likely made in New York, mid 1800s, maple half stock, 35-1/2 in. octagonal barrel, silver inlay on top of barrel inscribed "Artemas Smith" with flourishes, dovetail silver blade front sight, split rear sight, engraved game bird on barrel tang, "H.W. Delavan & Co." stamped lock with engraved dogs and gamebirds, ornately carved stock with shell and scrollwork around barrel tang, incised checkering and carving at wrist, elaborate wreath and feather stylized carving on cheek rest, elaborate pierced silver plate patchbox, four inlaid silver urn form finials to terminus of thimble, brass trigger guard, and brass buttplate, silver scroll and windrose inlays to either side of forend, large pierced silver inlay under forend, silver inlays forward of and under lockscrew, silver star inlay on cheek rest, bone inlay above silver pick holder, silver thread inlay on top of stock comb, wooden ram rod, 51 in. overall  

Note: Artemas Smith, born in Rochester, New York, in 1802, is listed in American Gunsmiths as a "maker of half stock percussion rifles, location unknown." H.W. Delevan & Co. were known hardware merchants in New York beginning in the 1820s. Locks stamped with their name have turned up on other rifles including Joseph Medbury's who was a known gunsmith in Rochester, New York, circa the 1840s. 

oxidation to twisted steel barrel, oxidation to metal components with tarnish to silver, 8 in. repaired split to left side of forend with other associated hairlines, another crack from barrel in the same vicinity running under the forend around to the front of the lock, handling wear to stock, other minor hairlines to other side of forend, handling patina on stock, abrasion under stock, patchbox release functions, hammer and trigger function