in Kempton Pa. is who I have heard that can do this.  He's gonna be busy.  Good find!

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

The wide base to the patchbox  finial makes me wonder if the box "originally" had side plates?
Hurricane

[flintriflesmith]

The wide base to the patchbox  finial makes me wonder if the box "originally" had side plates?
Hurricane

Very likely. That's part of why I thought it was a reused box.
Gary

[jwh1947]

$75.00 for this?  Providing that the parts not shown are not all batteed up, even those who identify as "purists" would have spent a lot more for this piece.  I agree that the patchbox and rear end have issues.  Note the hole in the lid is drilled over part of the buttplate; you can see the plate through the hole. The gun wasn't made this way, period.  Seems to me that somebody was planning to do some "enhancement" and didn't plan things out.  They were of limited knowledge and even less skill, and they outfoxed themselves and the work never got completed.

None of this is beyond being able to be corrected.  Friends, if I got this one for $75, after a few days of pure enjoyment at the bench, I would be paying a lot of bills with the profits.  With a little luck one of the boys might have a real lock that will fall right into that mortise.  That lid might be a candidate for replacement, depending on what can be done with the engraving pattern, which looks salvageable and amenable to a shortening job.  If retained, obviously the hole needs to be filled and a new one drilled.  I'd make the latch out of a nail, peen it in and dress it down.
  

[JTR]

I'd be tickled with that gun for 75 bucks!
A nice long fat barrel with deep rifling that begs to be from an earlier rifle. Is it 1 1/8" full length? Or is it swamped?
The patchbox lid can be chopped back as jwh mentioned, and a Fordney style side plate could probably be made to fit pretty easy.
An original single bolt late percussion lock should be easy to find, maybe even on ebay. Or maybe someone here. It'll probably have a couple of birds or some such thing engraved on the tail end.
Sellers has an unlocated SD as a maker of flintlock kentuckys. And in the Patchbox book there are several LD makers shown. If you can post more pics, please include one of the barrel SD. SD and LD could nowdays be easily confused.
Heck, sell me that gun and I'll fix it, and sell it back to you for 500 bucks! 
John

[jwh1947]

JTR, need a business partner?  I like your thinking.  But, have you seen the Internet lately?  Everybody makes $500...you, me, the bloke who owns it in addition to the cost of the item, and our Web service girl.  Always employ a female for the latter.  They don't intrude and work faster at a sustained effort, ask for less, and brew coffee without being told.

 My daughter, home for the holidays and as politically incorrect as her father, says it is due to the absence of Y chromosomes which engender laziness.  Furthermore, she says, the reason brides wear white dresses is that all common household appliances traditionally come in white. 

Must be genetic. 

[frogwalking]

I had not looked at the lock inlet before.  I am not a very good woodbutcher, but whoever inlet that lock sure removed much more wood than was necessary.  Is this the kind of work you (those of you who know such things) would expect from a skilled old time gunsmith?