Comments:
Interesting rifle, and it appears to be in nice condition. If it wasn't for the signature, I would think it was made by John or Jacob Lauck (the carving is of a slightly different style though). I'm not familiar with Peter Lydack, but he must be associated with the Lauck family in some way.
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Peter Lydick is listed in Sellers in Baltimore until 1810. Hartzler report he made guns for the Committee of Safety as well as Kentuckies. Julia auctioned a gun with identical patchbox (unsgned) and attributed it to Lauck. Whisker in his "Gunsmiths of VA" shows two "Jos Lauck" guns, one signed with an identical finial ( in MESDA) and a second he states is a J. Lauck ( does not state whether signed or not) with a similar but reciprocal patchbox finial. The carving on this gun does not show the typical Lauck features as shown in the many Laucks Whisker presents.
Perhaps there is a link between Laucks and Lydick??
An additional note. This gun owner knows a Lydick relative who is a gunsmith in Georgia and will contact him regarding additional family information.
