F Sheetz or H Sheets

[WV-WenderMan]

Came across this KY. Rifle.  At first glance I thought it was a Frederick Sheetz but after further investigation I think it’s a Henry Sheets.  Any constructive comments would be appreciated. 

[Avlrc]

I think that is out of Staunton,Augusta County, Virginia, Sheets' shop.  It could be John or his son Henry.

[WV-WenderMan]

Gun was originally a cap lock, the flint lock was added, so Henry is what I think also

[Avlrc]

I saw that gun at RIA back in February.  I thought it was initially a percussion rifle. If I remember, the barrel was short, maybe 34 or 36 inches. It has some neat stuff on it and is a nice rifle. You may be right, and perhaps it was made by Henry, John's son.

[WV-WenderMan]

The barrel is 36”. It was reduced 3x in its lifetime. ISO a period lock and contemplating whether to stretch it back to original length.

[Tanselman]

That rifle, with its shortened barrel, looks just like the Sheets rifle I picked up at a small Midwest auction at Mooresville, IN, a bit southwest of Indianapolis, if I recall correctly, about 30+ years ago. Everything, including all inlays, look the same, and the rifle was percussion when I acquired it. I sold it to a major VA collector in the KRA, and he contemplated having it stretched for a year or two but eventually got a similar rifle with full barrel and traded the shorter rifle off. 

Shelby Gallien

[Avlrc]

The barrel is 36”. It was reduced 3x in its lifetime. ISO a period lock and contemplating whether to stretch it back to original length.

Maybe that is where the signature went.
 
If it were mine, I would.  It deserves it.

[bluenoser]

Interesting trigger adjustment screw.

[Avlrc]

Interesting trigger adjustment screw.

John & Henry used that arrangement a lot. I think most of John's rifles have that.