North American made Indian Trade guns

[hawk]

I have a 36" 12 bore barrel,English lock,American butt plate and french triggerguard.Oh and a piece of birds eye maple.
Assembling these parts , will I have a North American built tradegun or what Zonie calls a "B" gun?
Is there any historical evidence of such an arm?

 

[rebel727]

I'm no expert and others may say different and be right but IMHO I think the only thing you'll be pc for is post revolution. The colonist built or rebuilt a lot of guns from whatever pieces they could find.

 

You could mix, and match to get an American, restock, but I would lose/sell the French triggerguard, and get an English one to go with the lock, and you would be fine. I would go a bit farther and get a flat Barnett style butt plate and make a trade gun out of it. Just my thoughts, but the Francy and English just don't mix. Bill

 

[tg]

Parts guns made in the colonies could have a mix of French/English or whatever, (see hamiltons works) the gun would be dated by the latest identifiable feature.

 

[Zonie]

When I hear "Trade Gun" I think of several different possibilities but they all have very distinct patterns. The collection of hardware you describe will not make any of the patterns I have in mind without replacing items.
That said, I think you will end up with a interesting gun which represents the "parts gun" mentioned by tg.
Who knows? It might even be called a Bastard Gun like mine.

 

[hawk]

Thanks for your thoughts fellas ,I started the stock barrel and lock .
It looks alot like the "committee of safety musket at TOW but with a shorter barrel.
:hatsoff:
Well when it's all said and done with ,the turkeys,deer,moose... probably won't like the looks of it any how!