Following is an E-mail from my friend Tom who needs some help identifying this gun:
(Pictures to follow)
-------------------------
Frank,
My cousin told me at the funeral about a gun our Uncle Joe had given to him some years ago. At that time, he could not give a good description or what was written on the barrel so I asked for pictures. Now I have the pictures but the ID is over my head. Cousin George is not a shooter and has no associations with shooting people to get some information about this gun.
The Schmidt is associated with muzzle loaders and breech loaders in the mid 19th century in Germany. I found a Schmidt 16 ga percussion shotgun that was a work of beauty.
The pictures indicate a pretty rough gun missing parts like the trigger guard. Typically, Joe would not have hung on to a gun like this or even given it to a family member unless there was a reason. If the reason is the ownership history of the gun, that is almost certainly lost forever. The other reason could have been the origin of the gun. He may have known someone in the Schmidt family, or?
The gold (?) eagle, Schmidt name, .U.S.,and engraved butt plate have me curious. These could have meant something to Joe and may have given him a reason to hang on to the gun. Any thoughts on this 130 (?) year old puzzle?
Your black powder demo was excellent. The younger students may not have understood what was said beyond it being a muzzle loader but they sure understood and will never forget the watermelon. Thank you, Frank, for making it a memorable day for our HE grads.
Tom
Thanks for your help!
Wirewiz
(Pictures to follow)
-------------------------
Frank,
My cousin told me at the funeral about a gun our Uncle Joe had given to him some years ago. At that time, he could not give a good description or what was written on the barrel so I asked for pictures. Now I have the pictures but the ID is over my head. Cousin George is not a shooter and has no associations with shooting people to get some information about this gun.
The Schmidt is associated with muzzle loaders and breech loaders in the mid 19th century in Germany. I found a Schmidt 16 ga percussion shotgun that was a work of beauty.
The pictures indicate a pretty rough gun missing parts like the trigger guard. Typically, Joe would not have hung on to a gun like this or even given it to a family member unless there was a reason. If the reason is the ownership history of the gun, that is almost certainly lost forever. The other reason could have been the origin of the gun. He may have known someone in the Schmidt family, or?
The gold (?) eagle, Schmidt name, .U.S.,and engraved butt plate have me curious. These could have meant something to Joe and may have given him a reason to hang on to the gun. Any thoughts on this 130 (?) year old puzzle?
Your black powder demo was excellent. The younger students may not have understood what was said beyond it being a muzzle loader but they sure understood and will never forget the watermelon. Thank you, Frank, for making it a memorable day for our HE grads.
Tom
Thanks for your help!
Wirewiz
