NORTH WEST TRADE GUN ISSUED BY THE CROWN (C.1813)

[HURON]

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[Clark Badgett]

I like it. I notice the 1813+ Birmingham proofs, metallic trigger stop wedge, uncommon entry thimble and 4 thimbles. How long is the barrel.

[HURON]

The gun should have 1813 proofs...it was issued to the natives in 1813 which is well documented....barrel length 48.5"..over all length 64".  The gun is the standard text book design of the North West Gun issued to the Indians in 1813, some have minor variations but this one has all of the classic features.  There is variations from maket to maker.

[Hudnut]

Very interesting piece!
I have one by MOXHAM.  Branded in three places with the I/l\D mark of the Indian Department, Crown and Broad Arrow under the pan.  Came out of Brant County Ontario years ago; I assume that it had Mohawk usage.

[HURON]

I think I have seen it on here before.

[mr. no gold]

I also have a Moxham pistol from the War of 1812. It has the proper marks and was no doubt in 'His Majesty's Stores' for distribution to the Native allies of Britain. Since these were said to be issued in pairs, I think that I need another one. I purchased mine from Patrick Donnelly when he was alive. Mowbray Publishers produced a book titled 'BRITISH MILITARY PISTOLS and Associated Edged Weapons"
by Robert Brooker. While it does not shed much light on the 'trade gun' it does reveal a great deal about the effort to arm allies over the decades that England was in America.
Dick

[HURON]

Very interresting...I knew Pat when he lived in Canada selling...many years ago.

[smart dog]

Hi,
What I love about this gun is how well made it is.  Look at the clean stock work.  Just the care in the way the lock panels ere shaped is remarkable. 

dave

[wabeek]

Get a copy of "The Art of the English Trade Gun in North America", Nathan E. Bender, about $45.00.

[Hudnut]

I also have a Moxham pistol from the War of 1812. It has the proper marks and was no doubt in 'His Majesty's Stores' for distribution to the Native allies of Britain. Since these were said to be issued in pairs, I think that I need another one. I purchased mine from Patrick Donnelly when he was alive. Mowbray Publishers produced a book titled 'BRITISH MILITARY PISTOLS and Associated Edged Weapons"
by Robert Brooker. While it does not shed much light on the 'trade gun' it does reveal a great deal about the effort to arm allies over the decades that England was in America.
Dick

These pistols seem to have been made by the same contractors who produced the NW pattern guns, and the so-called Chief's Guns (silver thumbpiece).  Resembling 1796 pattern pistols, locks are double unbridled.  Crown over 39 inspector's stamp often seen on the tang.  Surviving specimens are often flint; seems that conversion to percussion didn't happen as often as with other flint arms.  I suspect that many didn't get distributed, and by the time they were disposed of as surplus, they were curios.

[Hudnut]

Ketland, Walker & Co. supplied Common Guns as follows:
1813: 298; 1814: 786; 1815: 370; 1816: 10.
During these same years, 1167 Chief's Guns, 180 rifles and 160 pistols.

[mr. no gold]

Great information, HN. Thank you for posting it.
Dick

[Clark Badgett]

The gun should have 1813 proofs...it was issued to the natives in 1813 which is well documented....barrel length 48.5"..over all length 64".  The gun is the standard text book design of the North West Gun issued to the Indians in 1813, some have minor variations but this one has all of the classic features.  There is variations from maket to maker.

It certainly is a wonderful piece and yes, I know the proofs are correct. While all its characteristics do fall within the NW gun it also displays some less than common features. The entry pipe being one of those. It also has the screw from the top of the tang, instead of from the bottom, which happened with at least some frequency. The trigger stop is certainly uncommon, but known. I really like the 4 thimbles, I don't recall having seen one like that yet and unfortunately my library is packed up so I can't double check. What is most amazing is the fantastic condition it's in. There has been a lot of effort put into keeping this example in fantastic shape over the past 209 years. It even has what appears to be it's original rammer.

[HURON]

Hey Clark....I understand what you are saying now, thanks for the kind comments.

[Otto]

I don't know all that much about trade guns of that period to offer anything useful, BUT, isn't it in really , really good condition?!!