Author Topic: long barrel (Read 4020 times)

Adrie luke · « **on:** January 22, 2020, 11:55:57 AM »

Swan gun, Jan Knoop, 1700 - 1799

soldering, l 287.8cm

During the 17th and 18th century swans, geese and ducks regularly featured on the menu. Hunters in small boats could use this type of long gun to hit an entire group of waterfowl with a single shot of hail from a distance. This weapon has an exceptionally long barrel of almost three metres. Hunters used the sliding bolt on the lockplate to prevent the weapon from firing accidentally.

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

smokinbuck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2020, 03:46:25 PM »

Looks like the American "punt" guns of the same era.

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2020, 04:03:50 PM »

Tough to reload in a boat.

Eric Kettenburg · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2020, 04:20:27 PM »

Tough to reload anywhere!!

WKevinD · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2020, 04:27:28 PM »

and it has a tapered ramrod!!!

Kevin

rich pierce · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2020, 04:41:20 PM »

I think they shinnied up the mast to reload it from the crows nest.

Dan Fruth · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2020, 07:43:07 PM »

They put the butt in a dingy and floated it away from them to get to the muzzle!

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2020, 10:34:11 PM »

At what point does the lengthening of the barrel cease to affect the shot grouping? I'm not sure I understand how the objective of taking
down multiple birds was achieved through having a really long barrel?

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2020, 10:42:08 PM »

Quote from: Shreckmeister on January 22, 2020, 10:34:11 PM

At what point does the lengthening of the barrel cease to affect the shot grouping? I'm not sure I understand how the objective of taking
down multiple birds was achieved through having a really long barrel?

Not to be smart but could it be because they could get more powder and shot in it?

Tim

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2020, 11:08:07 PM »

That could be. So is the breech extra heavy to account for that?

rich pierce · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2020, 11:24:37 PM »

Quote from: Shreckmeister on January 22, 2020, 11:08:07 PM

That could be. So is the breech extra heavy to account for that?

Yes. There may also have been a belief that longer barrels shot harder.

mr. no gold · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2020, 12:08:41 AM »

This may be a record for a barrel length. The maker appears to have been far beyond the abilities of most. Could have welded shorter sections of barrel to form this length. Such things are uncommon, but not unknown.
Kind of gives a new/old meaning to the old phone jingle "Reach out and touch someone."
Dick

Shreckmeister · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2020, 12:19:45 AM »

I once saw one with a 66 inch barrel that was 3 sections welded together.

lexington1 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2020, 01:02:44 AM »

I bet there's no loading that on the run!

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2020, 01:43:03 AM »

Cool gun! After the first shot, maybe you would just grab it by the end of the barrel and swat the ducks with the buttstock

RVAH-7 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2020, 04:30:46 AM »

It's a compass. To thread that thing between all the trees, you're going to maintain a fairly straight line and arrive near your chosen point. No going in circles.

Elnathan · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2020, 05:57:59 PM »

Apart from the long barrel, one thing that really stands out to me is the shape of the lock plate. Looks reminiscent of the late 17th century to me, though I believe that some of the 18th century Prussian Potzdam muskets had that shape also. Has a sliding safety, according the description.

Nice architecture on the butt, too.

Adrie, any other pictures of this piece?

lexington1 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2020, 06:17:51 PM »

I would definitely say late 17thc. Dutch. It's a really cool piece. The fact that it has six ramrod pipes cracks me up.

WadePatton · « **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2020, 06:59:43 PM »

Quote from: lexington1 on January 23, 2020, 06:17:51 PM

I would definitely say late 17thc. Dutch. It's a really cool piece. The fact that it has six ramrod pipes cracks me up.

I counted those first thing too. I'll bet pulling the barrel was not a part of the cleaning process for this one.

I would expect it's not quite as filed and finished as gent's gun, being a working piece. Or is it?

The loading trick is to have a boat long enough for the guy in front to load it and the guy in back to fire it. Mind yer ears.

Adrie luke · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2020, 07:37:23 PM »

Example For fun

msellers · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2020, 08:14:50 PM »

Here are plans for a boat designed for these guns.
https://www.google.com/search?q=punt+boat+plans&oq=punt+bo&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l3.6061j0j7&client=ms-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgdii=eUFFXauQe5vtFM:&imgrc=3Toa68WVBkkFDM:

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2020, 08:43:13 PM »

I suspect that this is simply a gunsmith's advertising tool. It is a demonstration of his ability and judging by its condition, it never saw any use. It's definitly not a punt gun. Super cool though.

borderdogs · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2020, 10:36:18 PM »

I have seen some pictures of punt guns but nothing with that long a barrel. I figure it has to be a plains gun no way you could get through the Eastern woods with that!....
Rob

Bob McBride · « **Reply #23 on:** January 24, 2020, 12:17:39 AM »

If you carried that thing around at the balance point it’d take you 10 minutes to get back to the butt to take a shot.

Notchy Bob · « **Reply #24 on:** January 24, 2020, 03:05:34 AM »

I may have missed it in the description and discussion, but what gauge is it? It is my understanding that the old punt guns not only had long barrels, but big bores.

We've all heard it said that longer barrels were made to "burn all the powder," but I wonder if there might be a point of diminishing returns. A three meter barrel must be pushing the limit!

Thanks for posting!

Notchy Bob

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Author Topic: long barrel (Read 4020 times)