These images were given to me as old Ektachrome slides by a Bedford County resident who also gave me slides of other antique firearms. The photos were evidently taken at a gun show. I converted them to digital format using a cell phone camera.
I do not know if the rifle is signed. Based on the patch box engraving, stock carving, and certain details of the engraved eagle on the cheekpiece inlay, this handsome rifle was obviously made by the Pennsylvania gunsmith Jacob Stoudenour, who is one of the better-known muzzleloading rifle builders who worked in Bedford County in the 1800s.
The following image shows the patch box. The engraving is clearly that of Jacob Stoudenour. Compare to the Stoudenour patch box on page 135 of the 1991 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties". Also compare to the Stoudenour patch boxes on pages 155, 156, 157, 160, and 161 of the 2001 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties".
The following photo shows the lock area of the Stoudenour rifle. The lock panel has a finial with a lanceolate-shaped silver inlay aft of the lock. Note the brass wood protector behind the hammer, the inlays on top of the wrist, and the inlay forward of the lock panel, and the forearm wear plate.
The next image is one of several that show the left-hand side of the buttstock. The eagle on the cheekpiece inlay is similar to the Jacob Stoudenour inlay at the bottom of the page 36 of the 1991 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties".
The next image provides an overall view of the left-hand side of the buttstock of the Stoudenour rifle. The carving aft of and below the cheekpiece is nearly identical to that on the Stoudenour rifle featured on page 135 of the 1991 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties". It is excellent quality work like this that has made Jacob Stoudenour one of the better-known old-time Pennsylvania long rifle makers.
The next image shows the toe plate, and an inlay on the belly of the stock.
The next image shows the lock bolt plate, the trigger guard, and the inlays fore and aft of the lock bolt plate.
The following image shows the barrel tang, the brass stock protector in the hammer area, and the inlays on the top of the stock forward of the comb, in wrist area and near the breech.
The next image shows the inlays flanking and forward of the trigger guard.
The following image shows the "wing" shaped carving and silver inlays forward of the panel for the lock bolt plate, and also shows some of the engraving on the lock bolt plate.
The following image shows the rear sight, the grooves on the side of the forearm, the entry pipe, and a stock inlay that is located forward of the entry pipe.
The following image shows the left-hand side of the buttstock, and part of the lock bolt plate area.
The following enlargement is provided so the engraved eagle on the cheekpiece inlay can more easily be compared to the eagle on the Jacob Stoudenour cheekpiece inlay at the bottom of the page 36 of the 1991 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties".
