Maine made flint or caplock????

[rabidhunter66]

I have been doing a little research and I am finding little regarding the firearms made in Maine during the 17 and 1800's. Bangor and Portland seemed to have had their gun makers during this time but what suprised me was that not much is said about muzzleloaders. One fellow made a repeating rifle breech loader converted from a muzzleloader. His name was John Hall and was from Falmouth around 1811. Looks like he produced about a 1000 M1819 Hall rifles. But information is pretty scarce from what I can find. There is one book "Maine Made Guns & Their Makers" Publisher Dwight B. Demeritt, Jr. As soon as I can get my hands on a copy that may help.

In the mean time for discussion sake I would think that during this time that with the large Indian population and the large fur and timber trade there had to be more gun makers turning out "traditional" type flints and caplocks. What would people use during this time in this area? Were they importing guns from elsewhere? If so what kind?

 

[graybeard]

I'd be very interested in what you learn. My ancestors were there in the towns of Steuben(formerly Township No. 7) and Cherryfield but I know nothing about their firearms . graybeard

 

[arctichomesteader]

There were several gunmakers in Vermont, so it seems to me there should have been some in Maine. Some of my family from the early 1800's and through the 1840's were gunmakers. There was a lot of experimenting going on in that era. One of my relatives invented a 12 shot flintlock in the early 1820's, others were making various breechloaders, etc.

 

[rabidhunter66]

I will keep looking into it and may head to Bangore to the book store and see if they have a copy of that book this week. The more I think about it the more it intrest me. I will keep you posted.