Building ME a NW Trade Gun ! :)

[Fatboyz]

I just drilled a touch hole .

Will you be installing a vent liner? Or do you just use a single touch hole?

 

[Rob M.]

Will you be installing a vent liner? Or do you just use a single touch hole?

Just a touch hole ...

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

Just a touch hole ...

What diameter is the touch hole; and also, do you enlarge (cone) the outside of the hole, or just leave it at drill diameter?

 

[Rob M.]

What diameter is the touch hole; and also, do you enlarge (cone) the outside of the hole, or just leave it at drill diameter?

I forget the drill sizes ... but .078 all the way through and .092 half way

 

[Fatboyz]

I forget the drill sizes ... but .078 all the way through and .092 half way

could you take a picture of your flash hole location in relation to the pan? Do you subscribe to the "sunset" location group?

 

[Rob M.]

could you take a picture of your flash hole location in relation to the pan? Do you subscribe to the "sunset" location group?

...yeah. Even with top of pan .....

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

and that great builder would likely tell you that it was so you had to pull the ramrod out to remove the lock bolt, a safety thing.
a master builder has nothing to prove, and would just say, I had too much coffee and was in a rush.

He was a great builder and person, passed on now, we never discussed that bolt but he didn't charge me an arm and a leg either! Just one of those things!

 

[Rob M.]

Different gun but same concept ....

 

[Relic shooter]

any words of wisdom you have would help, I have done longrifles and plains rifles, but never a smoothie or a trade gun

Khufu if you don't already have these I have set of 3 ornate steel ramrod thimbles off of an original trade gun.
If interested let me know & I'll take some photos.
Relic shooter

 

[springfield art]

Rob where did you get that vice?

In MIAMI, of course! (Just a corny joke)

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Khufu if you don't already have these I have set of 3 ornate steel ramrod thimbles off of an original trade gun.
If interested let me know & I'll take some photos.
Relic shooter

Show us the pic's, maybe someone else is interested?

 

[Khufu]

Khufu if you don't already have these I have set of 3 ornate steel ramrod thimbles off of an original trade gun.
If interested let me know & I'll take some photos.
Relic shooter

I am doing a 36"this time, but after talking to l&r the other day when I ordered a left hand queen Anne lock for it, ha asked me if I would be interested in a left trade lock, and of course I said heck yeah! There was I hint he was going to produce a left serpent side plate as well to match it. So after learning on this 36"gun, I am going to make a 42" trade gun, and the 3 pipes would go perfect, and it will actually have the correct lock. Going from wanting one for a decade to having 2 is so awesome, and the 2nd one will benefit from the experience of building the 36". I found a place that has iron but plates and I can ask if l&r are going to make iron side plates, or will on special order.

 

[Rob M.]

Rob what do you normally do for sights? I plan to just have a front site on my smoothbore. I have a fusil solder on front site coming from Track.

For a gun thats going to be mine ...I put a front blade and a rear sight . I'm no wing shooter , I need both

 

[Fatboyz]

Different gun but same concept ....

If you installed a vent liner would you do anything different location wise?

 

[Rob M.]

If you installed a vent liner would you do anything different location wise?

Nope just liner has to go forward a bit to clear the breech face ....

 

[Relic shooter]

I am doing a 36"this time, but after talking to l&r the other day when I ordered a left hand queen Anne lock for it, ha asked me if I would be interested in a left trade lock, and of course I said heck yeah! There was I hint he was going to produce a left serpent side plate as well to match it. So after learning on this 36"gun, I am going to make a 42" trade gun, and the 3 pipes would go perfect, and it will actually have the correct lock. Going from wanting one for a decade to having 2 is so awesome, and the 2nd one will benefit from the experience of building the 36". I found a place that has iron but plates and I can ask if l&r are going to make iron side plates, or will on special order.

View attachment 204226

Khufu if you don't already have these I have set of 3 ornate steel ramrod thimbles off of an original trade gun.
If interested let me know & I'll take some photos.
Relic shooter

PAs requested I've included photos & measurements on set of thimbles from an orig. trade gun. Think I acquired these 40+ years ago at a North Dakota gun show.
They are more ornate than most trade guns I've examined so likely came off of a chiefs grade gun.
I've included the inside-diameters on each thimble indicating they originally held a slightly tapered ramrod.
They were made from sheet iron & do show some minor wear from use, see photos but remain in very solid & usable condition.
My intent was to build a Trade Gun around them that had some historical background. I'm pushing 81 now so not likely to happen
-The front bottom -side of the front thimble has a tiny wear hole, can see brass from the rod showing that wear spot.
-The entry thimble to the stock also has a slight wear spot. The tail of this thimble also has some light engraving but does not show well on the photo.
If anybody wants to add original flavor to their Trade gun I'll let them go for $60.00 postage paid to the lower 48.
Relic shooter 3-8-23

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Relic Shooter,
Those pipes take an unusually huge ramrod.

 

[Relic shooter]

Relic Shooter,
Those pipes take an unusually huge ramrod.

Correct Capt. Jas, likely had a 7/16" or maybe larger diameter tapered ramrod.
Was obviously setup with a ramrod that would not easily break with a tight R/B load or fouled barrel.
Relic shooter

 

[Fatboyz]

Rob I started a new thread on my poor mans Bess/trade rifle I'd like your input on an issue I have. Don't want to derail/clutter your build thread here.
Thanks

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Correct Capt. Jas, likely had a 7/16" or maybe larger diameter tapered ramrod.
Was obviously setup with a ramrod that would not easily break with a tight R/B load or fouled barrel.
Relic shooter

You know for sure these are off a trading gun?