Newbie Smoothbore Questions

[rvbanker]

Hello all,

I have a few questions. I am new to the whole Flintlock thing but i have been doing re-enactments for a long time and is just starting to do 18th century. I am wanting to get a Smoothbore rifle appropriate to the F & I war. I know that the most appropriate gun would most likely be a Brown Bess and if i was right handed i would be perfectly content with ordering a Pedersoli as i have used several and all have been good quality. Though unfortunatly i am a leftie and therefore any mass produced started gun is out of the question.

Can anyone point me to a descent custom/semi custom builder that makes left handed smoothbores appropriate to the 1750's That is not terribly expensive as this is my first flintlock. I would also like to have it for Friendship next year if possible. Any help or advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

Ryan

 

[Black Hand]

Try North Star West. They have an Early English Model that fits your time period and can be built in a left-hand model. However, a finished one will cost you ~$1000.00. Web site is www.Northstarwest.com
Black Hand

 

check out Track of the Wolf, they have a very neat left-handed officer's fusil/musket for sale....

 

[54ball]

Hello,
Let be begin by saying that I am also left handed. With that said history has not been kind to left handed folks. In the 18th Century children were forced to use their right hand. Some even called the left hand the devil's hand. Regulars in the French or Brittish armies used righthanded guns period. It was a matter of disipline. Even today; Right shoulder harch!!, Left shoulder harch!! You won't see lefties holding left handed unless the whole column is ordered to do so. Their may be a little leway with militia. These people brought their own arms and also trained and drilled together. They were also property owners and were not considered to be common gutter trash like an 18th century regular enlisted man was.
I shoot left handed most of the time but I also can shoot right handed. Have you ever tried to shoot right handed? In hunting it can be a great skill to master because it increases your field of fire tremendously. Practice shooting with your right eye, right handed you may learn you have that ability. I think a lot of left handed people can if they would try. All of my muzzleloaders are righthanded guns and I have never had a problem shooting them left handed. Yes one is a flintlock and I have always fired it left handed with no ill effects. Flint double barrels were common in the early 1800s and right handed people shot them so we should have no problem shooting a right handed gun. Wear glasses if it bothers you and do not over prime. Consider this Flintlocks are actually safer to shoot off handed than percusion. If a caplock vents back through the nipple for some reason it is angled toward you. A flinter vents straight out the side well away from you.