Just ordered N.W.Chiefs Musket

[Redstick Lee]

a copy of Chief Tecumsehs' 36" barreled musket from Military (Access) Heritage in Canada.
It's in the white so i'll let it age naturally.
I'll have to drill the vent but that's a non-issue.

and now the waiting game begins......

 

[Redstick Lee]

 

[NorthFork]

Looks very nice! Hope you enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying my new trade gun.

 

[BSchroe]

Good looking musket . It’s gonna be fun !!

 

[Leadball loader]

I have the 42 inch barrel version from AH and it shoots where you point it.
I did have to lighten the trigger let off , get a 3/8 hickory ramrod from tow,and finish drilling the rod hole to take the new rod. The brass rod end was removed from the decorative dowl that it came on and fitted to the new rod.
I used a steel ramrod from my 1728 St. Etienne musket to make sure the vent hole could be in the proper locations and the breech plug was not to long. I have had to deepen the groove in the plug on one gun to allow the vent to come right on the flashpan. I have access to a barrel vice.
I drilled the vent hole with my power handrill and a .070 bit set deep in the chuck. If the plug is long drill your hole in the proper pan location just deep enough to mark into the plug.
I have had fun tuning these guns well as shooting g them. I hope you will too. You

 

[jj500]

They look pretty good how is the quality on them?

 

[Redstick Lee]

thanks for the info......I have a barrel vise and virgin lock blocks just in case.....also a compound cross slide vise and drill press for the vent.

i'm stoked about getting this smoothie, but it's going to hurt like hades my 1st range trip because my Dad Passed a week ago and I won't be able to take him with and set him up & let him shoot it too......

at least I have a video of him shooting my Pedersoli rifle a while back.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Condolences friend.

B.

 

[azmntman]

Sorry for your loss. My Pop was the only one I had that would shoot/hunt BP with me. Daughter coming around now but she's apparently naturally a talented shooter and will be out shooting me very soon :redface: (OK she did yesterday :shake: )

 

[Rifleman1776]

thanks for the info......I have a barrel vise and virgin lock blocks just in case.....also a compound cross slide vise and drill press for the vent.

i'm stoked about getting this smoothie, but it's going to hurt like hades my 1st range trip because my Dad Passed a week ago and I won't be able to take him with and set him up & let him shoot it too......

at least I have a video of him shooting my Pedersoli rifle a while back.

He'll be watching.

 

[Leadball loader]

They are not as refined as the guns made to order and costing a good bit more but they can be brought to a good condition with a little work. They come close to what original guns were when new. Modern steel makes them stronger than originals.
The locks have had good strong springs on the five guns I have purchased but internal parts need to be cleaned up to get smoother action. I lightened some springs.
The stock is usually teak and has some good figure. The wood is resistant to rot and has a strength rating similar to walnut. The finish is not great but does for me.
If you like to tinker and work on guns these will give you a good end product.

 

[Leadball loader]

Sorry to hear of your loss. Hope that having your daughter interested and participating is helping ease your grief.
Your nw gun will be fun for you both to shoot.

 

[Leadball loader]

Sorry read wrong post. Hope you can still feel some enjoyment from your new gun.

 

[Redstick Lee]

it arrived yesterday and is absolutely identical to the stock photos posted above.

the lock screws were both a bit long....as in snagging the **** and pressing the hammer/frizzen spring......both shortened perfectly.

going to use the lockwork "as is" for a while, to allow some wear marks to form , so i'll know exactly where to polish when I go in to do an action job and touch up the springs.

on an alarming note: the frizzen/hammer spring came from the factory with a small "divot" right at the outer edge of the U......i'll file & polish that out, post-haste

the vent drilled perfectly with no blockage from the breech-plug.

I have a spare hickory rod that i'll enlist if & when the stocker breaks........

i'm really STOKED and ready to take it to the range, probably Sunday afternoon.

i'm doing something i've not ever really done ....i'm naming this musket......"Dad".

 

[BillinOregon]

Great choice on the name. I'll bet your father got a grin out of that. Eager to hear how it performs at the range.
Curious what you think of the buttstock architecture in recoil against your cheek.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Please take a camera to the range :hatsoff:

B.

 

[Crewdawg445]

Just a NW trade rifle copy, actually not a musket but a smooth rifle.

Looks nice though, how is the detail on the serpent side plate? Like the small details, especially the sitting fox, mark of quality in the day. Also the the tang bolt looks as of it's actually threading from underneath through the trigger plate which is excellent.
I bet that stock has some nice grain underneath as well.

You can likely turn that into a real shooter. Lock spark good?

What was the price tag if you don't mind me asking? I don't like production guns, but appreciate a good HC copy and it looks like you have one.

 

[Cruzatte]

Just a NW trade rifle copy, actually not a musket but a smooth rifle.

With all due respect, and I hate to be viewed as pedantic....but the NW gun was never rifled, and neither is this piece. It is in it's essence a shotgun. Call it a gun, a fusil/fuke/fuzee or a trade musket, anything but a rifle, and there won't be any confusion.

 

[tenngun]

True smooth rifles were also called rifle mounted fusils were made to look like a traditional rifle. Often fitted with full octagon or even swamped barrels. Had cheek pieces, often patch boxes or but traps,rear and front sights and may have some decorative stock carving.
This fusil may be a good copy of Tecumpsee’s gun, but The Hudson’s bay ”˜chiefs gun’ often looked more like a mid quality civilian fowling piece.
I ve looked longing at this gun myself.

 

[Redstick Lee]

well pardon me all to h*ll for what I called it ...
never been one to mince on historical perfection....better things to do etc.

yes, the tang screw is bottom fed thru the spearhead (not an acorn) and the "dragon" is a bit rough and unrefined......but it sparks well, is extremely fast to the shoulder, and for $600 shipped I must say " BRAVO ! "

i've already replaced the rod with hickory and (gasp) a threaded shank for a .62 cal. button jag....need CPR yet??

this is no ronnie gun as there's no ronnies within a half days drive from my home......but this WILL be the gun I use this fall/winter on everything from rabbit & squirrel to turkey to white-tails as I have nearly 90 acres at my private disposal to hunt in Central Alabama....that is absolutely infested with game of all types and sizes.
already have a small camp set up for overnight and weekend hunts......and plan on spending some time w/my new gun as soon as most of my Dads affairs are settled (which will hopefully be in early October).