Northwest Trade Gun

[springfield art]

I posted earlier today that I was considering a Trade Musket perhaps in the future. Looking at the Military Heritage site, they have nice-appearing Northwest guns in both 36 and 42 inch barrels. They have the original markings like proofs and the Sitting Fox. Anyone out there have one? Workmanship seems fine from the photos and they state that the frizzens are correctly hardened, etc. I'm a sucker for the cool sideplates on these guns and the simple, utilitarian design. Their line is the one that requires touchhole drilling, which is not a big deal at all.

 

[Surfinator58]

My brother and I have six of their guns fusil de chasse a couple of 1733 french pistols and a blunderbuss all of which came with beautiful wood although we re finished and did some lock work to make them smoother I really like their guns and think they are very good you will hear a lot of bad-mouthing by people who have bought $5,000 custom guns and feel bad that others enjoy curry burners that are safe and we'll made.
...

 

[tenngun]

I wanted one for years and years. Then I got one, the kit from Track of tge wolf.
Cant say enough about how good the quality was. Lock could fire a piece of limestone gravel.
I put I rear sight on it and a shot great.
But just was too straight for me. I found it inconvenient to hold
I like a TFC better
But like me many people find the calfs foot stock inconvenient, so that’s just taste.
These guns started at dawn of nineteenth century, And lasted through to the dawn of the twentieth.
If it was a survival situation I would take one over a contemporary rifle.
Also of note while ‘Americans’ were buying rifles Indians, and Métis rejected them and went with NWG.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Was at a Rendezvous years ago and the guy shooting next to me had a Trade Gun, made by Pedersoli. He’d done some extra work to personalize it, and I must admit that gun was beautiful…I believe he made it from a kit. I completely understand your desire.

A month later, I read an article series in some old issues of Muzzleloader Magazine. In the series, the author was essentially living life in the early to mid 1700’s, his gun of choice was a Fusil de Chase. The photography was OK, but it showed enough details and information…I was enticed.

A week or so later, I spent a few days helping my dad clean and catalog a bunch of muzzleloaders that he had collected back in the late 70’s through the mid 90’s. Once that was completed, I called TVM and ordered my Fusil de Chase…an hour later he ordered himself a Fusil de Chase…8 months later, we had a matched set of Fuzzies.

I really need to get an image of both guns side by side…I still have problems telling them apart.

Follow your dreams…

Edited to add:

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Military Heritage. I think you will be fine going with them. There are a couple items they carry that I really like…so will be ordering from them soon. One thing about India Made Guns…think of them as almost finished kit guns. Do not be surprised if the gun arrives and you discover things that you would like addressed. You can choose to return it, or take your time and address it yourself.

Drilling touch holes is not hard to do, placement is pretty important, but drilling…not hard.

 

[springfield art]

Was at a Rendezvous years ago and the guy shooting next to me had a Trade Gun, made by Pedersoli. He’d done some extra work to personalize it, and I must admit that gun was beautiful…I believe he made it from a kit. I completely understand your desire.

A month later, I read an article series in some old issues of Muzzleloader Magazine. In the series, the author was essentially living life in the early to mid 1700’s, his gun of choice was a Fusil de Chase. The photography was OK, but it showed enough details and information…I was enticed.

A week or so later, I spent a few days helping my dad clean and catalog a bunch of muzzleloaders that he had collected back in the late 70’s through the mid 90’s. Once that was completed, I called TVM and ordered my Fusil de Chase…an hour later he ordered himself a Fusil de Chase…8 months later, we had a matched set of Fuzzies.

I really need to get an image of both guns side by side…I still have problems telling them apart.

View attachment 145700
Follow your dreams…

Edited to add:

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Military Heritage. I think you will be fine going with them. There are a couple items they carry that I really like…so will be ordering from them soon. One thing about India Made Guns…think of them as almost finished kit guns. Do not be surprised if the gun arrives and you discover things that you would like addressed. You can choose to return it, or take your time and address it yourself.

Drilling touch holes is not hard to do, placement is pretty important, but drilling…not hard.

Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I just read a guy's experiences with Caywood. I'm not into the 1700-1800 dollar range, but may research TVM. I've read complaints and complements about all the various vendors. I like the price range on the India-made guns, though. Thanks.

 

[TraderVic]

There's an old saying ;
"When you buy quality you only cry once".

So very true....

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. I just read a guy's experiences with Caywood. I'm not into the 1700-1800 dollar range, but may research TVM. I've read complaints and complements about all the various vendors. I like the price range on the India-made guns, though. Thanks.

Those prices are very attractive.

 

[flconch53]

Haven't seen one in a while but The India made guns I used to repair always seemed pretty clunky to me

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I see the India Made guns…more as kits, than a finished gun. Definitely need to remove wood, trim things down. Go through the lock, lighten springs, remove burs, polish…enjoy.

 

[Fitzhugh Williams]

I have see India-made guns that have been re-worked and looked much better. But one thing that can't be corrected is the dimensions of the barrel. The outside is not shaped properly and the walls of the barrel are much too thick. Once it is inletted it can't be changed. Not without re-stocking it. And if it comes to that, may as well start over with a good kit.

 

[springfield art]

I see the India Made guns…more as kits, than a finished gun. Definitely need to remove wood, trim things down. Go through the lock, lighten springs, remove burs, polish…enjoy.

As Ed McMahon would say, "You are correct, Sir!"

 

[Rob M.]

 

[Rob M.]

...

 

[tenngun]

11 bang bang channel on you tube has a lot of good stuff on the Bombay pipe bombs. Comparing a military heritage to an original bess it was found to be right on the mark for stock size.
The wood used is heavier than the original walnut, but not ‘chunky’ at all. The guns do need polish
And he warns to think of them as kits,
Fit compared well to perdersoli

 

[springfield art]

11 bang bang channel on you tube has a lot of good stuff on the Bombay pipe bombs. Comparing a military heritage to an original bess it was found to be right on the mark for stock size.
The wood used is heavier than the original walnut, but not ‘chunky’ at all. The guns do need polish
And he warns to think of them as kits,
Fit compared well to perdersoli

Thanks for this tip! I may follow up to read just for my own information.

 

[springfield art]

I was going to get an MH Trade gun until stumbling onto a Curly example.