What is it?

[debnal]

I have this long gun and do not know exactly what it is. It appears to be a flintlock fowler. But is it American, English, is it a trade gun or an Indian trade gun? It is the last gun in Grinslade's American fowler book where he calls it unique fowler. It is also pictured in Kaufmann;s book, page 110 showing the lock as an example of a handmade flintlock. It is cherry stocked. The sideplate, triggerguard and ramrod pipes look American made to me. The buttplate has a small shell on the return. Possibly English? The thimbpiece has a tomahawk and arrow professionally engraved on it. The barrel is 44 inches and thick walled. Relief carved at the barrel tang and around the rear of the lock mortice. The barrel is signed Joseph Wright in script. The signature is just like you see on Kentucky rifles. I would appreciate any opinions on it. It is the bottom gun in the picture of guns on the wall.
Al

[EGG17601]

I'm curious to learn about this one. Kauffman's book refers to a quite specific type of lock to which the term "hand-made" had become commonly applied by the time he was writing, which of course was a long time ago. He speculates that those locks may have come from Germany, which is why they would possibly have been preferred by the German gunsmiths in PA. He also identifies them as distinct from the Ketland locks also seen on contemporaneous rifles. As someone in PA interested in PA rifles, I'm also very interested to know what we have learned since Kauffman's rather speculative musings about the origins of the "hand-made" lock.

[rich pierce]

Stocked here in the English style. Most guns from collections assembled some time ago have had their locks restored to flintlock; having been converted to percussion in their working life. So I’m usually cautious about thinking all parts of the lock are original. The lock plate, yes.