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The documentation that came with this says it was built from a Dixie kit completed by a smith named Tom Bishop. This information is partially incorrect. It is in fact a. 62 North Star West Chief's Grade Trade Musket. A bit fancier than a typical North West Trade gun, this Chief's Grade Trade Gun is stocked in black walnut, and has the traditional oval silver wrist inlay, embossed with the portrait of an Indian with bow and quiver. It differs from the description of the Dixie kit in several respects. First, it has a 30.25" barrel (6" shorter). Canoe Gun? Second, it has a brass, rather than steel buttplate and a simple, rather than serpent side plate. The buttplate is not the classic flat brass plate found on common trade guns, instead a fowler style buttplate is fitted. This more elaborate buttplate has a retaining pin at the comb, and one oval head wood screw to retain it in the stock. Such curved were a bit more tedious to inlet, and so they were reserved for the higher grade trade guns. And third, it has a circled sitting fox on top of barrel and on lock and a hunter's horn and boar head on lock. Fox in a Circle trade mark commonly found on antique trade guns. This ancient mark was a sign of quality, and it became the hallmark for guns made by the late Robert "Curly" and his successor at North Star West. There is some scroll engraving on trigger guard and buttplate tang, as well as decorative emblems on Walnut stock. Lop 14.5". I believe it to be unfired. Nice light gun put together by a competent gunsmith. $1150 + Shipping.
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