Hidden 6 Petal Rosette

[Avlrc]

I bought this old Fowler at the last long rifle show  I attended.  I have looked it over several times since then. For the last month or so, it has been hanging on the wall.  This evening, when I walked by, the evening sun rays were lighting up the buttstock. I noticed remnants of this 6-petal rosette. I don't think the seller had seen it, or I believe he would have pointed it out. Nice surprise.

[Avlrc]

Might be 5 petals & a stem.

[eastwind]

Could also be a Pennsylvania (Dutch/German) Hexsign, the Angstadts occassioanly carved such Hexsigns in their stocks.
Patrick Hornberger

[Avlrc]

Could also be a Pennsylvania (Dutch/German) Hexsign, the Angstadts occassioanly carved such Hexsigns in their stocks.
Patrick Hornberger

Thanks, it may be one of their early guns. It is dutchy & folksey. I will post photos of it next week.

[Avlrc]

48-inch oct to round barrel, a narrow flat on top that runs within 8 inches of the 20 gauge muzzle. Looks like some old red stain; the stock is a relatively plain piece of maple. I really like the folksy carving and the Hex symbol.  Any thoughts to the maker or region?
Happy Thanksgiving.

[rich pierce]

Cool old gun. I’d expect the lock to be a little earlier than it is, given the architecture. Maybe it’s been reconverted from percussion as do many were, and the cock and such were best guesses.

Kinda looked at first like it was an EK creation. I like it.

[Tanselman]

Good looking gun, but the "hex" carving looks like a much later addition to me, a generation or more later. It appears to have been made over the top of the original finish with a somewhat blunt ended stylus or compass, denting the old finish in in places, and cracking it in others when it has chipped out. It is part of the gun's history but hard to tell when it was actually added.

Shelby Gallien

[Avlrc]

@ Rich, I believe the lock is a replacement.  @ Tanselman, good observation on the hex symbol being a later addition.  I generally miss clues like that, thanks.

[rich pierce]

My mind has been working and I realized I’ve seen another gun with carving like that behind the cheekpiece. I got a photo of it 15-20 years ago and was told not to share the photos. If I can find them I’ll make a sketch.