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When was the last percussion shotgun sold in the United States

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Mike Stone

Mike Stone

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Hi everyone. I just rejoined the board. I thought I was a member all this time but I guess not. I have what I would think is a pretty simple question that I cannot find an answer for. When was the last commercially available muzzle loading shotgun offered for sale. I know the cartridge became popular in the 1870s but did they still sell cap and ball shotguns? Thanks if you know, and please direct me to the correct form if this is in the wrong place thanks. I'm not counting the reproductions Of course those are still made today, just the original manufacturer from Belgium or England or United States.
 
Last edited:
Mike Stone said:
Hi everyone. I just rejoined the board. I thought I was a member all this time but I guess not. I have what I would think is a pretty simple question that I cannot find an answer for. When was the last commercially available muzzle loading shotgun offered for sale. I know the cartridge became popular in the 1870s but did they still sell cap and ball shotguns? Thanks if you know, and please direct me to the correct form if this is in the wrong place thanks. I'm not counting the reproductions Of course those are still made today, just the original manufacturer from Belgium or England or United States.
Click to expand...
I don’t know how many came to the US, but Belgian smoothbore percussion guns were being made up to the 1960s, most went to Africa and south or central america
 
Mike Stone said:
Hi everyone. I just rejoined the board. I thought I was a member all this time but I guess not. I have what I would think is a pretty simple question that I cannot find an answer for. When was the last commercially available muzzle loading shotgun offered for sale. I know the cartridge became popular in the 1870s but did they still sell cap and ball shotguns? Thanks if you know, and please direct me to the correct form if this is in the wrong place thanks. I'm not counting the reproductions Of course those are still made today, just the original manufacturer from Belgium or England or United States.
Click to expand...
I have seen American Flask and Cap co catalogs still printed in the 1890s (I think frugal meat hunters didn't want to give up perfectly good percussion pieces for expensive breechloaders) Sears Catalogs in 1902, and 1980 were still selling percussion supplies and firearms. There may have been a lapse around WWII as we've seen in the Ukraine major world war does affect muzzleloader supplies as they are recreational
 
tenngun said:
I don’t know how many came to the US, but Belgian smoothbore percussion guns were being made up to the 1960s, most went to Africa and south or central america
Click to expand...
My 1960 Stoeger catalogue has an ad for those, if I have time I'll post it. It is an interesting subject, the availability of muzzleloading supplies historically.
 
tenngun said:
I don’t know how many came to the US, but Belgian smoothbore percussion guns were being made up to the 1960s, most went to Africa and south or central america
Click to expand...
I know Turner Kirkland imported these here too. Well into the 70s I think. A search of Dixie Gun Works catalogues will show them.

That of course was a "resurrection" of sorts. I am thinking the OP is looking for when the front loader was surpassed as a primary.
 
Many civil war muskets were cut down and smoothbored to be sold by mail order. I have a catalog dated 1905 that has old Springfield musket conversions for sale. $3! The old guy I worked for in high school still had his dad’s 1861 shotgun conversion. He said he hunted with it up to 1941 until he was drafted, then came home after the war and was gifted a used model 1897 Winchester!
 
bpalbee said:
My 1960 Stoeger catalogue has an ad for those, if I have time I'll post it. It is an interesting subject, the availability of muzzleloading supplies historically.
Click to expand...
Stoeger arms flintlock .90 caliber smoothbore
 

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It is an interesting question that I would like to know the answer to also.

However, I think you are going to have a hard time delineating between when "originals" ended and "reproductions" started. Unless it turns out there was a significant gap of time when no percussion shotguns were manufactured. I wonder if there was?
 
The question was when was the last percussion shotgun sold in the U.S. - well, I'd say sometime this morning. We still have makers producing percussion shotguns here (If on a very limited scale). Certainly the custom makers supplying die-hard muzzleloading shotgun competitors should be considered as well as our loyal suppliers (Dixie Gunworks and others). For quite a spell in the 50's and 60's, there was a market in undeveloped countries for "natives" who were restricted by their laws from owning modern firearms. Thousands of those were sold not only to foreign markets but to Muzzle loading shotgunners right here. 1897 Sears Roebuck catalog listed a variety of muzzle loading shotguns for sale.

Tho' our numbers are dwindling, obviously there's still money to be made 'cause they're still being advertised, sold, and enjoyed.
 
I think the dividing line has to be either WW I or WW II. The European production facilities and most US gunmakers moved into full modern military mode from 1914 - 1919. Then again in 1938 -1946. During the inter-war years and especially the world wide Great Depression old stockpiles of parts were pretty well used up to make cheap trade guns for African and South American native trade. I do remember Turner Kirkland’s Dixie Gun Works catalog still having miscellaneous parts available into the early 1970’s.
 

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