[jack404]

Ok

nice pics

This a G Goulcher lock, English made between 1856 and 1872 (also known as the gap years, no marks)

but the barrel and brasswork is not english

goulcher made locks for the equivalent of hardware guns back then and many ( over 3000 ) of his lock where sent all over the US mostly imported from england like this one

if i had to have a $5 bet i'd say philadelphia as the brass work is of the style and they where pretty unique to 3-4 philly gunsmiths the wad bay also is a give away as a addon and the wood and polish is also of the Philly style

maybe kentucky but someone who trained with the Philly smiths

if i had to have a guess i'd say this rifle was made late 1860's to no later than say 1875

value?? no idea but i'd treasure it,

good idea not shooting it if your not familiar with it, get it checked by someone who knows and get them to do a test fire ( cap without charge first then string on trigger and low powder charge)

i'd also wager the lock was not made as a cap lock but as a flinter and fixed up as a cap by the US smith, maybe later on, maybe not hard to say without seeing it firsthand and checking for tool marks inside the lock

either way its a nice firearm and you have done well

i hope you keep it and care for it as it should be

some may say its a "mongrel" without a pure pedigree but dont listen

its rare to have one of that period thats 100%

cheers

jack