Blanket guns, are they worth it?

[Farren55]

The artillery were issued with shorter lighter muskets, some light infantry companies, and Rangers would use smaller lighter guns (usually with 28-36" barrels) in .62-.67 caliber.

 

[tenngun]

Oh no doubt. MAYBE a few got made from busted up fusil... but outside of thier one time use in Pontiacs rebellion I would think they were on a par with hens teeth. All I was saying was they are cute, and fun. I had one and traded it off but did have fun with it. That's all they are is fun, barly hc under very odd circumstance and dumped as soon as possible. At a public event don't try and pass it off as equipment used or seen in the past, in a private time in a camp and all going off to a shooting line when dressed in hc clothing and you are just playing and doing novelty stuff they are fun. I might get one again, but when I look at my gun fund I would invest in other gun parts first. They do remain on my list like a howdah pistol or a walker or blunderbus... They are just toys after all.

 

[coloradoclyde]

let us make a distinction between a blanket gun and a carbine.

 

[Farren55]

I am aware though some Like my previous example the paget carbine, followed in both sections with a short barrel, but full stock in a middle sized caliber.

 

[tenngun]

Just watched a recroding of Fox News strand inheritence. They had an old boy that had inherited a .45 owned by Bonnie Parker. Got me thinking, Bonnie was tiny. But smuggled a .45 in to jail to bust Clyde out.
Swaddled in a blanket I wonder how large the "blanket" guns the Ottawa women carried. I don't know if any of these guns survived, just wondering if they were bigger then we think of as "blanket" guns. :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I thought she carried a sawed off BAR rifle under her coat too.

I surrender :surrender: guys..... may your blanket guns keep you warm and safe :grin:

 

[nit wit]

I agree, good for demo's or pirate stuff other than that pretty much useless.
Nit Wit

 

[matt denison]

Exactly, but my point is from a historical perspective an not that of the modern day enthusiast.
Did they even really exist?
Were they just a "one off" ?

As a novelty and play thing with a cool factor I say great! have at it and make smoke.

But as a historical piece.????????
They seem far too much of a novelty to wager one's life, livelihood or existence on.

Of course they existed. There are many examples that have been photographed and featured in several books. I have personally handled a Leman blanket gun, there is one hanging in the antique gun area in a local hardware store here in Missoula Montana. (they haven't any idea what it is or where it came from) There is another original in a private collection less than 100 miles north of me. So, if one fellow like me can pin point a half dozen of them then I would say they weren't all that rare. One original that I was able to handle was sold for $2,500.00! It was in relic condition with the main spring broken and sticking out the bottom of the stock. Barrel held in with wire. What made it valuable was that it ws modified during its period of use. It for sure has a story to tell.

 

[tenngun]

Was it a bar under her coat, I didn't look it up. So that makes me wonder if the Ottawa blanket guns were not as large as a carbine. :idunno:
Use for our classic style blanket gun would be limited, but I would rather have one facing an armed intruder then just a knife, or a rock from beside the campfire. It's small enough to fit under you blanket while sleeping. After all the Beatles told us happiness was a warm gun.

 

[LaBonte]

Agree with laffindawg - original 1800-1870 cut down fusees aka blanket guns, etc. are a dime here in the west - maybe not so much east of Ole Miss.

As for being useless - I'd ask how many making such a statement have actually used one and used it in a "period" manner?

The fact is for their intended purpose in the west at least - i.e. running buffalo mainly they work as well as ANY pistol of the era, including the big bore (58 plus) pistols of the era which are well documented as being use for this type hunting. I've successfully used such as gun as well as large bore pistols for years here in the west for harvesting small game at short range - most shots put food on the table yet I didn't have to deal with a full size gun with it's added size, noise, etc....

a modern example: sawed off shotguns aren't even today considered be most to be much good for anything but an alley sweeper yet they continue to be used both by the LEOs as well as the criminals.


While blanket guns, et al may not fit one's modern image/aesthetic they were definitely popular by many users during the period and that is well documented. Now whether the price being asked is a reasonable one is up to the individual....

 

[coloradoclyde]

Exactly, but my point is from a historical perspective an not that of the modern day enthusiast.
Did they even really exist?
Were they just a "one off" ?

As a novelty and play thing with a cool factor I say great! have at it and make smoke.

But as a historical piece.????????
They seem far too much of a novelty to wager one's life, livelihood or existence on.

Of course they existed. There are many examples that have been photographed and featured in several books. I have personally handled a Leman blanket gun, there is one hanging in the antique gun area in a local hardware store here in Missoula Montana. (they haven't any idea what it is or where it came from) There is another original in a private collection less than 100 miles north of me. So, if one fellow like me can pin point a half dozen of them then I would say they weren't all that rare. One original that I was able to handle was sold for $2,500.00! It was in relic condition with the main spring broken and sticking out the bottom of the stock. Barrel held in with wire. What made it valuable was that it ws modified during its period of use. It for sure has a story to tell.

I withdraw my question.....you have convinced me. :grin:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Looks like I'm wrong again ...guess it was a sawed off shotgun. :idunno: