Georges Laloux African trade rifle

[timetraveler]

When I was a kid my dad had this old musket hanging on the wall, that was 1960-1974. Then we moved a couple times and it just stayed in a closet. Now I’m 64, Dad long gone and I just dug it out of another closet at my moms, she’s 90 now.
I’m not a collector or anything and I’d sell the thing if there was any interest and I’d put it towards a new muzzle loader kit that I could put together like I did with my GPR.
I found as info as I could here and google and found it’s a Georges Laloux, “African trade rifle”, my best guess and looks like they may go for $200-500.
According to you gentlemen and Lady’s do you agree with what I’ve found?
Also should I try to clean it up, get the rust off or would that be a bad idea?
Should I take it apart and refinish it and steel wool the barrel and blue it?
I have no interest in shooting it, the barrel is like a 90 cal or close to it. Anyway I know it’s just a wall hang piece.
Thank you all
I’ll load a few pics

 

[Sam squanch]

I’ve seen these go for over $1000. I think turner kirkland who started Dixie gun works imported many to sell. The large bore is attractive to many. The story was an African Pygmy would run under an elephant, stick the buttplate extension in the ground, and shoot the elephant through the stomach! Probably getting trampled in the process!

 

[Sam squanch]

Oh yes- just leave it like it is and keep it in a dry place, any active rust i would gently remove with gun oil and steel wool. Advertise it here, it will sell!

 

[Sam squanch]

I have a shotgun conversion made from a chassepot action and a musket barrel with that same bee stamp. This George guy had his finger in the surplus cheap shotgun market for sure.

 

[timetraveler]

I have a shotgun conversion made from a chassepot action and a musket barrel with that same bee stamp. This George guy had his finger in the surplus cheap shotgun market for sure.

Thanks for you thoughts Sam, really appreciate it. I’ll do what you said and try to sell it. I’ve been wanting to get a 36 cal rifle kit.

 

[Rudyard]

I’ve seen these go for over $1000. I think turner kirkland who started Dixie gun works imported many to sell. The large bore is attractive to many. The story was an African Pygmy would run under an elephant, stick the buttplate extension in the ground, and shoot the elephant through the stomach! Probably getting trampled in the process!

Interesting story not sure Pigmies are that dumb. But When I was in Nigeran in 1965 A poacher was fined for shooting an Elephant with a 6" nail from a Dane gun up north in the Fulani region He did'nt get scwished but he aught to have been . Nice example of such a gun It would have to be a Kibler or a Chambers before Ide trade it off . But that's not a bid .
Rudyard

 

[reddogge]

If you are going to sell it DO NOT REFINISH OR TRY TO DE-RUST IT. A collector would want it in it's present condition untouched.

 

[timetraveler]

If you are going to sell it DO NOT REFINISH OR TRY TO DE-RUST IT. A collector would want it in it's present condition untouched.

Ok thanks for advice. There is a place near me that has a gun auction every once in awhile, I might try there first

 

[smoothshooter]

I’ve seen these go for over $1000. I think turner kirkland who started Dixie gun works imported many to sell. The large bore is attractive to many. The story was an African Pygmy would run under an elephant, stick the buttplate extension in the ground, and shoot the elephant through the stomach! Probably getting trampled in the process!

It looks like one of the guns Dixie sold for years up thru the 1970’s.
I wouldn’t take the story about the Pygmy’s and the butt plate too seriously.
Good as he was as an early supplier and promoter for the renewed interest in BP shooting, he was, above all else, a pretty creative salesman, and someone who would not let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

[smoothshooter]

I’ve seen these go for over $1000. I think turner kirkland who started Dixie gun works imported many to sell. The large bore is attractive to many. The story was an African Pygmy would run under an elephant, stick the buttplate extension in the ground, and shoot the elephant through the stomach! Probably getting trampled in the process!

I always wanted to buy one of those while drooling over my yearly Dixie Gun Works catalog. Seems like they had a very large bore ( like 4 gauge or something ), but I was a younger to middling teenager with little money to spend on a novelty gun like that.

 

[timetraveler]

I always wanted to buy one of those while drooling over my yearly Dixie Gun Works catalog. Seems like they had a very large bore ( like 4 gauge or something ), but I was a younger to middling teenager with little money to spend on a novelty gun like that.

It is very large, I measured it over 7/8”.
4 ga sounds about right.
Seems like you could drop a charge and wad and then pour 16 penny nails into it like a three stooges bit