For anyone considering an Indian manufactured Flintlock

[Byron A Rudrow]

This is an old topic/battle that folks are very passionate about. Because of my own experience, research and opinions on both sides of this debate, there’s no way I would buy one of these
“Firearms“. There is also the question of them being remotely historically accurate in appearance……..they are not in my opinion.
Where have these metallurgical reports been for the last 20+ years? Why haven’t Veteran Arms, Middlesex Village and others posted this information. Why hasn’t the various Muzzle Loading publications said anything about them?
There….that’s the most words I’ve writ since college!
Your mileage may vary.
Be well y’all!

 

[Colonial Boy]

A most interesting thread, I can vouch for the deplorable condition of many firearms used in reenactments.
A few incidents come to mind, some 40 years ago there was a group doing reenactments with an Elizabethan time frame.
Some members of a ml club that I belonged to at the time, told us that the condition of the guns was appalling.
Shortly thereafter the reenactors were giving a demo and one of them had a misfire and for some reason put the ramrod down the barrel and left it there as they marched off the field in single file; the misfire suddenly fired and the ramrod went through the unfortunare person in front, he died of the injury (how soon I don’t recall, but I think it was quick.)

As a result reenacting became much more professional.

 

[toot]

more & more of INDIAN muskets are being used in historical reenactments. the guys don't want to after being shot drop there $3000, guns. dings in the stock & barrel happens sometimes. and most of them only shoot blank loads at events, no live fire. it is not allowed at the events, not even up in the air!

 

[user 49399]

Lots of discussion but no pictures. Here’s my ~.62 caliber Fusil de Chasse from either Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, I can’t remember. A few years ago, I acquired it from a reenactor who only used it for firing blanks. I have used it for squirrel hunting ( it’s taken several) and plinking. It functions fine if I do my part.

Some things to note. The touch hole was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.

The wood has a few blemishes. A couple look like they were filled in with something before finishing. Or that may just be a spot in the wood.

The front sight is just a big square piece of metal. No big deal if you’re using shot.

It ain’t no Kibler or Chambers fer sure. But, I don’t worry about scratching or bumping it.

Ain’t saying I’m fer or agin these guns, just offering some free information.

I

 

[wganz]

I recently saw a YouTube video in which an individual purchased a famous maker Flintlock Kibler Seiler Eleanor anyway it was from track of the Wolf completed guns he goes to the entire gun and shows all < SNIP FOR BREVITY >

Please start the web browser you used to watch this YouTube video, do a Control - H key combo to bring up the browsing history, find this video, and post a link to this. I'm interested in watching this.

 

[wganz]

Some things to note. The touch was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.


IView attachment 160506

Been a number of years back, but I now recall that there were instructions posted on how to drill this vent hole and they specified drilling forward from the flash pan to insure that the vent hole went into the charge and not into the breech plug. At the time, I was wondering just What The Heck were they talking about. Now I know....

Would be interesting to see the inside of the breech end of that barrel if you had one of those plumber scopes to drop down the barrel.

 

[user 49399]

Been a number of years back, but I now recall that there were instructions posted on how to drill this vent hole and they specified drilling forward from the flash pan to insure that the vent hole went into the charge and not into the breech plug. At the time, I was wondering just What The Heck were they talking about. Now I know....

Would be interesting to see the inside of the breech end of that barrel if you had one of those plumber scopes to drop down the barrel.

Yes, if I had one of those I would show that. Up close, you can just see the edge of the breech plug and why it had to be drilled at a forward angle.

 

[Surfinator58]

Please start the web browser you used to watch this YouTube video, do a Control - H key combo to bring up the browsing history, find this video, and post a link to this. I'm interested in watching this.

I don't know about all that but if you go on YouTube and search ,,,sitting Fox 36 custom Flintlock .....you will see it

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I think this is it…



I’ve followed this guy for several years. I wish he was more consistent at posting videos

 

[Surfinator58]

I think this is it…



I’ve followed this guy for several years. I wish he was more consistent at posting videos

That's the one! I looked up sitting Fox and many of their Flint lock guns are in the 1800 to $3,000 range

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Lots of discussion but no pictures. Here’s my ~.62 caliber Fusil de Chasse from either Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, I can’t remember. A few years ago, I acquired it from a reenactor who only used it for firing blanks. I have used it for squirrel hunting ( it’s taken several) and plinking. It functions fine if I do my part.

Some things to note. The touch hole was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.

The wood has a few blemishes. A couple look like they were filled in with something before finishing. Or that may just be a spot in the wood.

The front sight is just a big square piece of metal. No big deal if you’re using shot.

It ain’t no Kibler or Chambers fer sure. But, I don’t worry about scratching or bumping it.

Ain’t saying I’m fer or agin these guns, just offering some free information.

View attachment 160502View attachment 160503View attachment 160504View attachment 160505IView attachment 160506View attachment 160507View attachment 160508

@Banjoman your gun looks well loved. I swear, every time you post images of this gun, I fall for it again & again.

Here’s my 11gauge India made smoothbore. It was very inexpensive. I bought it to use as a loaner. But it’s just too nice…so still loooking for that loaner smoothbore. I’ve taken geese, with heavy goose loads…very responsive firearm.

When I got the gun, I had to replace the tang bolt…found a replacement at Ace Hardware. And I had to replace the nipple…got 3 of them from Track of the Wolf…shot the gun pretty heavily for about 2 years, with no problems. Been looking for a second one…but have never come across another of these.

