I finally finished this project. it really started back in 2006, that is when I became interested in Spanish guns. I got a copy of Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America, by Brinkerhoff and Chamberlain.
At that time, I was interested in the 1752 Spanish musket, mainly because it was what George Rogers Clark's Illinois Regiment was armed with when they captured Vincennes Indiana.
Unfortunately, the only available choice was a TRS kit. pretty much still is the only choice. I cooled on the whole thing. A few years later I acquired a partial miguelet parts set on E-Bay and it rekindled my interest.
Anyway a few years later Deep Creek Dale posted an Escopeta he stocked in Sapele, and that really got the ball rolling. I corresponded with Dale and he was more than helpful. We have become friends through this project, and it may have lingered without completion without him.
The lock is a 1792 Spanish Cavalry carbine lock, so this escopeta is a restocking from parts assembled by a provincial gunsmith /blacksmith/artificer.
He would have done the restocking in the early 19th century.
I chose cherry for the project since that was the preferred wood for sporting arms and as readily available. I got the wood from Troy Sweeny, and it turned out better than I expected.
The barrel is a Getz 16 gauge which Little Joe gave me. It was 30 inch tapered octagon, 1 inch ATF at the breech. I had Bobby Hoyt make it octagon to round, and I filed in the wedding band.
I forged the trigger guard, the butt plate, trigger and the !@*%&@ barrel bands, which were the most difficult part of the metal work.
The one thing about making Spanish guns , is there is very little available information. Few if any dimensions.
So mostly based on photographs.
I chose a Catalonian Escopeta since my family is Catalonian on my fathers side.
Anyway, I went and shot it yesterday for the first time. It didn't blow up and was not unpleasant to shoot considering it weighs less than 6 pounds. I used 90 grains of 1f Dupont, a.648 ball and .012 cotton twill for patching. These are my first shots with it.
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