Help me choose a smoothbore at auction please

[LawrenceA]

These are coming up at auction soon and I cant choose what to bid on. What are your thoughts?
Spanish 15g miquelet
English percussion 6bore
English 10g

Or 30 bore trade gun?

All usable as far as i can tell

 

[Heelerau]

For something unusual, I would go for the Miquelet !

These are coming up at auction soon and I cant choose what to bid on. What are your thoughts?
Spanish 15g miqueletView attachment 44756
English percussion 6boreView attachment 44757
English 10g
View attachment 44758
Or 30 bore trade gun?View attachment 44759

All usable as far as i can tell

 

[denster]

I would go with the English 10ga flint.

 

[Kansas Jake]

All of them! Now being a realist, my first choice would also be the 10 gauge flint, followed by the 30 bore trade gun.

Guns are much like vehicles. Do you want the pickup, sports car or sedan? Which do I want most, or which would I use most and down the road what will be worth more.

 

[kje54]

For something unusual, I would go for the Miquelet !

My thoughts exactly, I'd love a Miquelet!

 

[Jaeger]

English 10 gauge flint. What the heck is a 30 bore? That sounds like a lot of diameter. If those are antiques, even if they are "usable", I don't think I would shoot them.

 

[Zonie]

A 30 bore would be about .538" diameter. Most would call it a .54 caliber gun.

 

[Treestalker]

I've always wanted an escopeta with a catalan stock and a miquilet lock. Must be my little bit of Spanish blood acting up, LOL! !Por Que Si!

 

[kje54]

I've always wanted an escopeta with a catalan stock and a miquilet lock. Must be my little bit of Spanish blood acting up, LOL! !Por Que Si!

Believe it or not these are real, or so they claim. As to who their supplier is I have no idea, could be Indian made for all I know.

Spanish Escapeta (Black Powder)

 

[LawrenceA]

The miquelet is an interesting piece for sure. As i have and use a Belgian percussion in 14g I also have all the bits and bobs. Also the Spanish where reknown for the best barrels.
The English flinters are supposedly the best locks and this one is expected to sell at twice the price of the others as it has a few trimmings. It also has the look and lines we are all used to and is dated 1770. The year Captain Cook landed in Australia.

As far as shooting antiques. Who never uses second hand guns?
Yes i may blow one up proofing it but havent yet. I feel that using an original is the ultimate and will do so if possible. If you watch and wait they can be comparable to repros.

 

[LawrenceA]

Believe it or not these are real, or so they claim. As to who their supplier is I have no idea, could be Indian made for all I know.

Spanish Escapeta (Black Powder)

I dont know but tend to think likely Indian.

 

[Heelerau]

I agree, Indian. No issues using originals, they like being woken up. They can surprise you by how well they will shoot. did you put a bid on, as I think the auction was last weekend.

 

[BJm]

definately the 10g flinter, but buy them all. even if you sell some off at a later date they are better value than money in the bank

 

[JeffG]

Is the 6 bore a rifle? If so, that's my first choice, then the 10ga.

 

[LawrenceA]

did you put a bid on, as I think the auction was last weekend.

October 11 it is. With the option of online bidding.
Anything take youe fancy? Would love the purdey target rifle or even the Norwich

 

[LawrenceA]

Is the 6 bore a rifle? If so, that's my first choice, then the 10ga.

All smoothbores. A 6g smoothbore is still an elephant gun. The ball would about 90cal and weigh over 1100 grains.

 

[Heelerau]

The Purdey target rifle is a definite, if I had the spondulicks ! I did look at a couple of the cheap sliders, the one with the frozen lock might be a good buy.

 

[toot]

I would pick the one that can be shot! and is easy on my purse.

 

[bubba.50]

If the desire for them is pretty equal in your mind bid on the first one up. If you get outbid bid on the second one. And so on until you either get one or watch them all go to someone with deeper pockets.

 

[Newtire]

These are coming up at auction soon and I cant choose what to bid on. What are your thoughts?
Spanish 15g miqueletView attachment 44756
English percussion 6boreView attachment 44757
English 10g
View attachment 44758
Or 30 bore trade gun?View attachment 44759

All usable as far as i can tell

I would go fo the 10 ga. You can load it as light as 1 oz. and work up from there. I have a 28 but haven't had much luck with it shooting shot loads at any range.