I knew that, here are some pictures of the Whitneyville rifle I asked about.

[WarPig1976]

Could the hammer be modern? I asked because it looks very similar to the hammer on a pistol I built from a kit years ago.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Could the hammer be modern? I asked because it looks very similar to the hammer on a pistol I built from a kit years ago.

I was wondering a bit myself. The style is not reliable as a proof, as good replicas are based on real originals. But for the one item on a percussion rifle that is usually the most battered, it does seem a trifle fresh. It would be necessary to remove the hammer and look on the back surface. If it is forged, with traces of filing marks, then it is more likely to be original than if it is cast. However, the real killer feature is 45-60 stamped on the barrel of a percussion rifle.

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 PM ----------

...Notice the two gouges at the bottom of the lockplate?
...Notice how they do not carry over into the wood.
...Notice how the gap between lockplate and wood has been filled.

I doubt that this lock is original to the stock.