Trade Muskets; Pede vs. India-made

[springfield art]

In researching Trade Muskets, I recently got an old Gostomsky North Star, and am happy with it. I was just thinking about the new Pedersolis which are obviously modern factory- made, and, in my opinion, need "de-farbing" to age and mellow out the modern finish. Whereas, the India-made Trade from Military Heritage has a bit more "mellow" look to it, not so bright and "new" if you get my drift. I almost bought the MH one, knowing it may need tweeking of the lock, etc., Just my feeling on the subject, funny how if you think about something hard enough, sometimes it jumps out at you!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have a Pedersoli and a Loyalist Arms trade gun. The Pedersoli should never have left the factory, but since I bought it second hand, no warranty. They botched installation of one of the ramrod thimbles as well as the hardening of the frizzen. Still once attended to it shoots fine.

My LA trade gun I painted the stock with oil based paint. It kills squirrels fine. Now if I had a North Star to start..., I wouldn't be an owner of the two that I have.

LD

 

[Bushfire]

My ped trade gun shot fine from new. With respect to LDs experiences that I genuinely believe I think those are small exceptions not the rule.

Mine has very fast and reliable ignition. Having said that, since getting my fusil de chasse I've barely shot it.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have been very happy with my Pedersoli Trade Gun sourced from Dixie a few months back, except for the horrible serpent I removed and replaced with a couple of brass washers. There is one small bobble in the wood where the CNC router got wonkey a little but I don't notice it anymore and it could be fixed by somebody that wanted to refinish that area (or the whole stock). All in it is a fine gun for the money and shoots very well.

I want a nicer 20 gauge "Fowler" someday but in the meantime the Pedersoli scratches that itch. And in respect to LD I understand getting a lemon every now and then. I bought a brand new Uberti 1851 last year (or the year before? time flies) that NEVER should have shipped. I sent it back and the replacement is perfect. Seems a lot of outfits are using the customer/end user as their QC department these days.

 

[tenngun]

The pedi trade gun has several points wrong, and I don’t know why. That said it’s a good looking gun.
Think of a Indian gun as a kit. It has to be twiked but also turns out a good looking gun.
A kit from a reputable company can turn out the best, as North Star quit.

 

[springfield art]

I have been very happy with my Pedersoli Trade Gun sourced from Dixie a few months back, except for the horrible serpent I removed and replaced with a couple of brass washers. There is one small bobble in the wood where the CNC router got wonkey a little but I don't notice it anymore and it could be fixed by somebody that wanted to refinish that area (or the whole stock). All in it is a fine gun for the money and shoots very well.

I want a nicer 20 gauge "Fowler" someday but in the meantime the Pedersoli scratches that itch. And in respect to LD I understand getting a lemon every now and then. I bought a brand new Uberti 1851 last year (or the year before? time flies) that NEVER should have shipped. I sent it back and the replacement is perfect. Seems a lot of outfits are using the customer/end user as their QC department these days.

Gosh! The whole idea of the Serpent is central to Trade Guns. Apparently the Natives insisted upon it as a true 'trademark' of the type. To each his own, though! Removing the Serpent from a Trade Gun is almost like removing the Flying Woman from the hood of your Rolls Royce!

 

[tenngun]

Gosh! The whole idea of the Serpent is central to Trade Guns. Apparently the Natives insisted upon it as a true 'trademark' of the type. To each his own, though! Removing the Serpent from a Trade Gun is almost like removing the Flying Woman from the hood of your Rolls Royce!

About 1850 there is a photo of a westren tribes man with a necklace made up of side plates. I would not be surprised if parts were cannibalized. There is a lot scrapers and arrowheads made from butt plates

 

[springfield art]

About 1850 there is a photo of a westren tribes man with a necklace made up of side plates. I would not be surprised if parts were cannibalized. There is a lot scrapers and arrowheads made from butt plates

That's interesting! BTW, the Rolls Royce lady is "Winged Victory"! A necklace made up of sideplates, how cool is that?

 

[springfield art]

About 1850 there is a photo of a westren tribes man with a necklace made up of side plates. I would not be surprised if parts were cannibalized. There is a lot scrapers and arrowheads made from butt plates

Arrowheads were made perfectly from the bands that went around wooden barrels, too. Thin and strong, easy to fashion into arrow points.

 

[springfield art]

I have a Pedersoli and a Loyalist Arms trade gun. The Pedersoli should never have left the factory, but since I bought it second hand, no warranty. They botched installation of one of the ramrod thimbles as well as the hardening of the frizzen. Still once attended to it shoots fine.

My LA trade gun I painted the stock with oil based paint. It kills squirrels fine. Now if I had a North Star to start..., I wouldn't be an owner of the two that I have.

LD

My North Star I stumbled across at an auction, just as I was getting interested in Trade Muskets. Had I not seen that, I was going to get perhaps a Military Heritage trade gun.

 

[DixieTexian]

Arrowheads were made perfectly from the bands that went around wooden barrels, too. Thin and strong, easy to fashion into arrow points.

Wooden barrels? Doesn't seem like a very durable idea.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My North Star I stumbled across at an auction, just as I was getting interested in Trade Muskets. Had I not seen that, I was going to get perhaps a Military Heritage trade gun.

Y'all did good!

LD

 

[Bushfire]

Gosh! The whole idea of the Serpent is central to Trade Guns. Apparently the Natives insisted upon it as a true 'trademark' of the type. To each his own, though! Removing the Serpent from a Trade Gun is almost like removing the Flying Woman from the hood of your Rolls Royce!

Beat me to it!

 

[kid_couteau]

Wooden barrels? Doesn't seem like a very durable idea.

The bands he is speaking of were iron.

 

[BEP]

I think DixieTexian's remark was a little tongue in cheek. Barrels, as in "firearms parts" as opposed to barrels as in "kegs".

​

 

[kid_couteau]

AHHHHHHHHH OK I missed that LOL

I tend to be a bit of a straight man at times.

 

[DixieTexian]

Yeah, I was definitely thinking about the wooden type of barrels that you age whiskey and stuff in and not gun barrels when I made that comment. Sometimes we say things that make us seem more clever than we are.

 

[Soliderity]

Nothing at all wrong with a Pedersoli.

They will often shoot as good, or better, than any custom rifle for a fraction of the cost. The savings can be spent on marksmanship training and components.

 

[FlinterNick]

Neither…..

 

[Timber Wolf]

Why neither? Yes, I would like a very nice bespoke or high end Trade Gun. But my Pedersoli scratched the itch for a fair price and was available.