A couple more pictures might assist the discussion. It would be helpful to see the tang or its mortise, and also the toe plate. The traces of a dotted border on the patchbox raises the possibility of it possibly being fully engraved at one time, and then "cleaned" or "sanded off" when reused, if in fact it is reused. I wouldn't totally discount it being the original box on this gun until we see a couple of closer pictures of the dotted borders and any other traces of engraving. However, the box and guard with nicely rounded bow and full hook in rear spur seem to have VA roots, one way or another. Note the release button up on top the butt plate return.
The stock wood looks like it might be ash to me, based on the grain on the back side, and lack of grain pattern on the front. I would think the four petal flower in the finial might be identifiable, since it has rather distinctive small square shoulders on the leading edge of each petal, which I don't think is a common feature. I'd be hesitant on assigning a late date to the gun with what little we currently can see. Stock architecture looks good, and back action locks were becoming popular in the late 1830s. Regardless, it's an interesting old piece of a gun, and hopefully Nord can sweet talk the owner into supplying a few more pictures of details on the gun, particularly the tang or its mortise, any patches of "old" engraving on the box, and the toe plate. Shelby Gallien
