should i be kicking myself in the butt?

[deerslayer77]

I had a chance just yesterday to pickup a Kentucky rifle with the name Joseph Colter stamped in the side plate. I know Joseph Colter was the father of John Colter. part of the L&C expedition. It had no other markings on it that I could find. Now my question is. Did I make a mistake not buying it?

 

[Matt85]

depends, why did you pass on the gun?

-matt

 

[rich pierce]

No way to know if it was the same man. I'd not buy a gun based on a name on a sideplate without more provenance than that.

 

[jamesthomas]

Anybody can stamp a name on a side plate. Without any Documentation I would have passed also, Btw, how much was it? and what was the condition of it? If the price was'nt outragous it might have been worth it anyhow.

 

[deerslayer77]

It wasn't in that good of shape. And the guy wanted more then I could really afford to spend at the time. Other wise I would have bought it. It looked like it may have been the real deal but I agree i couldn't be sure. If I could have been sure I would have had to think even harder about buying it. The wife is glad I couldn't be sure though so I guess if she is happy that's a good thing lol. Thank you guys for confirming my thinking.

 

[Tanselman]

There's a good possibility the lock was a common "Joseph Golcher" commercial lock from Philadelphia, perhaps the most common lock found on American muzzle loading rifles. The maker of the rifle would have stamped or signed his name or initials on top of the barrel behind the rear sight. Shelby Gallien