Author Topic: Help identifying a gun  (Read 1187 times)

Offline QuanLoi

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Help identifying a gun
« on: May 17, 2024, 09:12:27 PM »
A friend came across this rifle and asked me what it was… and I had no clue. My first thought was to check with this forum.


Offline dadybear1

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2024, 09:48:48 PM »
how bout more and more detailed pics  thanks--JEFF in TEXAS

Offline QuanLoi

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2024, 11:40:05 PM »
Unfortunately, Jeff, that's the only image I've got.  The gun is part of an estate sale and he has no other access to it.  To me, it kinda looks like a trade gun but with a back action lock and a French nose cap.  i assume it's original... but I don't know.  Any help would be appreciated.

Offline Bob Roller

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2024, 12:41:13 AM »
Wasn't there a company called STOEGER'S that sold this type of gun as a wall hanger??Maybe someone can refresh my feeble memories.
Bob Rolle

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2024, 12:53:25 AM »
These are Belgian made for the African trade clear into the 20th century
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2024, 03:25:30 AM »
 I had a guy come by the house and ask me to identify this wonderful collection he had just bought. There was a pile of musket type long guns, and several pistols, but I definitely remember the flintlock with the oddball back action lock. I also remember that most of these smoothbores showed signs that whoever cut the barrels to length cut them about three quarters through and then just worried them off the rest of the way. They scared me just looking at them. But the new owner was positive they were proofed, and went out and shot a couple of them. They were so straight stocked, and light, they kicked the snot out of him.

Hungry Horse

Offline Levy

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2024, 06:18:40 PM »
one of my coaches in high school had one of those and fired it for us in his yard one evening.  James Levy
James Levy

Offline 44-henry

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2024, 11:56:22 PM »
I have a near identical one hanging on my wall. I have heard the same thing Mike said, they were made for the African trade. I have also seen them listed in old 60's period Stoeger catalogs, though I believe they were sold as decorators only.

Offline bpd303

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2024, 04:04:05 AM »
These are Belgian made for the African trade clear into the 20th century

I just looked in my 1970 copy of the Dixie Gun Works catalog and it is listed as an elephant gun for the African trade. A smooth bore 4 gauge Belgian proofed.

Randy aka bpd303
Randy aka bpd303        Arkansas Ozarks

Train for tomorrow, as you never know what it will bring to the fight.
I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sails. ~ Semper Paratus

Offline James Wilson Everett

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2024, 01:23:41 PM »
Safety first, from my 22 years living in East Africa.


Offline JTR

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Re: Help identifying a gun
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2024, 05:49:08 PM »
The gun in the last picture looks like the Stoeger Elephant Rifle my Pop bought me as a kid. My first flintlock!
He bought the gun and a pound of black powder, and I shot marbles out of it.
1957 was a different time period than now......  ;)
John
John Robbins