My latest project is now done. I wanted a colonial era trade gun, something the common man would have had c1750, and used in both the F&I War and Revolutionary War militia service. I found a Belgian trade gun that had good "bones," and with a little shaping and refinishing, ended up with what you see here. I thinned the wrist, narrowed the comb, and highlighted the area around the tang.
![20240127_150430~2.jpg 20240127_150430~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289254-04d04f831b6bd05dca5f8dce211a4420.jpg)
![20240127_150444~2.jpg 20240127_150444~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289253-4dae1498c5decb655a601ea06d751b3f.jpg)
![20240127_151206~2.jpg 20240127_151206~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289257-fac24739d2272d2d64cd33c95ce6414d.jpg)
I did a complete disassembly, including the lock. All of the metal was a dull, grimy gray. Unfortunately, when I took the screw out of the tumbler, it had so little thread it wouldn't go back in and stripped. I ended up fabricating one from a carriage bolt. Then, when I went to clean the barrel, the brand-new brush BROKE in the breech. It took a couple of hours and a trip to Lowes for a length of pipe, but I got it out...
I bought a new ramrod from Track of the Wolf and made a removable button tip for it. That way I can use jags or mops with the rammer (though I'll probably only use them with my delrin rod.) The other end is tapered, and I have made a worm for it.
Here is what this gun looked like when I got it from Gunderson Militaria (for only $375!) Interestingly, it was painted! And yes, I was tempted to paint it again.
![20240127_182348.jpg 20240127_182348.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289265-fb8730eeb2a0fb509736b9d8e5ecf70d.jpg)
![20240127_150328~2.jpg 20240127_150328~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attach/289/289252-20240127-150328-2.jpg)
![20240127_150430~2.jpg 20240127_150430~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289254-04d04f831b6bd05dca5f8dce211a4420.jpg)
![20240127_150444~2.jpg 20240127_150444~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289253-4dae1498c5decb655a601ea06d751b3f.jpg)
![20240127_151206~2.jpg 20240127_151206~2.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289257-fac24739d2272d2d64cd33c95ce6414d.jpg)
I did a complete disassembly, including the lock. All of the metal was a dull, grimy gray. Unfortunately, when I took the screw out of the tumbler, it had so little thread it wouldn't go back in and stripped. I ended up fabricating one from a carriage bolt. Then, when I went to clean the barrel, the brand-new brush BROKE in the breech. It took a couple of hours and a trip to Lowes for a length of pipe, but I got it out...
I bought a new ramrod from Track of the Wolf and made a removable button tip for it. That way I can use jags or mops with the rammer (though I'll probably only use them with my delrin rod.) The other end is tapered, and I have made a worm for it.
Here is what this gun looked like when I got it from Gunderson Militaria (for only $375!) Interestingly, it was painted! And yes, I was tempted to paint it again.
![20240127_182348.jpg 20240127_182348.jpg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attachments/289/289265-fb8730eeb2a0fb509736b9d8e5ecf70d.jpg)