Help Me Choose My First Trade Rifle Kit.

[8541ss]

My family lived in Virginia at the beginning of 1700s and by the end of the 1700s were in Spanish Louisiana. They remained in LA until early 1800s and came to Texas. What type of trade rifles would have been around the Louisiana area in late 1700's that I could build from a kit today? Where would you buy from?

 

[Clark Badgett]

My family lived in Virginia at the beginning of 1700s and by the end of the 1700s were in Spanish Louisiana. They remained in LA until early 1800s and came to Texas. What type of trade rifles would have been around the Louisiana area in late 1700's that I could build from a kit today? Where would you buy from?

The Spanish were not favorable to the idea of trade guns of any types. Before Louisiana became Spanish administered, it was French. The French had no problem what so ever trading fusils of various types with natives and citizens. The French and Spanish didn’t have much of a rifle tradition.

 

[54ball]

A Kibler Woodsrunner or Colonial would fit the criteria.

The history of the Gulf Region is absolutely fascinating. Daniel Boone explored and considered settling in the Gulf region in the 1760s before he went through the Gap into Kentucky. Rebecca Boone absolutely refused.

There is a rifle culture in the Gulf at the times mentioned.
Many who located there were displaced Loyalists.
It’s really to big to get into in one post.

Again, Woodsrunner, Colonial or any 18th Century PA, Virginia or Southern type would be correct for the region.

Remember there were New Orleans riflemen at the Battle of New Orleans, 1815.
One rifle survived, it is a Sheetz Virginia rifle.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Trade rifle or trade gun? More than likely an English export fowling gun.