Pedersoli Trade Gun Question

[Pigman]

I have a Pedersoli trade gun that I like very much and have two questions.

First: I have heard there is a replacement side plate available from some where that is more historicaly accurate. Can any one tell me what it is and where I can get one.

Second: The lock has only one thru bolt on it the front is attached with a screw and the sideplate has a screw on the front. Can a thru bolt be put in place to go from the sideplat to the loack plate? Or will it hit the ramrod? Ha anyone done this?

Thanks,
Foster From Flint

 

[tg]

A second bolt is likley not needed in a flint as all the energy is contained within the lock, with a caplock the hammer strikes a fixed nipple that is attatched to the barrel and comes to a sudden stop and probably adds more stress to the lock bolts

 

[Pigman]

I am worried about the screws becomming loose after removing the lock for cleaning. Screws in wood are not meant to be taking in and out once a week for a couple of years.

Foster From Flint

 

[LRB]

You should only have to remove the lock bolt. Why would you want to remove the side plate to clean the gun?

 

[Zonie]

There is a good chance the forward screw will interfere with the ramrod so my advice is to leave things as they are.

As Wick mentioned, there is no need to remove the front screw if it isn't holding the lock in place.

Track of the Wolf has several different Trade Gun sideplates.
Here is a link to them
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/866/1

Be forwarned, there is an excellent chance they will not be the right size to replace your guns sideplate but if you want to try you might get lucky.

 

[Pigman]

The lock has a screw on the front that just screws into wood. This is the one I am primarily concerned with.

Thanks,
Foster From Flint

 

[DickS]

With very careful measurement, you may be able to determine if there would be interference with the rod.
The wood screw could be replaced with a machine screw engaging a threaded steel bushing set into the stock, if it came to it.
If you can drill a hole right through, the lockplate would need to be tapped. Would this be practical?
If you were to drill the second hole, would any available serpent work?
Is the existing serpent inletted? You are correct, it doesn't look like any serpent used in the old days. Could the serpent be replaced without it being pretty obvious?

 

Rather than trying to fill an inlet that will probably show, I would shave down that whole side panel to the depth of the serpent inlet then glue on a new piece of matching wood to completely cover the panel, and reshape it. Now you have a clean pallet to inlet your new serpent into This would also let you install a new front bolt. For that I think you would want weld up the screw hole , so that you could cut threads for the bolt, as it should come from the side plate side. It should also allow you to adjust, and position the front bolt and the serpent to clear the channel.

Bill

 

[tg]

What Wick said if the screw does not have to come out to clean the lock leave it in, I have had two guns like that and just left the cock plate on when cleaning the gun.There could be an issue with clearanve with the ramrod as the original builder did not consider this when building the gun, or it may be why there is no front bolt? If adding a bolt you may need a new plate to position a hole in a more favorable place.

 

[matt denison]

" it doesn't look like any serpent used in the old days"

There is a president for that odd side plate. There is a gun in the "Firearms of the Fur Trade" encyclopedia, Vol I, a Ketland fowler. The only providence is that it was probably bought by the US OIT in place of a Northwest Gun. (pg. 294, and another similar one pg. 296)

Why in the world Pedersolli chose that side plate rather than a serpent is beyond me.

Good luck finding one that will fit and cover the inlet.

 

[Ken Rummer]

I have a Pedersoli Blue Ridge flinter with a small wood screw on the front tip of the lockplate. I had the same concern. I just don't install the screw and have not seen any problems...yet. The plate seem to be staying in place.