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Author Topic: Flintlock Wall Guns  (Read 34820 times)

Rasch Chronicles

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Flintlock Wall Guns
« on: August 18, 2011, 04:21:06 PM »
Fellows,

This might be a little out of our usual discussion zone, but I read a reference today to General George Washington ordering several wall guns for the Army. That of course got me to thinking...

Is anyone familiar with a maker who has put one together? I'm talking about the big bore long barreled ones! I found several yoked blunderbuss versions like the ones Lewis and Clark carried on there boats. But I really hope someone has made a contemporary wall gun.

Best regards,
Albert “Yes, I am still in Afghanistan!” Rasch
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Offline Glenn

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2011, 06:01:22 PM »
Interesting topic.  Up until a few years ago I had never heard of a "wall gun".  Might be interesting to do but where would you get a barrel for one of those things?  Washington ... He was always on top of things !!!
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Offline Dan'l 1946

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2011, 06:21:45 PM »
  I believe Ed Parry and John Bosh have built wall guns and Mike Brooks built a great one a little while back. John Getz and Ed Rayl among others could turn out pretty much any barrel you need. Ben Coogle could do up a barrel, too.
                                             Dan
« Last Edit: August 18, 2011, 06:23:21 PM by Dan'l 1946 »
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Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2011, 06:32:41 PM »
Obtaining a barrel is apparently a lot easier than getting a lock large enough to span the dimensions across the barrel flat from vent to permit mainspring clearance when inlet.  The one wall gun I examined had a huge lock for that reason. 
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Rasch Chronicles

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2011, 06:48:23 PM »
Dan'l,

Who is Ben Coogle? I don't think he's on the Barrel Maker's list!

Best regards,
Albert “Yes, I am still in Afghanistan!” Rasch
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jimc2

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2011, 07:10:13 PM »
scotty shea also built one. They are lottsa gun,don't need one but want one.
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Offline Robby

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2011, 07:32:02 PM »
"The Rifle Shop" sells castings for these big locks. I think in three different styles. They also have other needed castings for wall guns. Its one of those things I would love to tackle, but cannot even find room on my list.
Robby
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2011, 08:38:47 PM »
When I still lived in IL, a guy had one for sale at the monthly gun show.  He wanted $8500 for it at the time (90's).  It was an English made military one and looked like a Brown Bess on steroids.  However, it didn't have a real long barrel.  The whole gun only came up to my chin.
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Offline smshea

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2011, 09:25:33 PM »
Yes I did put one together 6-7 years ago and not again if I can help it. The gentleman that owns it got the parts from TRS and the barrel came from Ed Rayl as I recall. 4 bore rifled. The Lock was a casting set that was put together when I got it. Billy Slusser did the Lock. Fun project but I wouldn't need to do it again soon. Lifting the barrel in and out was like working out and my shop ceiling is low...think I broke a half dozen light bulbs just moving the gun around. It was like workin with an 8' 6x6 post ;D.   
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Trkdriver99

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2011, 09:43:12 PM »
Roy Stoh has a picture of one he built and he is shooting on his web site.

I WANT ONE!!! now just find the FUNds   ::)

http://www.roystroh.com/
I just looked and don't think the picture is there anymore.

Ronnie
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Offline smshea

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #10 on: August 18, 2011, 10:02:02 PM »
Just remembered that there are photos of it on my old website, you can link to it from my current website under past projects. www.scottshearifles.com
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Offline Dan'l 1946

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2011, 10:40:33 PM »
  Albert,
    Ben Coogle's address is listed on the Rifle Shoppe's web-site. I forgot that Scott Shea had built a wall gun. They are just the ticket for dealing with garden pests and the occasional errant chipmunk!
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2011, 12:52:00 AM »
Here's the one I did. 60" barrel 4 bore weighs 38 lbs
http://www.fowlingguns.com/militarygun4.html
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Offline rallen

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #13 on: August 19, 2011, 02:45:42 AM »
Ed Parry has one for sale as we speak.
It was made up from The Rifle Shoppe castings.  I've been to Ed's place.  It's nicely made.  I don't believe the stock is bored for the yoke.  He says it's deadly accurate at 5 or 600'.  As Mike says, that's a 1" ball, about 35 lbs.  No wonder the British used them in the field, from carriages to lay cover for the cannons or from ramparts or ships rails.
Ryan
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Offline Glenn

