northwest trade gun color

[Grandpa Ron]

I have heard this argument ad nauseum for years. It is nothing more than an attempt to reinforce the fact that folks are so pent up on the common; that they ignore or deny the co-existing technology and those pesky anomalies show up at virtually every archeological dig.

Those “one of” that someone needed and “hand crafted” are indeed part of the historic record. To deny that these unique exceptions existed is simply a falsehood to the public.

Likewise when the historic record states something like “The men march out with their brightly colored shirts” and only two different color shirts have been found; that is not proof that there were no other colors. The lack of documentation is not proof of non-existence.

All this is interesting opinion and rhetoric but open to: Pages 25 and 26 of Ryan Gale’s book “For Trade and Treaty” and you will find a picture of a late 17th to early 18th century dog locked fowler that is painted black. The author indicates it is typical of those sold by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

It is true it is not a Type “G” (another modern term) but it is a fowler and it is painted black.


We also know that one of the so call type “G” guns was made by John Bumford who also produced guns for the HBC.

 

[rich pierce]

So once upon a time there was a black painted gun sold to the HBC, and John Bumford sold guns to the HBC and also made Carolina guns. Well, that settles it. Logic 101.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Actually the only thing it shows is there is evidence of an 18th century fowling piece that was typical of the guns sold by HBC and it was painted black. That is the short answer to the original inquiry.

Who painted the gun black, when it was painted, why it was painted may never be known. Given the very small survival rate of firearms it could be the sole survivor of a special shipment or simply a “one of” anomaly. We just do not know.

While Bumford’s connection to HBC is may be coincidental, one has to ask who ordered the painted artwork, how many were ordered, why they were ordered? Again we just do not know.

All of which goes back to my original point that a “unique” item, made from period available technology, may not be common but it is historically correct.

 

[spudnut]

I have a Belgium blunderbuss that had a black painted stock.I'm not claiming its an 18th century piece as I know they were sold through Dixie Gun works once upon a time. It looked nice against the brass furniture.
Just wondered if anyone had docs or seen black painted guns.
Thanks for the comments and thanks Grampa Ron,Traded to the HBC is good enough for me I am painting it black as it will be a cheap stock anyway

 

[Grandpa Ron]

The black finished guns I have seen were modern made, flinters, one was done with linseed oil and carbon black, (soot) by a person who is a stickler for period materials; the other by painting the stock black and wiping the paint off between coats. Then an oil finish.

Both thought the gun would look less commercial like. Some stock woods are best hidden by a coat of paint. :grin:

 

[Grumpa]

Monday morning, Columbus Day, the Wife and I went aboard the Nina and the Pinta (replicas) that were docked on the Monongahela river here in Pittsburgh.

Both ships were black. Entirely, (except sails and some ropes/lines).

We were told that the original ships were blackened with pine tar, but that the Coast Guard frowns on that because it is flammable ( and it is also sticky).

So the same benefits are achieved (without the stickiness or flammability) by using a mixture of linseed oil and tung oil.

I immediately thought of blackened gun stocks, and wonder if there was a connection?

 

[spudnut]

well that sounds interesting might have to do a little experiment

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Jack-O-Tar was a common discription used for sailors because everything was tarred to improve its life at sea.

The sailor were supposed to have handled so much of it that even their hair was slicked back with it.

You will have to go to the nautical folks for the details.

 

[Grumpa]

Jack Tar often wore his hair in a long braid ("pig-tailed sailor hangin' down behind" *), and he kept it in place by slicking it over with tar.

*from the sea shanty "Whup Jamboree".

I wore one myself, as a young man, without the tar.