Smooth bores in western Pa

[Tim Ault]

I am still wanting a smooth bore but I’d like to get some ideas of what would have been made or used by the common man in my area of Pa let’s say from Bedford /Somerset co and west into SW Pa in the late flint era . Would a smooth rifle have been more common than a Fowler in that time period and location ?  What would be a good book to get some ideas ?

[rich pierce]

KF20 in Grinslade’s Flintlock Fowlers book is a start. Estimated at built in 1800, western PA. 42” octagon to round barrel, .53 caliber. “Maislin” lock.

[Hungry Horse]

 I have a Lehigh built in 1814. It’s 45 caliber smoothbore. It arrived in California in the early 1840’s already converted to percussion, and shortened by about six inches. The gun shows very little wear, but a lot of rough handling, and storage, over the years. Honestly I think the owner found that a .45 smoothbore was almost worthless in the west.

 Hungry Horse

[rich pierce]

A $45 book is a very small investment in a build that’s going to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000 in parts and scores of hours. I could not build without books.

[Tim Ault]

Thank your Mr Pierce . And yes I plan  on ordering that book after the holiday madness dies down

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

The David Shaw gun is, or was, on display in the Heinz historical museum in Pittsburg.  David was a resident on Hannastown, Westmoreland County, PA during the Rev War period.  Although the gun has been restocked, it has a 48" oct-rnd smoothbore barrel of 14 bore.  I once made my interpretation of what the David Shaw gun looked like when newly made; an English/Philadelphia style fowling gun, brass mounts, no patchbox or cheek piece.

Jim

[Tim Ault]

Thank you Mr Everett . Would you happen to have a picture of that rifle . Hannastown is only about 20 miles from me .