A friend of mine has this flintlock that belonged to his father-in-law and he has no idea what it is. It is about 6' long and from what I can see it says "made in Belgum" on the barrel. I have never seen a lock like this. Anyone have any ideas of what it is? I have not physically seen the gun, just these pictures.
Anyone know what this is?
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I'm by far no expert but it looks to me like a conversion from a Belgian percussion trade musket to flintlock.
My guess would be a cheap Belgian trade gun for the African trade. What you have is essentially a back-action lock for operating the cock, with a separate plate for the pan, frizzen, and feather spring.
Dixie Gun Works used to sell an authentic Belgian “Elephant Gun,” in 4-gauge smoothbore, with a two-piece lock similar to that. I’m pretty sure it was Belgian.
Thanks for showing this interesting gun! The nicer arms get most of the attention, but guns like this are also an important part of muzzleloader history.
Notchy Bob
Dixie Gun Works used to sell an authentic Belgian “Elephant Gun,” in 4-gauge smoothbore, with a two-piece lock similar to that. I’m pretty sure it was Belgian.
Thanks for showing this interesting gun! The nicer arms get most of the attention, but guns like this are also an important part of muzzleloader history.
Notchy Bob
ronaldrothb49
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A back action flintlock. I have only seen a couple of those and they were on Belgian trade guns. Looks like that is what you have.
Thank you all for your reply. I noticed I put this in the wrong forum and I apologize for that. I don't know how to move it to the Flintlock forum.
It is a very interesting gun for sure. As you can see in the picture the barrel is very long. The guy holding it is 5'-10" tall. I messaged him to see if it is a smooth bore.
It is a very interesting gun for sure. As you can see in the picture the barrel is very long. The guy holding it is 5'-10" tall. I messaged him to see if it is a smooth bore.
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Wow! You weren’t exaggerating. That is a “Long Tom”!
Notchy Bob
Notchy Bob
I have one! A Belgian MISH-MASH of parts they are! They were the World's MASTERs at taking old parts and throwing them together!
I'd bet $$ the stock the OP posted began life as 'something else', possibly a matchlock ... as look at the rectangular inlet ahead of the flint lockplate that it now wears.
Mine is a 54-cal barrel, quite thin across the flat for what a 'modern' 54 would be nowadays. I also believe it to be of those African Trade Guns.
I'd bet $$ the stock the OP posted began life as 'something else', possibly a matchlock ... as look at the rectangular inlet ahead of the flint lockplate that it now wears.
Mine is a 54-cal barrel, quite thin across the flat for what a 'modern' 54 would be nowadays. I also believe it to be of those African Trade Guns.
Sam squanch
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These were put together using old back action percussion locks, but with a separate pan section with frizzen and spring. The percussion hammer was replaced with a flint cock. Why? The African tribes had a difficult time getting percussion caps, and the colonial powers didn’t want them to have them anyway. Belgian gunmakers took any old guns and parts they could find to bang up trade guns,they were a big business for a while. This gun never was a matchlock. They are fun to shoot if they are in good condition.
That is what I thought when I saw it, Johnny Cash sang about a car like that
Jerry4History
32 Cal
Definitely a flint lock made for the African hunting market. I've got a couple of the buccaneer models, and the trigger guard is almost the exact same as yours. Take a look at this advertisement from the '50s I think, hopefully it can help.
