Can you identify this old muzzle loader?

[Gene Moore]

I aquired an old octogonical barrel, percussion cap rifle many years ago from my grandmother and belonged to an ancestor way back,it has a 42 inch barrel and the only inscriptionon it says E. Elwell nothing else. I am currently in the process of restoring the gun. any information especially a date and place of manufacturer would be greatly appreciated
Gene Moore

 

[James K]

Is the "Elwell" marking on the lockplate? Elwell was English and made locks, many of which seem to have been sent here. The quality was so-so, and I have seen some cracked Elwell lockplates.

I might suggest you look for a marking under the barrel. Do you know the area of origin? This and the general configuration may help a little, though it probably won't be possible to pin down the actual smith.

By the percussion era, there were not many smiths still really "making" guns. They bought locks, barrels, breech plugs, and furniture, and sometimes even stocks. Like many modern custom rifle "makers" they were really assemblers, though they did usually do the inletting and decorating of the stock blank.

Jim