Realistic life expectancy of 17th 18th century gun

[pharmvet]

I am awaiting a Pennsylvania influenced smoothbore that is of the style built approximately 1770's 1780's. The personna I want to portray is of a farmer / hunter that came to Texas from Alabama circa 1800-1820. Is it realistic (not just possible) to expect that a smoothbore made in Pennsylvania could have traveled south to Tennessee or Alabama with its original owner, and end up goint to Texas with a son / grandson some 30 to 40 years later. Do you feel that guns used back then for every day service could realistically last that long. What is your opinion

 

[musketman]

I am awaiting a Pennsylvania influenced smoothbore that is of the style built approximately 1770's 1780's. The personna I want to portray is of a farmer / hunter that came to Texas from Alabama circa 1800-1820. Is it realistic (not just possible) to expect that a smoothbore made in Pennsylvania could have traveled south to Tennessee or Alabama with its original owner, and end up goint to Texas with a son / grandson some 30 to 40 years later. Do you feel that guns used back then for every day service could realistically last that long. What is your opinion

Yes, not ever gun was used so hard that it had a low life expectancy, in fact, I have a gun that went through the civil war and it still looks good...

The gun was their survival tool, it would seem logical that it got the most care, without it, they would die...

 

[schizuki]

Folks back then weren't burning lots of powder plinking and target shooting. Yes, a gun would last that long. There are still trade guns and muskets being used in Africa and the Middle East that are well over 100 years old (and if it weren't for Cold War flooding of the areas with AK-47s, there would doubtless be more). Flintlock trade guns in North America were converted to percussion and used into the 20th century.

 

[fatboy]

I would say its very good chance if it was taken care of cleaning would be the biggest issue and I'am sure if it needed repair they would fix it themselves or the local smith took care of it. Firearms cost alot of money cheaper to take care of it than not and and having to spend the money to replace it. I had talked to a builder and he offers a Barn gun no frills no butt plate bare wood he told me that he was able to examine some originals that have lasted all these years and were in decent shape.

 

[Rat]

I have a rifle that was made in the very early 1800's, traveled with the Donner party, but thankfully the owner split off from them just before their trek up the pass, (one week actually) was used in the "Indian Wars" in Oregon and Idaho, and was still in use as a "squirrel gun" (.38 calibre) even after cartridge guns came around. It still shoots and is in good condition. I did have to restore it, as it was poorly stored from about 1930 to 1990.

Or in other words, NOT being used was harder on the gun than all the hard use it got before being stuck away in a bank vault.

Rat

 

[graybeard]

Dunno why a firearm wouldn't last roughly forever if cared for. I shoot an L.C. Smith double I inherited from my grandfather. It was made somewhere around 1900 and has been in more or less constant use since. A firing pin broke and was replaced, but that's the only repair it ever needed. I'm an old man now, but see no reason why my grandson won't shoot it and pass it on to his grandson. Forty years is young for a firearm and a tree. :m2c:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I have a pistol that uses an original Enfield barrel from the Crimean War era and it shoots just fine. The bore is mint and the exterior is nearly so. Many original guns are useable after much more than 40 years--just ask the lucky folks who are still shooting Joe Manton's fowlers or Civil War rifle-muskets.

 

[rich pierce]

If the gun is earlier and fits with your story and persona, you'll be in excellent shape with this one. If, on the other hand, you were portraying a wealthy dude with all the latest gagetry he could purchase, it wouldn't work unless there was an emotional tie to the gun.

GENERALLY, the simpler the story one needs to develop to explain any item, the better.

 

[tg]

Depending on care/usage a gun could easily last that long I have an original civil war gun in the closet that is a wreck...and sold one for my cousins wife after he died that still had a fairly bright barrel and was in excellant condition.

 

The gun would last but you would not come here fron there!

:crackup:

Alabama was as new as Texas in the 1820s! Creek territory until 1815 and big chunks still in Creek hands until removal in 1836-38.

Use the TN route!

The gun came down the wagon road from PA to NC, across to TN and then to TX!

That'll work, and you can keep your southern accent!
(I got one too!)

:front:

 

[Wes/Tex]

You wouldn't believe all the guns that came to Texas. Museums have pieces from about every gun-making country that existed...well, a lot of them anyway. Military muskets were very common, many brought by the U.S. regulars who got a "temporary" transfer from Louisiana forts. Modern research has identified many who went on "leave" for 4 to 6 months around the time of San Jacinto. Many returned and many stayed and claimed their head rights for serving. Texas may have been the least solvent Republic of the era but it did have land to burn! :front:

 

[Old Charlie]

I have a double barrel, side hammer .44 cal H&R shotgun made in 1905. It still takes tree rats every fall.
Old Charlie

 

[Gary]

Don't forget that the Mother of American Family Feuds (the Late Unpleasantness of 1861-1865) was responsible for the destruction of many old guns. Some were rebored to take the .58 Minie ball and pressed into service. Others were used as scrap for making new guns. Many were destroyed by the opposing army (particularly the North as they passed through the South) as contraband of war. That tragic event meant the destruction of many other related items like clothing (hence no "hunting shirts" as a lot of old clothes were torn to make bandages), furniture (Yankee vandals liked bonfires), homes & hearth. Oh, the humanity! :cry:

 

[Wes/Tex]

YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :crackup: