Flintlock Wall Guns

[Glenn]

Absolutely right Albert you sure generated a good thread for sure !!!  

[Robert Wolfe]

I think there is a video that Squire Robin has posted before either her or elsewhere of him shooting a wall gun from the shoulder - at clay pigeons I think.

[volatpluvia]

Robert,
The good squire posted at muzzleloadingforum.  I thought he was shooting one of those commercial duck guns in four gauge smoothbore.  It was big and heavy, but I don´t think he ever called it a wall gun.  I certainly could be wrong, I have been many times before.
The big thing was the big smile after firing the shot.
volatpluvia

[Robert Wolfe]

Volatpluvia,
You are probably right. In any event, BIG gun and fun to watch.

[wetzel]

A friend of mine built one using a 30mm rifled barrel that was originally used as some sort of anti-aircraft gun.  It shoots a 5 ounce lead ball.  I could try to get pictures if your interested.  He brings it to all the rendezvous and people love to try and shoot it.  It takes some serious strength to hold it for the few seconds it takes to line up the sight and pull the trigger.  He is building another smoothbore out of some heavy duty pipe, I wonder who is turning it down and doing the breech work?

[Rasch Chronicles]

Wetzel,

Let's see the pics!

Best regards,
Albert “The Afghan” Rasch
Real Men Hunt
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[wetzel]

Albert,
I will get it, it may take a week or two.

Wetzel

[LURCHWV@BJS]

I'm going to cross thread for a second,  I was looking at Bluderbusses thread on wheellocks and looked at Raspla's YouTube thingy.  Started looking for Wallguns there is one on Wallguns at West Point .  Definitely worth looking at   I tried to get a link but I lack the computer skills.  Thought someone might be interested.


  Rich

[Feltwad]

Enclosed is a image of my 2 bore{Gage] wall gun .In the UK we  call them Bank Guns or Wall Guns they  were used by Fowler's on the sea shore ,and were positioned on a sand dune or the sea wall and when the incoming tide brought with it small waders feeding along the tide edge and when within range  they would fire into the flock. This type of gun was also used has a small punt gun.
Feltwad

[alyce-james]

Thanks Feltwad for sharing the picture of you and the 2 bore (Gage) wall gun used at the sea side. I think in  the Gulf area (Texas) where I live the gun would be fun to shoot. What might the powder charge be required to properly fire what type of load, shot size ?? Thanks, AJ

[Rasch Chronicles]

2 Bore? oh I don't know... half pound of poowder and the same in lead... Just a guess though...

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™   
Learn to Shoot, Break the Flinch!
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[Harris]

Albert i think the wall guns is a interesting subject i have seen two one was at a gunshow and the other was on the history channel  the entire rifle looked to be at least 8 feet long the bore looked like a cannon barrel very interesting rifles .

[Feltwad]

AL
The most often load used in this type of gun for fowling was  12 to 15 drms of Fg powder to 6 oz of shot , this was classed has managable load . The shot size depending on which type of wildfowl was never smaller than No5 for  waders and bigger for geese etc.The weight of these guns which are mostly are 30 lb plus did absorb  most of the recoil  but the kick did shake your brains a bit.
Feltwad

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

I have built two wall guns over the years.  One is owned by Fort Ligonier, Ligonier, PA and is a standard F&I period English Land pattern wall gun.  This one was used in the Hollywood movie - MGM, George Washington The Forging of a Nation with Barry Bostwick as GW.  In it a guy is shot at a rather close range with the 4 bore gun and simply falls down.  Realistically it would have been much more vigorous!

A second wall gun was built for Old Fort William, Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada.  This one looks just as the Ft Ligonier gun but is a copy of an East India Co. original in their collection.

Both were a real hoot to shoot, especially with buckshot.  Both were handmade, but using steel and not wrought iron, and before the Rifle Shop parts were available.

Jim Everett

[Ecramer]

I have access to the wall guns at Rock Island Arsenal. I can supply measurements if someone can tell me which dimensions are critical.

[Dphariss]

I have access to the wall guns at Rock Island Arsenal. I can supply measurements if someone can tell me which dimensions are critical.

They all are

If possible...

Length of trigger pull.
Depth and width of buttplate.
Breech, waist (if swamped) and muzzle dimension of the barrel.
Bore dimension and rifling depth if possible. This is something I would like to know but if odd number of grooves can be a pain.
Weight.
Length and width of lock. Dimension from center of cock screw to the lower jaw.

Length of forend cap.

Ramrod diameter and what is attached to it.
Depth and width of the wrist at its smallest point.
Depth of the gun from the top of the breech of the  barrel to the bottom of the stock/trigger guard at the barrel breech.
Same at the entry pipe and forend cap and forearm width at this point.
Width of the comb where it breaks to the wrist.
Width of the stock at tail and front of the lock. Not counting the lock or side plate.
Dan

[Ecramer]

It might take a few weeks, but I can supply that information. The museum curator has given me access to those weapons.

[dannybb55]

Page 79 in C P Russel's book Firearms, Traps etc. has a drawing of a couple of swivels that may be of use. The top pictured is a rifle with a 1 3/16 bore, 3rd Model style furniture and length but\ beefy. The lower piece is carbine length with one rammer pipe but equally thick, It is either a full stocked Swivel gun or a Blunderbus with Roid Rage. For holding a dock, quarter deck, ford  or entrance, these must have been the crew served tickets.