gmww
70 Cal.
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- Sep 4, 2004
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The Forgotten Step-Child The Underhammer.
Over a relatively short period of time I’ve been interested in the history of a unique gun I’ve come into possession of. It’s the Underhammer Muzzleloader. Until recently I’ve never heard of it or maybe just passed it off as an anomaly. The information I’ve been able to glean has been difficult to find as this gun seems to have fallen through the historical cracks. It has not captured the attention of many gun writers. As a result most people don't understand what role the Underhammer has played in US history. However the more information I’ve been able to dig up has convinced me the Underhammer is more than an anomaly. This forgotten gun was used in both civilian and military hands. They were owned by Nobility, a US President and civilians. With the help of a kind fellow in Smith, Tx. by the name of Fred White I was able to gather the following brief information. Fred White is an Underhammer enthusiast who sent me a book and copies of periodicals he has dug up in the past about the Underhammer Muzzleloader.
What prompted this post was a heated discussion as to just "How" traditional the Underhammer was to the US prior to 1840. This is a quote from a poster after I posted the below list of US Underhammer gun makers of the past.
Needless to say a gauntlet was thrown down by the other person to prove more than 100 Underhammers were ever produced by the list of known US gun builders found on US Underhammers. Obviously it would be impossible to list let alone find the actual number of Underhammers made by all the gun maker in the US at that time. I will however show that more than 100 were made by 1840. This post is the result of that challenge. Additionally, the purpose of this little thread is to give some information about a relatively unknown ML and it's historical background and possible modern applications. It is also to counter what appears to be faulty information about the Underhammers existence prior to 1840 that has appeared on the internet.
What is an Underhammer?
The Underhammer was developed for several reasons. By having the ignition under the barrel it was no longer in close proximity of the shooters eyes. It was somewhat safer from flying debris and less distracting. Most debris is forced downwards in a safe direction away from the eyes. Also the location of the powder or percussion cap meant it was out of the wet weather when it rained. The ignition also allowed for the spark/flame to go directly into the powder under the barrel rather then a 90 degree bend like other weapons. Many find it to be very reliable as a result. Most underhammers were simplistic in there moving parts. One of the simplest designs incorporates three moving parts. It consisted of a main spring which was also the trigger guard, a trigger and a hammer.
Brief History
First known documented Underhammer is from Germany. It is a flintlock circa 1740. It has a 42” round rifled barrel. Rifling is 7 grooves and strait. It is a .685 Cal. It was from the personal armory of the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar, at Etterburg Castle, Saxony. It is in the W. Keith Neal Collection. It is beautiful!
On the US side of the Underhammer history Mr. Herschel C. Logan who wrote the book The Pictorial History of the Underhammer gun documents a large number of American Underhammer found with American Gun makers names on them. The earliest gun maker listed is C. Bird & Co (Bird Bros.) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who dates from 1790-1830.
Herschel lists approximately 150 American Makers or Agents who’s names appear on the antique underhammers. They span a time line from 1790-1900. The states which these guns were made are as follows, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont. The interest was not limited to just a small area but rather pretty much the who country in it’s early history.
Here is a list of names of U.S. gun makers who's names were found on underhammers on page 74 of his book. This is the first page of three in alphabetical order.
:grin:
Over a relatively short period of time I’ve been interested in the history of a unique gun I’ve come into possession of. It’s the Underhammer Muzzleloader. Until recently I’ve never heard of it or maybe just passed it off as an anomaly. The information I’ve been able to glean has been difficult to find as this gun seems to have fallen through the historical cracks. It has not captured the attention of many gun writers. As a result most people don't understand what role the Underhammer has played in US history. However the more information I’ve been able to dig up has convinced me the Underhammer is more than an anomaly. This forgotten gun was used in both civilian and military hands. They were owned by Nobility, a US President and civilians. With the help of a kind fellow in Smith, Tx. by the name of Fred White I was able to gather the following brief information. Fred White is an Underhammer enthusiast who sent me a book and copies of periodicals he has dug up in the past about the Underhammer Muzzleloader.
What prompted this post was a heated discussion as to just "How" traditional the Underhammer was to the US prior to 1840. This is a quote from a poster after I posted the below list of US Underhammer gun makers of the past.
Needless to say a gauntlet was thrown down by the other person to prove more than 100 Underhammers were ever produced by the list of known US gun builders found on US Underhammers. Obviously it would be impossible to list let alone find the actual number of Underhammers made by all the gun maker in the US at that time. I will however show that more than 100 were made by 1840. This post is the result of that challenge. Additionally, the purpose of this little thread is to give some information about a relatively unknown ML and it's historical background and possible modern applications. It is also to counter what appears to be faulty information about the Underhammers existence prior to 1840 that has appeared on the internet.
What is an Underhammer?
The Underhammer was developed for several reasons. By having the ignition under the barrel it was no longer in close proximity of the shooters eyes. It was somewhat safer from flying debris and less distracting. Most debris is forced downwards in a safe direction away from the eyes. Also the location of the powder or percussion cap meant it was out of the wet weather when it rained. The ignition also allowed for the spark/flame to go directly into the powder under the barrel rather then a 90 degree bend like other weapons. Many find it to be very reliable as a result. Most underhammers were simplistic in there moving parts. One of the simplest designs incorporates three moving parts. It consisted of a main spring which was also the trigger guard, a trigger and a hammer.
Brief History
First known documented Underhammer is from Germany. It is a flintlock circa 1740. It has a 42” round rifled barrel. Rifling is 7 grooves and strait. It is a .685 Cal. It was from the personal armory of the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar, at Etterburg Castle, Saxony. It is in the W. Keith Neal Collection. It is beautiful!
On the US side of the Underhammer history Mr. Herschel C. Logan who wrote the book The Pictorial History of the Underhammer gun documents a large number of American Underhammer found with American Gun makers names on them. The earliest gun maker listed is C. Bird & Co (Bird Bros.) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who dates from 1790-1830.
Herschel lists approximately 150 American Makers or Agents who’s names appear on the antique underhammers. They span a time line from 1790-1900. The states which these guns were made are as follows, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont. The interest was not limited to just a small area but rather pretty much the who country in it’s early history.
Here is a list of names of U.S. gun makers who's names were found on underhammers on page 74 of his book. This is the first page of three in alphabetical order.
:grin:
Bought 2 sidelocks over the Christmas Holidays.
