I read some years back it was not at all uncommon to find original "Pennsylvania" Long Rifles with the forearm of the stock pulled apart.
This would have been the result of "Longitudinal" Shrinkage. These guns had their breech plug tang screwed to the stock & the forearm pinned tightly at several points along their length. The wood shrinkage over the years literally Tore them apart.
























































































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Miller/TN
I Didn't Say Everything I Said, Yogi Berra