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

 

[smoothshooter]

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 picsView attachment 373719View attachment 373720View attachment 373721View attachment 373722View attachment 373723View attachment 373724

How well does it spark?
It also appears to have really good stock architecture.

 

[timetraveler]

How well does it spark?
It also appears to have really good stock architecture.

I don’t have a flint. Never owned a flintlock but now that you say that I’d like to see it spark.
Of course it is old, I’m assuming around 1900 but the metal to wood fitting doesn’t seem to be top of the line, seems more like a production gun for the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, like they weren’t the best craftsmen being meticulous. But I’m not sure, I don’t know how much the wood has shrunk, moved, expanded.

 

[Rudyard]

I don’t have a flint. Never owned a flintlock but now that you say that I’d like to see it spark.
Of course it is old, I’m assuming around 1900 but the metal to wood fitting doesn’t seem to be top of the line, seems more like a production gun for the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, like they weren’t the best craftsmen being meticulous. But I’m not sure, I don’t know how much the wood has shrunk, moved, expanded.

There was no lack of skilled workers circa 1900 I think these sorts are more 1930s But they where made for an African native market pre war just' got up' cheap & cheerfull down to a price and suiting a not overly particular customer both trader & buyer. Then as now you get what you pay for machine disgorged offerings versus a noted custom gunmaker . Rude' Lazzarinos' V honest NW Trade guns not that it matters I don't think that hook is to dig in by Pigmies more to hold up the guns weight. Their where German Catalogues' pre war used to illustrate all these sorts. Some posters may have a copy . They where never top of the line but still an interesting study .
Rudyard' s view

 

[timetraveler]

There was no lack of skilled workers circa 1900 I think these sorts are more 1930s But they where made for an African native market pre war just' got up' cheap & cheerfull down to a price and suiting a not overly particular customer both trader & buyer. Then as now you get what you pay for machine disgorged offerings versus a noted custom gunmaker . Rude' Lazzarinos' V honest NW Trade guns not that it matters I don't think that hook is to dig in by Pigmies more to hold up the guns weight. Their where German Catalogues' pre war used to illustrate all these sorts. Some posters may have a copy . They where never top of the line but still an interesting study .
Rudyard' s view

no doubt there was no shortage of skilled workers because they did much more by hand then because lack of modern machinery. My point was these highly skilled workers were not working on these guns. These machined stocks coming out of investarms, kibler, Pedersoli and others look pretty darn nice right off the line