Sources for a Trade Gun

I'm looking to purchase a trade gun in a few weeks and am interested in what sources are available short of building a kit. I lack the tools and skill to go the kit route and end up with a quality gun. I'm interested in a 20 gauge flinter. I did check the TVM site and see that they offer a NW trade rifle however the delivery time after order is 8-9 months. However their price looks reasonable considering the quality of their muzzleloaders.

You might talk to the Gun Works in Springfield, Oregon. http://www.thegunworks.com/custprodgun.cfm?ProductID=136&do=detail&Cat2Option=yes#

What ever you do don't over salt it :thumbsup:

B.

I don't see a Northwest trade gun on TVM's site, but that is actually a pretty short wait to have one built. Clay Smith usually has a few already made for sale, and his work is top notch.

PM sent ... as I have a “Chief’s grade” flintlock, English Wilson fowler 20-gauge smoothbore, like those gifted to Abanaki Indian Chiefs, as built by Danny Caywood of Caywood Gunmakers. Need to move on to a new home ...

Clay Smith, Mike Brooks, or Roy Stroh.

There is always the Pedersoli option, which is a rather generic version.

Jackie brown (662) 396-4039 202 County Road 761, Walnut, MS

I had one of Dannys 20 guages, killed a bar with it. Should have kept that one!
Nit Wit(one of the reasons for the name)

rj morrison said:

Jackie brown (662) 396-4039 202 County Road 761, Walnut, MS

Click to expand...

TO ANYONE READING:

Before you consider a Jackie Brown gun, PM me.

My recent experience with him was not a good one, to say the least, and I'm not the only one who's had the same experience.

I just googled that and it looks interesting. Reviews on Dixie Gun Works are quite critical of the lock, though, citing bad geometry and poor sparking. Also the barrel at 36" long seems rather short compared to a real trade gun, though I admit I'm not so sure.

Classic trade guns were sold in 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 and 4 foot lengths, so the length is not atypical.
The Pedersoli is generic - fairly close in appearance, but with warts.
I've handled them, but never shot one, so have no experience with the lock. Bad reviews certainly suggest caution.

Ask Britsmoothy, he has one and has done a couple mods to make it work well for him.

What are the warts? I'd love to learn more about trade guns. Seems a 20 gauge flintlock, not an overly expensive model, would be really practical for all types of hunting.

Weren't the trade guns fairly inexpensive and made for natives?

An English trade gun cost companies like the HBC about as much as the Brown Bess service musket cost the Board of Ordnance.
The first thing that stands out on a Pedersoli is the serpent sideplate. For some reason they used their own design.

Possibly because they used their own "Lott" lock, and they use machines to shape the lock mortise and the corresponding side plate area opposite that mortise..., and I don't think the actual copies of the trade rifle serpents fit. :shocked2:

LD

Smokey Plainsman said:

rj morrison said:

Jackie brown (662) 396-4039 202 County Road 761, Walnut, MS

Click to expand...

TO ANYONE READING:

Before you consider a Jackie Brown gun, PM me.

My recent experience with him was not a good one, to say the least, and I'm not the only one who's had the same experience.

Click to expand...

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/260121/post/1029988/hl//fromsearch/1/

Case in point.

As for the trade guns, did any whites carry them? Or were they only for indians?

Smokey Plainsman said:

As for the trade guns, did any whites carry them? Or were they only for indians?

Click to expand...

Well they didn't walk themselves all the way to the natives....somebody had to carry them... :haha:

Smokey Plainsman said:

As for the trade guns, did any whites carry them? Or were they only for indians?

Click to expand...

Available to all, as they were more affordable and easier to find. Likely the most-used firearm...