Earlier pattern Shot snake

[codymobley]

I've been wanting to make a shotsnake of this earlier style for some time and with an 1840s hunting event this coming weekend, I decided it was time to do it.

Here is the photo that inspired my reproduction (with my repro at the bottom):

and here is a close up of my repro:

The spouts are closed in the round with the tops turned in for reinforcement. The body of the snake is of 3 oz veg tan treated with beef tallow, cod liver oil, and bees wax and sewn with Irish cord treated with a pine tar, pine pitch, bees wax and tallow coad. The stoppers I later made of pine with one side drilled out to act as a measure for bird shot.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Very neat! As new, that would have had brass heads with brass, spring held measures as caps. I'm sure many of them over time saw pine stoppers as the measures were lost.
Nice job.

 

[bnail]

VERY, VERY NICE! :thumbsup:
I am though a bit disapointed. I read "early" and thought I'd found an 18th century shot holder.

 

[PA.1740]

Very nice :hatsoff:
Now you got me thinking(not good sometimes) :grin:
Have Fun
Phil

 

[David W.]

Very nice work! :thumbsup:

 

[codymobley]

What would the earliest appearance of the English or Irish brass heads on these shot snakes be? I've looked at a couple of originals that don't show any evidence of having brass heads, though there is a William Sydney Mount painting from 1835 with an Irish head and measure.

Thanks for the kind words.

Cody

 

[Capt. Jas.]

The heads we refer to as Irish appear on English snake belts by the 1760's MINUS the side piece that closes it off. The one we refer to as English with the double gate had English patent in the early eighteenth century by La Chalemette (SP) The only eighteenth century use of that one I recall is a hardened leather affair used for power and not shot from c 1725

 

[Capt. Jas.]

 

[codymobley]

Thanks for those photos.

 

[George]

Do you have any more info on the early snake heads, references, etc., Interesting stuff.

Spence

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Do you have any more info on the early snake heads, references, etc., Interesting stuff.

Spence

Spence,
I believe Keith Neal's Great British Gunamakers has some gunsmith account books for the early snake belts themselves.
The best place to authenticate the heads is in period paintings. Those paintings will also show the side type lever for snakes like was used for powder flasks. See example in the link below as made by Chris Gilgun. The head itself looks like he copied it exactly from an 18th century painting. http://muzzleloadermag.blogspot.com/2010/04/scott-gilgun-shot-snake.html

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Actually, the article says Chris copied it from a pocket flask in a painting but do a search for William Hanbury sighted musket attributed to William Hoare of Bath. He has what appears to be the same spout type.
Also try an image search for Sir William Elford, Bart 1782 by Nothcote for the "irish" type I was speaking of.