1699-1708 Fusil Fin Finished

[t.caster]

This is the so called "Type-C" French Trade gun I've been working on most of the summer and fall for a fine gentleman in our ML gun club. Originals were made at St. Etienne during the Late Louis XIV period, by various gunsmiths and shipped from France to posts at FT. Mackinaw, Ft. St Joseph and Detroit, in Michigan. Artifacts of these guns have been recovered at all three sites, as well as New Orleans. But no complete guns of this era have survived in the colonies. Apparently no two guns were built alike, so this is my educated interpretation of what an original would have, or could have looked like. Rich Pierce was kind enough to loan me his copy of French Trade Guns in North America (out of print) by Kevin Gladysz to study. Thanks again!

It sports a shorter 42" 20 ga. barrel and 13 1/2" trigger pull, for my 5'-4" customer. A lot of these early smoothies had a 50 to 57" barrels, but 42" ones were also found. The wood is an English Walnut blank from Dunlaps and most of the parts are from TOTW.

[rich pierce]

Looking good!  Love the color. That lock has a wicked long mainspring if I recall. Or maybe that’s another. What does it weigh?

[bama]

Very well done Tom. I have become more aware of these types of early firearms mainly because a good friend of mine loves and collects early fowlers and trade guns. Matter of fact he is going to have a display at my show here in Alabama in January of early trade guns. I am also doing some restoration work on one of his fowlers that probably dates to 1740.

Again congratulations on a very nice looking piece. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Jim

[Huntschool]

Nice job Tom.  Love those trade guns......

[t.caster]

It weighs in at 8.2#

[Tim Crosby]

 That is really good looking, Well done.

    Tim

[oldtravler61]

 Tom very nicely done. Really like the color. Well done..!

[Don Adams]

Very nice Tom!  Love the way it turned out.

[smart dog]

Hi Tom,
Looks like the real deal.  Nicely done!

dave

[alacran]

Nice gun. The butt architecture  of this gun looks like it will be more pleasant to shoot than the latter French fusils.

[longcruise]

This just begs to be taken to the turkey woods! 

Where did you source the side plate?

[t.caster]

Thanks for all the nice comments!
The brass side plate is from TOTW and is very similar to originals found in the Great Lakes region. And no it doesn't just sit on top of the wood as the pics might suggest

[Don Adams]

Tom,
In the 7th picture down, there appears to be a crack in the barrel?  I'm sure it isn't, but it looks like one.

[t.caster]

Don, thanks for the warning, but that's an engraved line for sight reference, since there is no rear sight. I also used a round headed tang bolt  for additional reference. Some guys put a line of paint or nail polish in that groove so it's easier to see.

[Don Adams]

Ahh, I thought maybe it might be, but as narrow as it was, I wasn't quite sure.