AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: QuanLoi on May 17, 2024, 09:12:27 PM

Title: Help identifying a gun
Post by: QuanLoi on May 17, 2024, 09:12:27 PM
A friend came across this rifle and asked me what it was… and I had no clue. My first thought was to check with this forum.
(https://i.ibb.co/hYsbRKY/IMG-0510.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PDxKZ5D)
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: dadybear1 on May 17, 2024, 09:48:48 PM
how bout more and more detailed pics  thanks--JEFF in TEXAS
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: QuanLoi on May 17, 2024, 11:40:05 PM
Unfortunately, Jeff, that's the only image I've got.  The gun is part of an estate sale and he has no other access to it.  To me, it kinda looks like a trade gun but with a back action lock and a French nose cap.  i assume it's original... but I don't know.  Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: Bob Roller on May 18, 2024, 12:41:13 AM
Wasn't there a company called STOEGER'S that sold this type of gun as a wall hanger??Maybe someone can refresh my feeble memories.
Bob Rolle
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 18, 2024, 12:53:25 AM
These are Belgian made for the African trade clear into the 20th century
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: Hungry Horse on May 18, 2024, 03:25:30 AM
 I had a guy come by the house and ask me to identify this wonderful collection he had just bought. There was a pile of musket type long guns, and several pistols, but I definitely remember the flintlock with the oddball back action lock. I also remember that most of these smoothbores showed signs that whoever cut the barrels to length cut them about three quarters through and then just worried them off the rest of the way. They scared me just looking at them. But the new owner was positive they were proofed, and went out and shot a couple of them. They were so straight stocked, and light, they kicked the snot out of him.

Hungry Horse
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: Levy on May 19, 2024, 06:18:40 PM
one of my coaches in high school had one of those and fired it for us in his yard one evening.  James Levy
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: 44-henry on May 19, 2024, 11:56:22 PM
I have a near identical one hanging on my wall. I have heard the same thing Mike said, they were made for the African trade. I have also seen them listed in old 60's period Stoeger catalogs, though I believe they were sold as decorators only.
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: bpd303 on May 22, 2024, 04:04:05 AM
These are Belgian made for the African trade clear into the 20th century

I just looked in my 1970 copy of the Dixie Gun Works catalog and it is listed as an elephant gun for the African trade. A smooth bore 4 gauge Belgian proofed.

Randy aka bpd303
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: James Wilson Everett on May 22, 2024, 01:23:41 PM
Safety first, from my 22 years living in East Africa.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/n514/JamesEverett/misc/.highres/tumblr_o2huxsVA301rwjpnyo1_540_zpsaw4xztw1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Help identifying a gun
Post by: JTR on May 22, 2024, 05:49:08 PM
The gun in the last picture looks like the Stoeger Elephant Rifle my Pop bought me as a kid. My first flintlock!
He bought the gun and a pound of black powder, and I shot marbles out of it.
1957 was a different time period than now......  ;)
John