And of coarse it’s been on several dove hunts, quail & pheasant hunts. I haven’t shot it in the last 10 years, as I’m pretty much a flinter these days…but still a very nice gune.

 

[wganz]

I don't know about all that but if you go on YouTube and search ,,,sitting Fox 36 custom Flintlock .....you will see it

Here is one I found. I have no words for that mess up. Yeah, for that many $$$$, I'd be ticked off also.

 

[granth]

A fellow I know likes to call them "assembled kits". I have no worries about the safety, but fit and finish is lacking in a lot of these guns.

 

[toot]

Lots of discussion but no pictures. Here’s my ~.62 caliber Fusil de Chasse from either Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, I can’t remember. A few years ago, I acquired it from a reenactor who only used it for firing blanks. I have used it for squirrel hunting ( it’s taken several) and plinking. It functions fine if I do my part.

Some things to note. The touch hole was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.

The wood has a few blemishes. A couple look like they were filled in with something before finishing. Or that may just be a spot in the wood.

The front sight is just a big square piece of metal. No big deal if you’re using shot.

It ain’t no Kibler or Chambers fer sure. But, I don’t worry about scratching or bumping it.

Ain’t saying I’m fer or agin these guns, just offering some free information.

View attachment 160502View attachment 160503View attachment 160504View attachment 160505IView attachment 160506View attachment 160507View attachment 160508

I like all of the blemishes & imperfections it has, they all add character to it!! it has the been there done it and is not a closet $3000, closet queen, and it has drawn blood!! jmho.

 

[granth]

Lots of discussion but no pictures. Here’s my ~.62 caliber Fusil de Chasse from either Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, I can’t remember. A few years ago, I acquired it from a reenactor who only used it for firing blanks. I have used it for squirrel hunting ( it’s taken several) and plinking. It functions fine if I do my part.

Some things to note. The touch hole was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.

The wood has a few blemishes. A couple look like they were filled in with something before finishing. Or that may just be a spot in the wood.

The front sight is just a big square piece of metal. No big deal if you’re using shot.

It ain’t no Kibler or Chambers fer sure. But, I don’t worry about scratching or bumping it.

Ain’t saying I’m fer or agin these guns, just offering some free information.

View attachment 160502View attachment 160503View attachment 160504View attachment 160505IView attachment 160506View attachment 160507View attachment 160508

Now that's character!

 

[Surfinator58]

Lots of discussion but no pictures. Here’s my ~.62 caliber Fusil de Chasse from either Loyalist Arms or Veteran Arms, I can’t remember. A few years ago, I acquired it from a reenactor who only used it for firing blanks. I have used it for squirrel hunting ( it’s taken several) and plinking. It functions fine if I do my part.

Some things to note. The touch hole was apparently drilled with the lock in place. Also, see the space between the lock and barrel. I normally fill this space with grease to keep out powder.

The wood has a few blemishes. A couple look like they were filled in with something before finishing. Or that may just be a spot in the wood.

The front sight is just a big square piece of metal. No big deal if you’re using shot.

It ain’t no Kibler or Chambers fer sure. But, I don’t worry about scratching or bumping it.

Ain’t saying I’m fer or agin these guns, just offering some free information.

View attachment 160502View attachment 160503View attachment 160504View attachment 160505IView attachment 160506View attachment 160507View attachment 160508

I'm taking you up on your offer to show more photos here's my military heritage flintlocks Maybe produced a couple of years after yours I have taken a couple of nice bucks with the musket and I use the 1733 pistol for my reenacting portrayal of a French trapper

 

[user 49399]

I'm taking you up on your offer to show more photos here's my military heritage flintlocks Maybe produced a couple of years after yours I have taken a couple of nice bucks with the musket and I use the 1733 pistol for my reenacting portrayal of a French trapperView attachment 160688

Wow! Awesome!

 

[brushblind]

@Banjoman your gun looks well loved. I swear, every time you post images of this gun, I fall for it again & again.

View attachment 160641
Here’s my 11gauge India made smoothbore. It was very inexpensive. I bought it to use as a loaner. But it’s just too nice…so still loooking for that loaner smoothbore. I’ve taken geese, with heavy goose loads…very responsive firearm.

When I got the gun, I had to replace the tang bolt…found a replacement at Ace Hardware. And I had to replace the nipple…got 3 of them from Track of the Wolf…shot the gun pretty heavily for about 2 years, with no problems. Been looking for a second one…but have never come across another of these.

And of coarse it’s been on several dove hunts, quail & pheasant hunts. I haven’t shot it in the last 10 years, as I’m pretty much a flinter these days…but still a very nice gune.

This looks English or imported parts assembled in India but nice regardless.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

This looks English or imported parts assembled in India but nice regardless.

That’s what I was hoping when I bought it…but no, completely India made…

There’s a YouTube Channel, Capandball. He did a video on India made firearms…very informative. He has footage of various collections and how they are made…in that video is the gun that I bought…it’s not mentioned specifically, he’s standing next to it as he talks about a different gun.

Cannot find that video…but I’ll keep looking…

 

[dave_person]

Hi Surfinator58,
When you bought that gun, what were your objectives? Did you buy it because you wanted an affordable gun for plinking and shooting? Did you get it for living history events and reenactments? And then, what were your expectations of the gun for meeting those objectives?

dave