Punt Gun

[zimmerstutzen]

Just got back from Chincoteague, VA. Did lots while there, including touring the little Chincoteague museum. In the display they had about old market hunting days they had an old punt gun out. must have been 8 feet long, BUT part of the barrel had been reinforced with a section of iron pipe used like a sleeve over the barrel. The threads were still clearly visible. Some of the decoys were fantastic. Apparently one of their really famous decoy carver was in the movie "Misty" His shop is set up next to the museum. Only power tool was a old old bandsaw.

 

[Coot]

Just got back from Chincoteague, VA. Did lots while there, including touring the little Chincoteague museum. In the display they had about old market hunting days they had an old punt gun out. must have been 8 feet long, BUT part of the barrel had been reinforced with a section of iron pipe used like a sleeve over the barrel. The threads were still clearly visible. Some of the decoys were fantastic. Apparently one of their really famous decoy carver was in the movie "Misty" His shop is set up next to the museum. Only power tool was a old old bandsaw.

The museum at ST. Michaels (eastern shore of MD) also has a good market gun display including punt guns.

 

[Eutycus]

I never saw it but heard they had one at Gettysburg 60 years ago. Who knows where it is now. Gettysburg went strictly "Civil War" around the centennial I believe.

 

[Nyckname]

If you go hunting with one, don't forget your step ladder.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I think the feds and most states limit shotguns to 10 ga. for hunting. I have a 4 bore barrel I have yet to get around to making a stock for. The gun at Chincoteague looked like about a 1.5 inch bore. I don't know what ga description a barrel gets when it is over 1.39 in. (1 ga)

 

[Feltwad]

The museum at ST. Michaels (eastern shore of MD) also has a good market gun display including punt guns.

Here in the UK punt guns were known has tools of the trade punt gunners made a living from these what they did not use to feed the family the surplus was sold at market.
These people punt gun on the estuary's and the inland marshes known has ings, other guns used for fowling were shoulder gun of which the 2 bore bank gun the largest but most were 4 and 6 bore .
Feltwad

 

[WKD]

 

[Coot]

Well kid, thats ok for hummingbirds, but when are you going to get a real MANs gun?

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Nykname,

You mentioned a step ladder. (For loading I presume)
The rammer had a spoon on one end, so the charge could be placed down at the breech, and tipped out . this means the gun didn't need to be upright to load.

Cheers,
Richard.

 

[Feltwad]

Image of the fowling section at a local game and country fair
Feltwad

 

[Rudyard]

Market hunters on the Murray river bordering Victoria & New South Wales used 2 "bore or so punt guns using long ammonia pipe re enforced by a 6' or so diameter sleaved outside as a breech end the gun secured by ropes or much padding but gently paddled up to a large flock then fireing the lock some times pulling the trigger with the teeth. On one at least used a French percussion musket lock the breech sitting in a wooden' shoe '. The birds then railed to the Bendigo & Melbourne markets by train . But Govt stopped the use & would bend any found into a huge U shape . but some survive still or when I last saw one near Echuca . The useual cripple stopper being employed one being a single 8 bore percussion gun I restored both . but I don't believe they saw subsequent use .
Rudyard

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Coln.Peter Hawker's Double 80 ld. Dual ignition Punt gun is on display at Marford Mill in Cheshire,UK.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Sorry, should have said Marford Mill is the HQ of B A S C ,The British Association for Shooting & Conservation.

 

[Feltwad]

I believe that this punt gun came from the old WAGBI ?
Feltwad

Coln.Peter Hawker's Double 80 ld. Dual ignition Punt gun is on display at Marford Mill in Cheshire,UK.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Has WAGBI folded, Feltwad?
I was a member when we still lived over there.

Years ago I saw a large single punt gun over here (Canada) with Hawker's name on the barrel. It looked correct, and thought I'd seen it before somewhere, but never found out where.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I think the feds and most states limit shotguns to 10 ga. for hunting.

Yes in this instance the Feds don't see a difference between a modern shotgun and a muzzleloader. So if you're caught with a bore larger than 10 gauge hunting waterfowl, that's an expensive "no no".
Otherwise you could obtain and use a Swivel, as long as you're using something other than lead or lead alloy shot.


Here are some pics of a punt gunner that are sort of fun...,



LD

 

[Feltwad]

Has WAGBI folded, Feltwad?
I was a member when we still lived over there.

Years ago I saw a large single punt gun over here (Canada) with Hawker's name on the barrel. It looked correct, and thought I'd seen it before somewhere, but never found out where.

Richard
WAGBI closed down many years ago and became BASC it not only covers wildfowling but also game shooting and stalking with a large membership.
Feltwad
Dave
The punt gunner in your images is Snowden Slights one of the most famous of the fens know has ings in East Yorkshire and the surrounding areas the gun in the image I have examined it and his other fowler s which he used they are now housed in a museum in York UK

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Feltwad_you forgot the "C" for Conservation..

OLD DOG.

 

[Feltwad]

Old Dog

Feltwad_you forgot the "C" for Conservation..

OLD DOG.

My apologies
Feltwad

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Feltwad,

When I still lived over there, both BAGBI and BASC were active, and I was a member of both.
Snowdon Sleights was something of a celebrity. Frank Southgate painted his picture, didn't he?