This is some new, news. I doubt very much that these guns were made in America. Most likely made in Belgium as the ELG on the barrel tells us they are. The engraving is very typical of these guns and if looked at, is not engraved at all, but it is cast in or "rolled" on. Laminated steel is another very common wording of barrel manufacture of the period. Hardware store guns from the muzzleloader period were usually supplied my Belguim gun makers but imported by the large hardware stores of the time in large orders. When they placed these large orders, they could have any name they chose, placed on the guns. Hibbard & Spencer, Simmons Hardware Co. to name a couple, were such hardware stores. W.Richards, a Belgium gun co. made guns with Laminated steel barrels, that were also sold through the hardware companies. There is a huge list of these, if on were to take the time to look. Just as Crescent Arms, later bought by Folsum guns, made at last count over 150 different brand name of guns, but were actually the same gun, coming from the same factory, with just the name that the store chose to be on the gun, that was retailing the gun. We actually see the same things today with many products. Sears for one, markets "Kenmore" appliances, but Sears or Kenmore is not making them. It is only a distributer and a marketing name. The same thing happend with guns.