18th Century Eastern Woodlands Smoothbore

[Marc Adamchek]

I'm completely out of my element here. My only smoothbores are smokeless powder shotguns. But I've been thinking more and more of adding a smoothbore to keep my flintlock longrifle company. What would be the choice(s) in a smoothbore available to an eastern longhunter in the 18th century? I realize that's a span of 100 years, but I'm interested in what was available throughout the period.

 

[harrys]

Try pedersoli or Cabela,Cabela sells a lot of pedersoli things,I also hunt Mass with a BP SXS percussion from pedersoli. Pedersoli makes an Indian trade musket which would be from the era your looking at, its flint and comes in 12 and 20 guage, from memory I saw someone say the 12 is much better than the 20,the twenty got a bad rep from what I hear. If your anywhere near north central Mass try Hunters rendezvous in Pepperell on Rt 119,he sometimes has vintage stuff and repros of what your looking for.

 

[benvenuto]

depends on the area...
everything from surplus french muskets (early ones) to doglock fowlers to hudson valley fowlers
try getting a copy of Flintlock Fowlers -the First guns made in America

or

Arms and Armour in Colonial America

 

[arcticap]

There is a Mass. company named "Flintlocks, Etc" in Richmond that's a major Pedersoli distributor of guns & parts:

"Flintlocks Etc.
Flintlocks, Etc. is the full line distributor for Davide Pedersoli in the U.S. We have all the guns. parts and accessories. 23 variations of Sharps and 20 variations of Rolling Blocks just to name part of the inventory. Send FFL for 74 page catalog P.O Box 181, Richmond, MA 01254 Tel: 413-698-3822 (11-5 EBT M-F)"

 

[Wes/Tex]

Benvenuto covered several gun types that would be appropriate. Most common would probably be fowlers for the 18th century. Many makers listed under the links below make the type guns you'll like...Early Rustic Arms, TVM and others. Good luck.

 

[Craig]

Tennessee Valley Muzzleloading has a colonial fowler and a French Tulle fusil de chasse. I have heard good things about TVM and they are nice people to work with. I almost got a Tulle, myself, from TVM for my Illinois country French & Indian War reenactment, but couldn't due to lack of money.

There are plenty of places on the net. Do a google of fowlers, etc. and go from there. You will find more than you know what to do with.

Look at The Muzzleloading Forum's weapons links page. Every gun maker is there, it seems.

 

The basic American fowler (typically an "English" pattern)would be a good choice. Most builders offer one and the styles were not fixed, so most any will do. Most are graceful, light arms. Even ol' Dan'l Boone carried one in one of his last battles with the Indians. See Chambers site for kit examples of fine ones. TVM, ERA and others offer them, too. Check out Wayne Zurl's site, he often has a couple ready made for sale.