The barrel has traditional low profile blade and notch sights and is signed "J Mewhirter" between the rear sight and breech. The muzzle has circle designs around the border. The lock has a bird scene on the tail, and the rifle is equipped with double set triggers. The stock has incised molding and curl patterns on the forend along with a pair of "hurricane" silver inlays, crosshatch checkering and a silver oval thumb plate inscribed "TH" on the wrist, small silver oval inlay on the bottom ahead of the lightly engraved and double pierced toe plate, a an silver oval plate inscribed with a patriotic eagle motif on the cheekpiece, and raised relief and incised scrollwork and checkering patterns behind the cheekpiece. The side plate and patch box are finely engraved. John Mewhirter was active in Shippensburg Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the early 19th century until at least 1828. Joe Kindig Jr. believes he had some association with John Armstrong, Abraham Schweitzer, and J. Clark. Some sources also list a William Mewhirter active in the same period and place. Henry J. Kauffman in "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" includes Mewhirter as part of the Franklin County School because of the stylistic similarities. The Mewhirter rifle pictured on page 495 of Kindig's book, "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in Its Golden Age" has very similar engraving and the same style of patch box finial. Also note that the J. Clark rifle pictured on page 497 has a nearly identical patch box design other than the engraving further supporting Kindig's belief that the two men had some association. The silver inlays on the forend of all three of these rifles are the same style. The plainer stock flats and slightly less carving suggests this is a somewhat later rifle.

Very good as professionally restored. The lock has been reconverted and has dark patina. The barrel has a mostly a smooth artificial brown patina, some dark brown patina, patches of minor pitting and oxidation, and some marks and dings. The brass and silver display aged patina throughout. The engraving patterns are very crisp, and the signature is clear. The stock has been refinished and repaired and has multiple repaired cracks and chips, partially smoothed checkering, and the lower portion of the forend spliced from the ramrod entry pipe to near the forend cap.