Author Topic: Russian Trade guns  (Read 3063 times)

ddoyle

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Russian Trade guns
« on: January 25, 2012, 06:00:42 AM »
I am told that the Russians did alot of trading on the north west coast of NA back in the day. Recently a chinese coin, likley brought by russian traders, was kicked up inland over in the Yukon. The spanish also traded alot on the coast as well.. Does anyone know anything about the trade guns they used? I have not come across anything other then English, French, Dutch guns in the popular literature.    



« Last Edit: January 25, 2012, 06:02:53 AM by ddoyle »

Offline mr. no gold

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Re: Russian Trade guns
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2012, 07:32:24 AM »
Many years ago, a pistol turned up in the area of Fort Ross in California. It appears that it may have been rebuilt some over the centuries, perhaps, and I believe that it is shown in Worman and Garavaglia's two vol. set on Guns of the Early West. It is identified as being Russian, and the fort was built by them. Not sure where the gun is today, but it would be interesting to see it. That is the only one that has come to my attention. It was flintlock and doesn't look like the run of the mill Euro guns. I am sure that there are others out there. The Spanish liklely did not trade guns since an armed population might resist them. As the Russians were also somewhat harsh toward the Indians, they may have held back on letting them have arms, too. Good inquiry; maybe someone here has some information.
Dick 

Offline bigbat

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Re: Russian Trade guns
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2012, 07:50:00 AM »
several years ago I was visiting the Museum of the Fur Trade (Charlie Hanson was alive so it was a while ago) He pointed out a very small display of Russian trade guns and items and stated it was one of the best displays in the country.  If you are interested in the fur trade then subscribing to the Museum of the Fur trade quarterly is a must.  It is also a bargain.

ddoyle

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Re: Russian Trade guns
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2012, 08:16:30 AM »
Great leads!

Thanks I am gonna find out about the quarterly. Silly russians I sure wouldn't have wanted to be harsh to the guys with the axes, bows and fire if I had to bed down in a fort!

I wonder if the extra 100 years or so of time between the russian/spanish trade and the trade from the east may have consumed a lot of the evidence.  400 years is a long time for a musket to survive on the coast or in the forest.

Thanks for the leads.

ddoyle

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Re: Russian Trade guns
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2012, 08:21:48 AM »
WOw I just went and looked at the Quarterly. Bargain is an understatement! 4 bound volumes for 15 bucks, every volume from 1966 for 350! Already picked out a dozen on my first pass through.