Beaded English trade gun finished

[rich pierce]

This is based on an original shown in For Trade and Treaty, where it was presented as a gun ordered by Sir William Johnson for gifts at the  gatherings he organized with tribes loyal to the Crown. The original has a flat-ish Wilson lock.

Mine has a 48” Ed Rayl 20 ga barrel, octagon to round, a Chris Evrard-assembled Chambers round faced lock made without a pan bridle, and is stocked in a piece of flashy English walnut full of worm holes. After seeing Mike Brooks use some wormy wood I just got to patching it as I went along. Some you can see right off; others require a close look. There was a section of the fore-end that needed a big patch.  I scored the blank about 12 years ago for $100. I made the buttplate from sheet brass. I think the guard is from Track. Trigger is hand-made and the tang bolt secures the barrel by threading into a square nut in front of the trigger. Sideplate is shop made.
I beaded it like the original in the book where it appears the beads were set in edge ways. I tried different approaches but settled on tinted acraglas to hold them in place. I lost my pine pitch when moving here.

This will be my personal gun and I hope a good shooter of round ball. The front sight is currently tall but may get filed down after my trip to the range.

I have an ancestor Myndert Wemple who was a blacksmith and spent a winter with the Seneca in western NY, sent by Sir William Johnson. I like to think that Cornplanter or other men there had guns like this one.

[bob in the woods]

I really like your gun.  I'll like it even more when it's tarnished and shows a little more wear 

[Daryl]

Absolutely - always look better after being used for a while.

[alex e.]

The original was probably never as nice as yours.
Nicely done!

[oldtravler61]

  Rich nicely done. I like the finish an like Daryl said. She will take on more character. The more you use it..
   Oldtravler

[smart dog]

Hi Rich,
Nice!!  It looks very authentic.  Why didn't you put a screw in the butt plate heel? 

dave

[Shovelbuck]

Very nice!

[Mike Brooks]

Rates very high on the nifty scale.

[Tim Ault]

Very nice ! I always liked the lines of that gun  it’s like English and French influence

[Bob Gerard]

That is really cool and unique! With a barrel as long as that one you may have to take a lunch break while loading it 😆
Looking forward to hearing how it shoots!

[Jim McQuaide]

Very nice! I’m especially impressed with the buttplate - that must have been a challenge to make.

[rich pierce]

Hi Rich,
Nice!!  It looks very authentic.  Why didn't you put a screw in the butt plate heel? 

dave

Dave, I’m guessing that on trade guns they cut corners wherever they could. The original had no screw at the heel.

[ScottNE]

very nice! That’s one pretty piece of wood.

[hawkeye]

Looks like a really nice smoothbore to me, Rich

[Ed Wenger]

Nice, Rich!  Pretty much nailed the whole Trade gun thing.  I like the design and execution of the design on the tail of the lock.  What did you do with the barrel, finish wise?  I like the look!  Best,

     Ed

[Tim Crosby]

 I like that one, It just looks Right. Well done Rich.
 
    Tim

[rich pierce]

Nice, Rich!  Pretty much nailed the whole Trade gun thing.  I like the design and execution of the design on the tail of the lock.  What did you do with the barrel, finish wise?  I like the look!  Best,

     Ed

Thanks, Ed. On the barrel I browned it deeply with LMF and rubbed back with an oiled piece of pillow ticking dipped in pumice powder. I hit the corners and wear areas a little extra. For fun this one is only browned on the exposed parts of the barrel, suggesting that as delivered the barrel was in the white and acquired the brown during use. I also rounded the octagon section below board, so only the top 5 flats of the breech section are octagonal. Thus emulates an original barrel I have.  I just managed to keep the Rayl stamp though on what was the bottom flat.

[rich pierce]

Hi Rich,
Nice!!  It looks very authentic.  Why didn't you put a screw in the butt plate heel? 

dave

Dave, I’m guessing that on trade guns they cut corners wherever they could. The original had no screw at the heel.

Oops you’re right! I must have gotten into a tunnel vision mode. Easy fix now though it would have helped from the start.

[heinz]

Excellent work.  I really like the engraving and beads.  Just enough

[FALout]

I like the 3rd bolt on the lock, it’s a simple thing but nerve racking to do.  I’ve done it, if things go off even just a little can ruin all plans.  Nice looking piece that will be admired for some time.

[Mike Brooks]

Hi Rich,
Nice!!  It looks very authentic.  Why didn't you put a screw in the butt plate heel? 

dave

Dave, I’m guessing that on trade guns they cut corners wherever they could. The original had no screw at the heel.

Oops you’re right! I must have gotten into a tunnel vision mode. Easy fix now though it would have helped from the start.

I have seen many original French trade guns with out a screw through  the heal. Just a pin through the front finial  lug and one at the toe.

[bob in the woods]

Hi Rich,
Nice!!  It looks very authentic.  Why didn't you put a screw in the butt plate heel? 

dave

Dave, I’m guessing that on trade guns they cut corners wherever they could. The original had no screw at the heel.

Screws weren't cheap, I'm thinking.    The threads weren't swaged with a screw plate , as far as I know.  I've filed out a few and it takes a while.

Oops you’re right! I must have gotten into a tunnel vision mode. Easy fix now though it would have helped from the start.

I have seen many original French trade guns with out a screw through  the heal. Just a pin through the front finial  lug and one at the toe.

[Robert Wolfe]

Very nice Rich! Hope mine turns out as well.

[TommyG]

Rich, That's some real nice work!  I Love the crisp and clean lines on your stock architecture.  The finish on that piece of wood looks great.  Well done.

[mountainman]

That's very nice!!