IF you have the resources, then go for it. IMHO, the straight stock of the northwest style of gun makes it kinda hard to shoot well and comfortably.
grzrob makes a good point about the abuse this style of stock can dish out. There is nothing more discouraging than going to all of the time, effort, and trouble to build a gun that is no fun to shoot.
And shooting these old guns is supposed to be fun.
Personally, I suggest a gun with more drop to the stock. I also wouldn't get hung up on the easiest kit available. IMHO, there are other styles of smoothbore that are FAR more comfortable to shoot, and probably not all that much more involved to build.
IMHO, An English or American style of fowler would probably be more comfortable to shoot. Tracks English Fowler, Early Rustics, Kentucky barn gun, Cumberland fowler, or type G trade gun are all good choices.
http://www.earlyrusticarms.com/pricesanddescriptions.htm
Although more expensive, Chambers Pennsylvania fowler would be a good choice, as would their New England colonial fowler, or their English Fowler/Officers Fusil.
http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles03.htm
Give Tip Curtis a call. He offers several types of smoothbores.
Tip Curtis Frontier Shop
P.O. Box 203
4445 Jernigan Rd.
Cross Plains, TN 37049
(615)654-4445
I hope that you understand that I'm not trying to force you to build any certain style of gun. I'm just offering alternatives that you may not have considered, or may not know about.
As to finish;
The fit and finish on trade
guns, especially Northwest Trade Guns, depends on the period of manufacture.
Because they were the cheapest guns made the early Northwest Trade Guns were shipped in the white, without even any finish or stain on the stocks and no finish on the barrel or lock.
At a meeting of the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company held
on December 20, 1780 it was ordered:
"That in the future the Guns have Brown Stocks (no white) the barrals (sic) likewise brown with an additional Weight of 6 oz. to them, for strength"
Eventually the specifications required that barrels be browned and the stocks be well varnished.
"The Northwest Gun", Charles Hanson, 1955.
Personally, I would stay away from BLO. Allot of builders use it, but I don't like it. Personal tastes and all. IMHO, there are much better finishes. Chambers oil finish is one of them.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
Good luck.
J.D.
grzrob makes a good point about the abuse this style of stock can dish out. There is nothing more discouraging than going to all of the time, effort, and trouble to build a gun that is no fun to shoot.
And shooting these old guns is supposed to be fun.
Personally, I suggest a gun with more drop to the stock. I also wouldn't get hung up on the easiest kit available. IMHO, there are other styles of smoothbore that are FAR more comfortable to shoot, and probably not all that much more involved to build.
IMHO, An English or American style of fowler would probably be more comfortable to shoot. Tracks English Fowler, Early Rustics, Kentucky barn gun, Cumberland fowler, or type G trade gun are all good choices.
http://www.earlyrusticarms.com/pricesanddescriptions.htm
Although more expensive, Chambers Pennsylvania fowler would be a good choice, as would their New England colonial fowler, or their English Fowler/Officers Fusil.
http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles03.htm
Give Tip Curtis a call. He offers several types of smoothbores.
Tip Curtis Frontier Shop
P.O. Box 203
4445 Jernigan Rd.
Cross Plains, TN 37049
(615)654-4445
I hope that you understand that I'm not trying to force you to build any certain style of gun. I'm just offering alternatives that you may not have considered, or may not know about.
As to finish;
The fit and finish on trade
guns, especially Northwest Trade Guns, depends on the period of manufacture.
Because they were the cheapest guns made the early Northwest Trade Guns were shipped in the white, without even any finish or stain on the stocks and no finish on the barrel or lock.
At a meeting of the Governor and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company held
on December 20, 1780 it was ordered:
"That in the future the Guns have Brown Stocks (no white) the barrals (sic) likewise brown with an additional Weight of 6 oz. to them, for strength"
Eventually the specifications required that barrels be browned and the stocks be well varnished.
"The Northwest Gun", Charles Hanson, 1955.
Personally, I would stay away from BLO. Allot of builders use it, but I don't like it. Personal tastes and all. IMHO, there are much better finishes. Chambers oil finish is one of them.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
Good luck.
J.D.
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