Building a Norhtwest Trade gun from parts

[gard72977]

I have a North star west trade gun in 62 cal and I really like it. I would like to build a 54 cal North west trade gun with a very long barrel 48" plus. Don't have a real purpose for it I just want one. I remember reading a post where someone was making a 48" barrel but I cannot find it again. What is the longest barrel made and who makes it?

My idea is to copy the stock design from the one I have. I want to use a lock from North Star West. I am a amature machinist but my lathe will not work for the barrel work needed. I have a 9x49 mill that I want to use to get the stock close then will work it by hand. Any suggestion would be helpful.

I still have a lot of parts to buy for a gun im having built so this is in the research stage until im done spending money on those parts.

[Clark Badgett]

Keep in mind that 48" barrels started to loose favor in the 1780s, with the 42" and 36" being the prefered and most commonly made from about the 1790s on. Not many 48s contracted for after this, some, but very few.

[Glenn]

Keep in mind that 48" barrels started to loose favor in the 1780s, with the 42" and 36" being the prefered and most commonly made from about the 1790s on. Not many 48s contracted for after this, some, but very few.

Never knew this relating to the sizes and years.  Thank you for this information.

[Clark Badgett]

Keep in mind that 48" barrels started to loose favor in the 1780s, with the 42" and 36" being the prefered and most commonly made from about the 1790s on. Not many 48s contracted for after this, some, but very few.

Never knew this relating to the sizes and years.  Thank you for this information.

It makes since. As the years went on, the Indians encountered by those expanding west became more horse mobile. Two things tend to get shorter when you add horses into the mix, guns and bows.

[gard72977]

Thanks for the information. I am aware of the barrels getting shorter with time . Since no one offers a kit with a long barrel and I already have a 41" barrel trade gun I would like to build a less common version with a longer barrel.

[Clark Badgett]

The John Bumford trade gun style would be cool. It has a 46.25" barrel

[Jim Hart]

The Fort George (Astoria) 1824 inventory lists 4 1/2 and 4 foot barrels.

[Rolf]

Charles Burton makes up to 48"

http://fcibarrels.tripod.com/home.html

[Mike Brooks]

Bob hoyt , Ed Rayl and ben coogle will all make barrels as long as you want them. Just got one 52 7/8" long from Hoyt

[Clark Badgett]

The Fort George (Astoria) 1824 inventory lists 4 1/2 and 4 foot barrels.

Were these listed as the English style trade muskets? Gooding lists 4 1/2' barrels not ordered after 1705 on NW styles. Same source also list 3', 3 1/2' and 4' standard by 1731.

Barrel lengths were noted on various enventories years after they were no longer contracted for.

[Jim Hart]

The Hudson's Bay Co. records show orders for 4' northwest guns regularly up to 1836 with the last 4 footers ordered from Parker Field and Sons in 1870.

[Clark Badgett]

The Hudson's Bay Co. records show orders for 4' northwest guns regularly up to 1836 with the last 4 footers ordered from Parker Field and Sons in 1870.

Yes, and they are the minority. With the exception of the 20% of the 1830 order, the numbers for most years varied between 5-15%, usually towards 10%. And there were 4 of those 4 footers in 1870. So I will reiterate, 4 footers fell out of COMMON usage by the 1790s, and became a more rare thing.