The photos on this web page show the remains of a wrecked antique full stock muzzle loading rifle that was made by the gunsmith Daniel Benjamin Troutman. The rifle, which looks like it was in one heck of a scrape back in the black powder days, is in the early stage of professional restoration. It is a near-twin to one at this link that is signed by Daniel Benjamin Troutman. The main differences are the presence of some relief carving on this rifle, and much more incised carving. The photos are courtesy of the gunsmith who is restoring the rifle.
Daniel Benjamin Troutman worked in Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania before moving to Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. His father Benjamin Franklin Troutman was a Somerset County gunmaker who worked in Southampton Township.
Th next photo is an enlargement, to give a little better peek at the engraving on the six piercing patch box of this rifled gun. Have a look at how smooth and level the floor of the patch box recess is. The floors of many patch box recesses are rough, and show tool marks. Not this one! Also note the relief carving in the wrist area, and the finial at the trailing edge of the lock panel that once held a lanceolate-shaped inlay.
The following photograph shows the left-hand side of the buttstock of the wrecked Troutman muzzleloader. Note the relief carving at the front edge of the cheekpiece, and notice the well-executed incised carving aft of the cheekpiece. Incised carving on Pennsylvania rifles is seldom this attractive. Also note the rear end of the streamlined stock panel for the lock bolt plate ends in a finial that once held an inlay of lanceolate shape. The cheekpiece inlay is missing. From the quality of carving, one can tell that this was a decent grade of muzzleloader before it was wrecked.