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2011, 03:46:06 AM »
Quote from: smshea on August 18, 2011, 10:02:02 PM
Just remembered that there are photos of it on my old website, you can link to it from my current website under past projects. www.scottshearifles.com


Checked it out Scott ... NICE JOB !!!  ;D
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LURCHWV@BJS

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #15 on: August 19, 2011, 04:04:31 AM »
A guy I work withs uncle bought one at an estate sale a couple years ago.  Had the pleasure of holding it,  over  9ft tall huge bore and a hand forged barrel.  I believe it now resides in a private collection in Columbus Ohio.  Since seeing it, I've devised several ways I could build one just haven't committed to it.  Would probably get myself into trouble.  Here kitty kitty


Rich  ;D
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Offline Glenn

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #16 on: August 19, 2011, 04:44:25 AM »
Quote from: Chapple JR on August 19, 2011, 04:04:31 AM
A guy I work withs uncle bought one at an estate sale a couple years ago.  Had the pleasure of holding it,  over  9ft tall huge bore and a hand forged barrel.  I believe it now resides in a private collection in Columbus Ohio.  Since seeing it, I've devised several ways I could build one just haven't committed to it.  Would probably get myself into trouble.  Here kitty kitty


Rich  ;D

R-O-F-L-M-A-O ... !!!
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Many of them cried; "Me no Alamo - Me no Goliad", and for most of them these were the last words they spoke.

Offline Glenn

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #17 on: August 19, 2011, 04:49:21 AM »
Will definitely be a future project of mine.   ;D
« Last Edit: August 19, 2011, 04:49:42 AM by Glenn »
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Many of them cried; "Me no Alamo - Me no Goliad", and for most of them these were the last words they spoke.

Offline Captchee

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #18 on: August 19, 2011, 04:26:31 PM »
 I would contact Pete Sheeran .
 he built one  some years back and  had it up at the Monroe Wa , gun show .
as i recall pete made all the parts himself .
 that also included all the support equipment .
As I understand it he did a lot of shooting with it as well .
 
 here is a link to some of the photos and a short write up  that  pete posted  on the gun some years ago
http://www.traditionalmuzzleloadingassociation.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2312&hilit=wall+gun
« Last Edit: August 19, 2011, 05:54:33 PM by Captchee »
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Rasch Chronicles

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #19 on: August 19, 2011, 05:32:35 PM »
Wow guys!

Lots of interest! CaptChee thanks for the link. I also found several on the internet, primarily on an auction house's listings: http://www.tortugatrading.com/default.asp

Seems it would make a very unique qnd interesting project. I've contacted one of our barrel makers just to see how much a historically accurate barrel might run...

Good Times!
Albert
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #20 on: August 19, 2011, 06:17:09 PM »
Hi Albert,
I am not sure what Washington ordered based on your reference, but I believe he did buy several wall guns from James Hunter's Rappahannock Forge in Virginia.  They were rifles with a bore >1" and weighed over 50 lbs.  I am sure he ordered wall guns of all sorts but the big rifles were pretty interesting.  There is one at the West Point museum. 

dave
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Big One

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #21 on: August 19, 2011, 07:45:21 PM »

50,58,8Br,6Br and at  1770grs the 4Br
« Last Edit: August 19, 2011, 07:47:31 PM by JvR »
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dannybb55

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #22 on: August 19, 2011, 07:58:14 PM »
It seems that the NC history museum has a flintlock version in their collection, just the thing for Duck season! Rabbit season! Duck season, FIRE!
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doug

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #23 on: August 20, 2011, 08:31:36 AM »
     Around 1982 I was in the basement of the White Tower in London and there were 3 or 4 wall guns on display.  They looked identical to a brown bess except that everything was proportionately bigger.  I would guess them to be around 1" bore perhaps a bit larger and with an overall length of around 7 to perhaps 8 feet.

cheers Doug
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Rasch Chronicles

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Re: Flintlock Wall Guns
« Reply #24 on: August 20, 2011, 09:47:19 AM »
Fellows,

I really wish I could post pictures!

Wait, I think I can...



Nice...

Ok, That's an 82 caliber wall gun's muzzle, making it a little smaller than an 8 bore. The barrel is only 45.5 inches, so its a lightweight version. The nice thing is that it is emminently doable at that size.

All the pictures are on this page: http://www.tortugatrading.com/engine/inspect.asp?Item=2704&Filter=Arms,+Armor

Albert
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