Cheap northwest trade gun

[JakobinWisconsin]

Who makes the best NWTG sub $900 is my price range. I know veteran arms and military heritage both offer one and Ive heard excellent thing about the middlesex trading Co option, so what best in your opinion?

 

[hawkeye2]

Scratch Middlesex off the list. This is the best place to buy an Indian made gun.

https://www.loyalistarms.ca/

 

[Grenadier1758]

One shouldn't be looking for cheap as much as one should be looking for reliability. In the long run a reliable gun will be far more affordable than a cheap gun that requires expensive tuning and other maintenance.

The Norhtwest Trade gun by Pedersoli is a little above the target price range, but I would recommend that @JakobinWisconsin add the Pedersoli version as sold by Dixie Gun Works to his comparison list.

FR3170 Pedersoli Indian Trade Musket (dixiegunworks.com)

Other than a new off the shelf production gun, used versions turn up regularly in the Forum's classified adds.

 

[Mitch97]

I've never handled a India made gun, but most people who own them state that they are fairly reliable. The issues I've encountered in my research tend to stem from soft frizzens and/or lock work needing to be done at some point in the locks life. If you're willing to send a lock off to be worked on occasionally then that's no big deal. The only real advantage I see in pedersoli products is the uniformity of their locks. India locks are made by hand, pedersoli made from CNC.

Back to your original question. Short of building one or finding one used, the India made guns are you're only real option in that sub $900 range. I know the wait times are incredible for some of the India made guns, and it appears most (if not all) pedersoli are out of stock. If you're a proficient wood worker then a kit from TVM or sitting fox would do well.

 

[Henry2357]

Dixie has both the Pedersoli trade musket and the kit in stock. The kit, which I just received, is just a tad bit over you budget, but looking at it seems like a very easy kit.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

One shouldn't be looking for cheap as much as one should be looking for reliability. In the long run a reliable gun will be far more affordable than a cheap gun that requires expensive tuning and other maintenance.

The Norhtwest Trade gun by Pedersoli is a little above the target price range, but I would recommend that @JakobinWisconsin add the Pedersoli version as sold by Dixie Gun Works to his comparison list.

FR3170 Pedersoli Indian Trade Musket (dixiegunworks.com)

Other than a new off the shelf production gun, used versions turn up regularly in the Forum's classified adds.

Pedersoli customer service is excellent. If you happen to break a part, email them and they’ll send you a new one for free. Great people.

Indians make excellent curry and basmati rice. But their guns are not standardized and getting spare parts is a pain. Plus, they’re not even proofed (unlike Italian guns which are proofed and extremely safe to fire).

 

[S.Kenton]

Jackie Brown… he will make you one. Quality varies, but it will get your door pretty quick if ya give him half to start and half when he’s done.

 

[Pioneer flinter]

The only Indian made Northwest Trade gun is made by military heritage. I have one, you have to drill the touch hole, which I would rather do anyway. That way you know it's in the right place. The other company's are English trade guns. Which are different. I have worked on indian guns from a company from Georgia, they were junk. The guns I have from military heritage were not bad. Just treat it as a kit gun in the white. And Finnish it yourself. My Northwest Trade gun from MH is lighter than my pedersoli indian trade gun.

 

[user 49399]

This Fusil de Chasse is from Loyalist Arms and has been responsible for the demise of many squirrels.

It does fine with paper patched round balls also.

 

[bud in pa]

Banjoman how much does your Fussil de Chasse weigh/

 

[user 49399]

About 8 lbs. It handles well though.

 

[Rob M.]

Sold this one for $1200 ....

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My Loyalist Arms LLC trade gun, which I painted the stock on, works good on squirrels...

I replaced the factory ramrod with one that I made, and I added the flash guard so that I could use it during living history (events in my area require such) .
They are as quirky as basic trade guns were, back in the day, but they do work well.

LD

 

[Rob M.]

.....

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Don't buy cheap crapola ever.

 

[NJHard]

My Loyalist Arms LLC trade gun, which I painted the stock on, works good on squirrels...
View attachment 124918

I replaced the factory ramrod with one that I made, and I added the flash guard so that I could use it during living history (events in my area require such) .
They are as quirky as basic trade guns were, back in the day, but they do work well.

LD

Bit of an idiot question here but what paint did you use on the stock? Absolutely gorgeous shade of red in that picture.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Bit of an idiot question here but what paint did you use on the stock? Absolutely gorgeous shade of red in that picture.

Nah, no worries...,

I went to the Clay Smith trade gun site, and copied a photo, then took that to the the local box store paint counter, gave them the photo, and asked them to copy the color..... in oil-based paint.


This is the photo that I used...,

The only problem was that when I printed out the photograph I neglected to hold it up to the screen, so it printed a little bit brighter/lighter than the Clay Smith Red... oh well they weren't that exact back in the 18th century either.

I took the paint home, and added about 1/3 boiled linseed oil to it, to try and get a bit more "elasticity" in the finish, since it was on a gun, and not on a house or shed. I was told that modern oil-based paint has chemical "driers" that can make the paint brittle and more prone to chipping.

I painted the stock and let it cure for a week, although it was pretty much "dry" after a day..., then put the gun back together, and voila..., a trade gun with which to bust around in the brush.

LD

 

[NJHard]

Nah, no worries...,

I went to the Clay Smith trade gun site, and copied a photo, then took that to the the local box store paint counter, gave them the photo, and asked them to copy the color..... in oil-based paint.


This is the photo that I used...,
View attachment 213888

The only problem was that when I printed out the photograph I neglected to hold it up to the screen, so it printed a little bit brighter/lighter than the Clay Smith Red... oh well they weren't that exact back in the 18th century either.

I took the paint home, and added about 1/3 boiled linseed oil to it, to try and get a bit more "elasticity" in the finish, since it was on a gun, and not on a house or shed. I was told that modern oil-based paint has chemical "driers" that can make the paint brittle and more prone to chipping.

I painted the stock and let it cure for a week, although it was pretty much "dry" after a day..., then put the gun back together, and voila..., a trade gun with which to bust around in the brush.

LD

Thanks for the info, I’d been reading about painted guns and heard about the modern paints being fairly brittle. Which was the main reason I was curious about yours. Since it seemed to be holding up pretty well.

 

[Rob M.]

For the least expensive trade gun I'd contact Jackie Brown or Larry Corday out of McConnellsville Ohio ....

 

[TDM]

And if you want a really good, well built Trade Gun I suggest you contact @Rob M.