Samuel Spangler worked in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in the 1820s-1844 before moving to Monroe, Wisconsin. The left barrel is approximately .46 caliber and straight rifled and is fired using a plain single trigger, and the right barrel is approximately .50 caliber and may have originally been traditionally rifled given that barrel features a folding leaf on the rear sight and is fired using adjustable double set triggers. The barrels have dovetailed blade front sights with a shared dovetailed base and dovetailed notch rear sights, a flat rib, hooked breeches, "John.Jacob" (left) and "Rusley" (right) in silver inlay with scroll accents on top of the barrels, and an engraved standing breech. The right lock is signed "S Spangler" in script at the front, and both have border engraving, trees towards the rear, and stepped tails. The furniture is primarily engraved brass, including a classic Somerset/Bedford patchbox, and there are also twelve silver inlays, including a cheekpiece inlay with an eagle and shield. The stock also features some raised relief carving. The gun is discussed in "The Bedford County Rifle and Its Makers" by Hetrick on page 19 and illustrated on page 31, is also featured in "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties" by the Whiskers on page 129 where it is noted as made by Samuel Spangler for John Jacob Rusley/Ruslin and again on page 147 of "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, & Somerset Counties" by Whisker and Yantz. Included research notes indicate that John Jacob Ruslin (c. 1793-1867) was a wealthy tavern owner in Stoystown, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and also a land owner in both Bedford and Somerset Counties and had interests in sheep and wool mills in Bedford County but was not a gunmaker.

Very good with dark brown patina on the locks and barrels, mild pitting at the breech, material added around the left breech, attractively aged patina on the silver and brass, legible markings, distinct engraving, and general mild wear. The refinished stock is also very good and has some smoothing of the carving, small cracks in the forend tip, minor flakes by the locks, and general mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. Overall, a very distinctive and well-known combination gun.