Early Indian trade guns

[jerrywh]

 According to the books the early Trade guns had barrels that were blued.  Comments??

[Hungry Horse]

I believe the early barrels were fire blued to a light bright blue, or left in the bright. I seriously doubt that many if any original trade guns left the shops with browned metalwork. All the bluing of the day turned brown with time and neglect.

  Hungry Horse

[James Rogers]

Are we talking period "book" references or modern "book" references?
Are we talking trading guns in general or specifically French, English or Dutch,  etc?

[jerrywh]

 In the book [The North West Gun] Pg. 41 &42 on original finishes says Hudson bay ordered both guns with Blued barrels and Browned barrels but the Indians preferred the ones with the bright blue barrels. The American fur co. also ordered the same thing.  These guns were ordered from England by the hundreds. This period is 1780 to 1809 and there after. None of them were left in the bright according to the Hudson Bay records.
  Where do you think the Indians got the idea of having a Bright blue barrel??  Could it be from seeing some American long rifles with them??  Also. If some Indian trade guns had Browned barrels in the late 1700s  or before why not long rifles??