i need a bit of help

[Dan Cash]

Back action locks surely don't reinforce a stock wrist. It looks like the degredation in that area is from wood shrinkage/drying with subsequent destruction due to recoil and accumulation of crud. The checkering is called flat checkering and is typical of checkering up to about 1880 or a bit earlier. Bolster, lock and tang look ariginal but the tang looks like something was soldered on top of it; perhaps a sight base. The bore diameter suggests that it was a small game rifle that would also kill a deer. A .375 ball would kill deer back before they grew armor plating. Interesting old rifle.