Hi,
When it suits my objectives, I go to great lengths to assure the guns I make are as historically correct in appearance as I can make them, including styles of carving and engraving. I do not want to live in the 18th and 19th centuries and I make my guns with modern conveniences but the appearance at the end looks right such that if I added rust, scratches, and dings, you could put it in museum collection and no one would be the wiser until they read the name and "Braintree Hill" on the barrel. I also provide others with information and advice to help them make authentic appearing guns if they choose. I don't care if someone has different objectives and ignores that advice. That is their prerogative. However, if you claim that your rifle is like those by Jacob Dickert and historically correct, in my opinion, it ought to be like Dickert and historically correct in appearance and hopefully you know what those details should look like. If you claim to build a English fowler from the F&I war period, hopefully, you know what an English fowler would look like from that time. Unfortunately, I've observed many instances at living history events where that was not the case.
dave