decoration of a trade musket

[Newtoflints]

Hello all,

does anyone have any pictures of there decorated smoothies?
(inlays, tacks, etc.)
I've got a indian trade musket that I'm thinking of adding some PC native american style decoration too and wouldn't mind seeing a few that are already done.

Something like this Buffalo Runner here;

Northwest trade guns

I'm thinking of using one of these buffalo runners in 20gauge in place of a standard style pistol. As I already have a Indian trade musket (20G) instead of looking for a pistol in .62cal.

let's see those pictures! :redthumb:
NewtoFlints

 

[Newtoflints]

here's another nice example from TOW;

TOW; Northwest trade gun



Newtoflints

 

[Stumpkiller]

IHMO the one from TOTW would look VMB (very much better) without the small tacks Federal Eagle. Too busy.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Will do some looking to find some books with photos of originals with actual tacking but remember the ones that survived are nearly all mid-19th century or later. Many were turned in at the beginning at the start of the "Reservation Era" which would date them around the 1870's though they were actually older and had been in use for some time. Those turned in probably actually dated from the 1830's and '40's. If you're doing prior to about 1825 you probably wouldn't have found a lot of 'tack' decoration.

 

obtain a copy of

The Northwest Gun

By Dr. James Hanson Jr. He pictures several tack decorated versions.

Tack and bead decorations were used on these guns in all areas of the country and from very earley dates. Colored beads would be tapped into shallow holes in the stock in geometric designs, accented with the small brass tacks. The small head tacks (<1/4") are earlier than the large head, and the small cone heads were prefered.

In some archeological sites the shape of the decomposed gunstock can be detirmened by the placement of the tacks that covered the gunstock when it was placed in the grave.

 

Tha used Trade Gun from TOW looks'a liddle too "tacky" fer my taste!!:m2c:

YMHS
rollingb

 

I don't like whale tails and spoilers on my cars either, but some folks do.

Guess it takes all kinds RB.

Now I got this old Hawkin rifle I took off a dead savage that's way over the top! That thing's almost black from the rubbed in bear grease and about covered with tacks!

:crackup: :crackup:

 

Actually I ment tha "thunder bird" looked "tacky", I've never seen'a original riflegun with an animal or bird done in tacks.

Turtles ain't animals,.... are they????? ::

YMHS
rollingb

 

yep, turtles arer naimals.

That reminds me, you ought to check out some of the origional early rifles, and some of the PA-Dutch barn guns. The Christian Springs guns were a bit gaudy with animal carving. Some of the barn guns were painted with milk paint and stenciled with hex sighns and folk art.

Even some of the baroque caving on early jaggers and longrifles is really excessive. There's a jagger rifle in this months muzzle blast, that they are practically worshiping, that is so gaudy I don't think I would want to be seen with it in polite society. Sort of like a .32 pistol with pearl grips!

It seems that people are always feeling like if a little is good a lot has to be better. So a couple of tasteful tacks turns into a geometric design, and there's room for a turtle over here, and I'll bet we could get a rat shape behind that cheekpiece, and we could run a snake up the forend with blue beads!

I think if it was me, and this is just me mind you, I would stick to a clan symbol for an Indian gun. You could do a nice simple turtle or bear or fox in small tacks or beads, a couple of highlight tacks and a line of decoration to define the shape of the gun. It's sort of like we use incised lines along the forend of a longrifle, to make it look slim.

I think I'd take off on the reptile thing. The trade gun already has that lizard on the side for a starting place. Maybe a winged dragon spitting fire out the muzzle!!

I better shut up, I'm going to get into trouble with some Native American culture group, the entire PA-Dutch population group and the baroque furnature carving guild!

:m2c: :imo: :results:

 

[FearNot]

"I'm thinking of using one of these buffalo runners in 20gauge in place of a standard style pistol. As I already have a Indian trade musket (20G) instead of looking for a pistol in .62cal."

Would you run the risk of being taken in by the authorities for carrying a sawed-off shotgun? ::

 

[musketman]

Would you run the risk of being taken in by the authorities for carrying a sawed-off shotgun? ::

There is always that risk, even with a blunderbuss...

Even a smoothbore pistol loaded with shot can be viewed as a "sawed-off shotgun"...

 

[Stumpkiller]

I better shut up, I'm going to get into trouble with some Native American culture group, the entire PA-Dutch population group and the baroque furnature carving guild!

Too late. I've already notified my brother-in-law. He's a member of the militant splinter of the Moravian Liberation Army. You can expect a drive-by shooting sometime hense.

Clop - clop - clop - clop

BLAM! "Be Thee Thus Smited!

Clop - clop - clop - clop.

 

Thanks Stumpkiller!!,.... You saved me have'n ta make tha "call" to'em!!

Jest 'tween you'n me,.... I'm git'n kind'a worry 'bout ol' Ghost, he thinks'a turtle is an "animal" jest like his lab.
I'm not sure what he's use'n ta clean his riflegun with, but I hope he switchs back to "water" purty soon!! :crackup: :crackup:

YMHS
rollingb

 

[musketman]

Though not a trade gun on the top, it does represent typical Indianizing with tacks...

The bottom gun is a Parker Field Indian trade musket...

As you can see, large, bold patterns were used...

 

[Newtoflints]

"I'm thinking of using one of these buffalo runners in 20gauge in place of a standard style pistol. As I already have a Indian trade musket (20G) instead of looking for a pistol in .62cal."

Would you run the risk of being taken in by the authorities for carrying a sawed-off shotgun? ::

Nope not here.... BP isn't regulated like "real" guns.
I could make a double flinter 8" long if I wanted to :RO:
I'm not sure about everywhere but a lot of states are this way.

BTW, there some good pic's, keep them comming. Anyone know where to order some of those PC brass tacks?

NewtoFlints

 

[Newtoflints]

Actually I ment tha "thunder bird" looked "tacky", I've never seen'a original riflegun with an animal or bird done in tacks.

Turtles ain't animals,.... are they????? ::

YMHS
rollingb

Agreed, the thunderbird is a bit "over the top" for my taste.
I'm wanting to complement the long lines of the musket, while showing some native american influence, for my persona BUT not make it look like a over done winter project .... :shake:

Thanks for all of the replies!
NewtoFlints

 

[Rebel]

So what yer sayin' is ya don't want it to come out looking Zonieish? :: :crackup:

 

[musketman]

Anyone know where to order some of those PC brass tacks?

Any hardware sells brass tacks, get the solid head ones and make sure they're solid bras, not plated steel...

In our suppliers links there are many places that sell them as well, Crazy Crow Trading Post specializes in Indian items, tacks included...

Crazy Crow

 

[Stumpkiller]

Here's one from Georgia that was used in the Civil War.

Use the ancient Swastika symbol. I dare you!

Nice little sunrise motif. I like that.

For years I've been toying with the thought but I have never quite found the right pattern to justify poking a bunch of holes in my New Englander. It has trade-gun lines (if you squint your eyes and have someone else hole it , in the shade, a ways off . . . ). This thread has reminded me and I pledge to get down to brass tacks and do it!

 

[musketman]

Use the ancient Swastika symbol. I dare you!

Just for the record, the Sioux Indians used the Swastika symbol 100 years before Hitler...

Sioux Beaded Bag with Indian Good Luck Swastika Ca. 1840-50