The gun, I have been told is an American-German Jaedar muzzleloading gun from perhaps 1850-1865. It belonged to my Great-grandfather, Johann Schoedel. I thought it was a Buffalo Gun, because it looks like a Spencer Sports to me. I did a little research and I now think it is an American-made gun of German configuration. The family says it was a long-distance target gun, it appears to have an extremely large bore. It also has an octagonal barrel and is heavy.