Need something ID'd

[704338]

My uncle was showing me this a little while ago and I told him I bet I knew some fine people that could help me identify it. It has a name on the gun itself but I'm wondering if I could get a little history behind the name, location, and all that good stuff. The rifle details very intricate work as well as a name, if memory serves me right, it's Claude Lomax M.P. or M.D. [maybe?] I do believe it's a Kentucky styled rifle. I know it's a flintlock. There seems to be a half moon on the cheek rest with many other very interesting, very intricate designs on it. Thanks for all your help and here we go..

 

[bioprof]

Wow! :shocked2: What a beautiful rifle; and in nice shape too.

The shape of the buttstock and the carving is very similar to a rifle pictured in Shumway's "Pennsylvania Longrifles of Note" that was made by John Dreisbach of the Sunbury School of east-central Pennsylvania. This school was from the counties of Northumberland, Union, and Snyder Counties.

 

[bioprof]

I'm thinking that the name on the side plate may be the owner, but I suppose it could be the gunsmith who made it. Usually, the maker signs the barrel or sometimes the patchbox.

That patchbox is very distinctive, so maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can identify the maker.

 

[Mike Brooks]

No signature on the top barrel flat?

 

[704338]

I didn't notice any other signatures other than Lomax. I have a feeling that Lomax was the owner of the rifle other than the maker. I apologize for the quality of the images, they were taken with my iPhone. The bottom of the trigger has some awesome carving work that I couldn't get to focus at all. It's a simple stick drawn landscape of a couple of mountains with a sun and deer going through the middle of it. I'd love to get a date range and as much information on the rifle I could. Thanks for all your help so far. I'm looking forward to reading more replies.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you don't find the maker's name on the Top flat of the barrel, you may find it on the Bottom flat. You do need to remove the barrel from the stock and give it a good look over. Same with the lock, Trigger Guard, and Buttplate. Sometimes the maker's name is written on the inside of the patch box lid. If none of these, The Doctor may be both the owner and builder of the gun.

 

[pichou]

Dr. Claude Lomax was a Indiana M.D. associated with Goshen, and Indianapolis. He was a amateur folk-song ethnographer and bird watcher. Alive in 1940.

Edit: his mother was still living in 1936. Also Dale, Indiana.

 

[704338]

That's some interesting information, but where did you get it?

 

[Bob Gular]

The sheath buttplate and stock profile would indicate the Lehigh school of architecture.