Last Of The Mohicans

[MikeC]

What was Daniel Day Lewis carrying in the movie. Nice length to it.

 

[Adam Isrow]

I saw some company on the web was making exact copies of it. I think they may have even made the rifle for the movie, too. They stopped making it a few years ago I think, but may still have the web page up with info on it.
Wayne Watson is his name, out of Ocala, FL. He has a web page, but i don't know how informative it is.

 

[mrbortlein]

I re-watched the movie last night, and from what I saw, I think it's a Pennsylvania rifle. The slope off the back of the stock and at the end of the movie as he shoots the enemy indians, it shows a clear view at the muzzle and it's an hexagon. There is also a scene at the fort and he is talking about the gun, but I didn't quite hear all that he said. It's playing on AMC for those who don't have the video.
mrbortlein

 

[MikeC]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was doing some surfing trying to get some info after reading your posts and came up with this on a website that points out movie mistakes. Se below.

In the scene where Daniel Day-Lewis picks off the French/Indians attacking the runner from the top of the fort, the muskets of the time were no way accurate enough for him to pick off 2-3 guys in a row, using various muskets. British soldiers used smooth bore muskets with a range of 100-150 yards until the 1840's. Rifled barrels (and hence, accuracy) didn't come into use until about the 1850's. [Actually, he is shown using a type of Kentucky (or "Pennsylvania") long rifle. These weapons were designed in the colonies by transplanted German and Swiss gunsmiths. By 1750 the long rifle design was somewhat standardized. Although its calibre was relatively small for that period, ranging from .45 to .60, it was well-known for being accurate at over 200 yards.]

 

[trent/OH]

My 8th grade daughter's US History class is watching the movie this week.

I just looked at a couple of scene's, and to me his rifle barrel looks like an octagon shape. I'd like to see a hexagonal barrel though.

 

[trailblazer]

I can look out my window at Fenimore across the Hudson river. I would assume it's named after James Fenimore Cooper. About a mile upstreem is the famous Coopers Cave. Yesterday I was hunting with my muzzleloader in the Pilot Knob, Buck Mt area of Lake George, not far from Fort William Henery. This Morning I hunted the Shelving Rock Mt area. From what I understand, this is where people are falling from the cliff? I know it's just a story but I love the history of the area.
:applause:

 

[Birddog6]

Rifled barrels (and hence, accuracy) didn't come into use until about the 1850's.

I think you will find that is totally incorrect.......... Rifled barrels were use in the early 1700's & right theu the 1800's. The smoothbore was so popular in the states because it was versatile with Ball or Bukhshot, thus very popular for the settlers. Most of these settlers were farmers & couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a dang shovel at 3', let alone aim & accurately shoot a rifle to kill game & feed his family. However, Ball'n'Buck or buckshot made a WORLD of difference in killing game even if ya are a bad shot & feeding a family.

But anyway, there were hundreds of thousands of rifled ML Pennsylvania longrifles made all thru the 1700's & up to the late 1800's til the cartridge was developed.. And what about the German rifles that were brought over here made in the 1700's ? Most all of the German Jaegers ya see in books have rifled barrels & lots of dif configurations of rifling too.

The British used smoothbore muskets because they were easy to load, fast to load, & easy to maintain. When you study how they did their European Millitary fighting, you can see why. Accuracy had nothing to do with fighting to them. The ** VOLUME ** of shots fired was what won battles when they fought. (Good example is the Brits. lining up to fight in "The Patriot") That is why the PA rifles & guerilla warfare confused them so, cause the Indians & the Settlers didn't fight fair, they didn't stand out in the open, line up & shoot. They hid & used cover & etc.

:thumbsup:

 

[tg]

". By 1750 the long rifle design was somewhat standardized"

Have any pics of one? many would give their left arm to see a 1750 Colonial made longrifle, also kind of interested in the source of the intire paragraph.

 

[bart_anastasi]

While I do not have a original the people over in Colonial Williamsburgh at the muesum gun shop are making original guns true to the time. Just before the american revolutionary war.

They have also some original guns on display that you can look at there if not pick up. Not to mention samples at their muesum.

Added to this you can pick up a new hand made from scratch gun and buy one if you can afford the bucks and the waiting period.

Thes guns are not copies but made in the same way as the originals in a attempt to keep the gun makers skill sets from disapearing.

These guns are made entirerly the same way, three hammers, 10 files, six wood rasps, chisels, forge and a whole lot of sweat, every screw in the gun is hand made one at a time. that is no eletric.

 

[hawkeye1755]

What was Daniel Day Lewis carrying in the movie. Nice length to it.

Kill Deer was made by Rifle-maker Wayne Watson of Leonardtown,Maryland.

:hatsoff:

 

[54ball]

I think he means rifled muskets with the adoption of the minnie in the 1850s.

 

[shortbow]

Only thing I know for sure about it is I'd sure like to have one like it. Also v. cool that Dan knew enough to set the butt on his foot.

 

[tg]

"While I do not have a original the people over in Colonial Williamsburgh at the muesum gun shop are making original guns true to the time'

I have a little understanding of colonial guns, I was interested in the 1750 date attributed to the longrifle being standardized so to speak, I did not know of any existing 1750 rifles to go by.

 

There was so much wrong with that info that I didn't even try to respond. :shake:

 

[tg]

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have either....

 

[Adam Isrow]

I thought the website said he is out of ocala, florida. Anyway, that's a nice roman nose on that rifle. To what school would that be attributed? Allentown?
I also have to ask, cause I just don't know, what purpose does the broad sweep of the buttstock serve? Does it facilitate off-hand shooting? I'd like to get to shoot one one day.

 

[fitter]

Made by Wayne Watson of Maryland.Has Getz 48" barrel.

 

[Okwaho]

There was so much wrong with that info that I didn't even try to respond. :shake:

Cooner, you're being charitable in your old age :bow: and TG, while I'm sure that there are some rifles before 1760, they haven't been identified as such and there are very few before 1770.RCA 17 and 142 probably date before 1770. The Schreit rifle is dated 1761;I date my old gun about 1765 with both being from Reading,Pa.and there are several other very early Berks County and Reading guns.There are others,I'm sure and maybe one or two will turn up someday.

As to the gun used in The Last of the Mohicans, I can,t tell exactly but it looks like a Ca. 1815-1830 or so Allentown gun, maybe Lehigh Valley, but in no way is it a F&I War gun.
There I said it! :shocked2:
Tom Patton

 

[tg]

Yeah I know Tom, I thought that maybe some remarkable info had surfaced in the recent past regarding 1750 rifles that I was not aware of....guess I should put a little yellw dude here but don't know which one would fit the best.

 

There was so much wrong with that info that I didn't even try to respond. :shake:

Cooner, you're being charitable in your old age :bow: and TG, while I'm sure that there are some rifles before 1760, they haven't been identified as such and there are very few before 1770.RCA 17 and 142 probably date before 1770. The Schreit rifle is dated 1761;I date my old gun about 1765 with both being from Reading,Pa.and there are several other very early Berks County and Reading guns.There are others,I'm sure and maybe one or two will turn up someday.

As to the gun used in The Last of the Mohicans, I can,t tell exactly but it looks like a Ca. 1815-1830 or so Allentown gun, maybe Lehigh Valley, but in no way is it a F&I War gun.
There I said it! :shocked2:
Tom Patton

Goodness gracious!!! :shocked2: Not charitable, just befuddled. I truthfully didn't know where to start. :rotf: