Original Antique Firearms forum

[ResearchPress]

Can we have some clear guidance on the purpose of this new forum please? Currently I don't see anything distinct and of 'added value' that posting here enables, that just using all the other forums doesn't already offer. Why should I post here for example about an original percussion rifle as opposed to just posting it under "Percussion Rifles"?

When the forum was announced I saw opportunity to post information and pictures about historical arms creating over time a useful reference tool. Instead, for example, my post on English gunmaker Harvey has given way to a melee of unrelated posts and general chat. I've given up on the idea of taking the information on Harvey any further.

I would like to see:
Clear thread titles so I have a good idea of what to expect - not just 'My New Antique Gun' or such
Pictures and identification of the gunmaker (where known) and/or a clear description - something that will show up in search
Stick to subject - maybe it just needs some robust moderation?

Remember there's already a 'Firearm Identification' forum, for that purpose.

Thanks for your consideration.

David

 

[FishDFly]

I agree.

 

[rich pierce]

Clear titles everywhere would help. A lot of the posts here give little clue what they are about.

 

[TDM]

I think the new forum is a good thing. Allows folks to show their originals in a stand alone setting. Titles can be misleading for any thread. Best just to take a look and skip on if you don’t like it. That’s what I do.

 

[BlazingIron]

Can we have some clear guidance on the purpose of this new forum please? Currently I don't see anything distinct and of 'added value' that posting here enables, that just using all the other forums doesn't already offer. Why should I post here for example about an original percussion rifle as opposed to just posting it under "Percussion Rifles"?

When the forum was announced I saw opportunity to post information and pictures about historical arms creating over time a useful reference tool. Instead, for example, my post on English gunmaker Harvey has given way to a melee of unrelated posts and general chat. I've given up on the idea of taking the information on Harvey any further.

I would like to see:
Clear thread titles so I have a good idea of what to expect - not just 'My New Antique Gun' or such
Pictures and identification of the gunmaker (where known) and/or a clear description - something that will show up in search
Stick to subject - maybe it just needs some robust moderation?

Remember there's already a 'Firearm Identification' forum, for that purpose.

Thanks for your consideration.

David

I for one would gladly welcome all the information that you have on the gunmaker Harvey. I have a sneaking suspicion that I could be related to him as we share the same last name and my relatives lived in London at the time that he was working.
Also, this is sort of a change of subject but I have been looking at antique firearms from some reputable deals and they all say the weapons are mechanically working but do not recommend firing them. My question is: how can you determine if the weapon is sound enough to shoot?

 

[ResearchPress]

I for one would gladly welcome all the information that you have on the gunmaker Harvey. I have a sneaking suspicion that I could be related to him as we share the same last name and my relatives lived in London at the time that he was working.

Did you see this post I made on Harvey? He wasn’t a London gunmaker.

David

 

[TFoley]

My question is: how can you determine if the weapon is sound enough to shoot?

First you buy it, and then get it checked out by somebody who knows what they are looking at.

Here in UK it's not so hard, as many older rifles and smoothbores can be subject to Proof in either London or Birmingham Proof Houses, if they are being bought specifically to shoot. As you probably know, the USA has no such facilities, relying instead on the word and reputation of the manufacturer - this is pretty easy when the gun builder is still with us...however................................................

We are very lucky in having many genuine experts on older guns - both from the manufacturing standpoint, like Dicksons - and others like them, who are qualified to make a judgement-call on the condition and suitability of an older gun belonging to our era of interest. While not owning any older British muzzleloading guns except my one Pritchett Volunteer rifle [recently reproofed so that I could buy it], the shooting of older shotguns, both percussion and flintlock is very much part of the UK shooting scene. The pair of percussion sxs12g guns that I'm lucky enough to shoot, more in hope than in result, were made in 1858, and look more or less exactly the same as they did back then - thanks to the care and attention they get from a gunsmith whose company was established in the late 1700's, and is still in business as I write this.

Such people here can in UK also recommend hanging it up or getting it re-proofed, which, IMO, is THE way to get an older gun in otherwise good condition back into shooting. Mr Minshall and his fellow MLAGB-ers are no doubt far more familiar than I am with this route.

Outside UK and most of the rest of Europe you are on your own, relying instead on your own national treasure-trove of BP gun specialists, of which there are many.