George Cunkle was born on March 1, 1795, in Shenandoah, Virginia, and was active around 1840 to 1861. After the Civil War, he learned the locksmith trade from his brother. He died on July 9, 1870, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Surviving firearms by Cunkle are known to be fairly plain. This example has rifle sights on a smooth bore barrel signed "G * Cunkle" on top. The lock is marked "EARL & LEE." The patch box has a subtle face on the finial and minimalistic engraving.

Good as converted to flintlock. The gun was built using the percussion system and has indications of a bolster having been fit at the breech. The barrel and lock have mottled gray and brown patina mixed with mild oxidation and pitting. The brass has attractive aged patina. The stock is fine with two hairline cracks near the trigger guard tang on the right, a repair at the toe, the common tension crack at the rear lock screw, and scattered light scratches and marks. Mechanically fine.