I’m in the process of reading “GUNS ON THE EARLY FRONTIERS- From Colonial Times to the Years of the Western Fur Trade” by Carl P. Russell, Dover edition 2005.
The original book has a copyright of 1957.
In the footnotes section on page 295, footnote # 17 there is some discussion of the Trade Guns.
Quoting the text:
“...As early as 1689, Lahontan, who had for several years traveled among the Indians of the Great Lakes region, in the Illinois country, and along the upper reaches of the Mississippi, reported that the short and light fusee was the favorite of the red man. In his list of recommended items for the French trade in Canada he emphasized the importance of this type of gun.
That the longer barrels (50-60 inches) had been abandoned by the English traders is evidenced by the invoices of the Hudson’s Bay Co. During the century following Labontan’s published comment. Trade muskets seldom exceeded 4 ft. in total length, with barrels 33 in., long.
In 1748, English guns having 27-in and 33-in. As well as 21-in. Barrels were distributed from Hudson’s Bay Co. Posts in the north country.
At York Factory, muskets of all three lengths were sold for 14 beavers each.
At Moose River and Albany (James Bay), the price was 10 beavers for the gun with 21-in. Barrel, 11 beavers for the intermediate length, and 12 for the 4-ft. gun (33-in. Barrel)....”
This brings up my question.
How many of you folks are using the 10 beaver trade gun with the short 21 inch long barrel?
21 inch barrel? That almost sounds like a factory made “Can** gun”.
Oops, I can't say that word around here. :grin:
The original book has a copyright of 1957.
In the footnotes section on page 295, footnote # 17 there is some discussion of the Trade Guns.
Quoting the text:
“...As early as 1689, Lahontan, who had for several years traveled among the Indians of the Great Lakes region, in the Illinois country, and along the upper reaches of the Mississippi, reported that the short and light fusee was the favorite of the red man. In his list of recommended items for the French trade in Canada he emphasized the importance of this type of gun.
That the longer barrels (50-60 inches) had been abandoned by the English traders is evidenced by the invoices of the Hudson’s Bay Co. During the century following Labontan’s published comment. Trade muskets seldom exceeded 4 ft. in total length, with barrels 33 in., long.
In 1748, English guns having 27-in and 33-in. As well as 21-in. Barrels were distributed from Hudson’s Bay Co. Posts in the north country.
At York Factory, muskets of all three lengths were sold for 14 beavers each.
At Moose River and Albany (James Bay), the price was 10 beavers for the gun with 21-in. Barrel, 11 beavers for the intermediate length, and 12 for the 4-ft. gun (33-in. Barrel)....”
This brings up my question.
How many of you folks are using the 10 beaver trade gun with the short 21 inch long barrel?
21 inch barrel? That almost sounds like a factory made “Can** gun”.
Oops, I can't say that word around here. :grin:
Oh Joy, Rapture! Among the junque I've accumulated from Yard sales and trades is a 21" (no kidding) oct. to round 62 cal. lathe turned, no wedding band, smoothbore Green Mountain barrel just waiting to be made into a short Trade or Blanket gun. 
