The locks for the Northwest or "Trade" guns

[WALT53]

Thank you for the .20 barrel offer Rob. I had shoulder replacement surgery on my right wing the first part of November. It’s getting better now. Today I was able to fabricate, inlet and mount a simple Hawken style toe plate on a TC for a buddy. Don’t tell my Doc. Give me a month or so for the bigger projects.

I saw a late nwt gun at a gun show a year ago it had a 36 “ barrel and was percussion 24 gauge it was in good shape and a Beauty .Theres still some of them kicking around in Saskatchewan I had to to walk away before I got myself in hot water .

 

[Rob M.]

Circle Fox even earlier than I had known before !! Check this gorgeous lock out !! Francis Smart marked lock ...he made guns for HBCo 1715-1727 ! Simply amazing !!!

 

[wayne1967]

Rob, you’re right. I just pointed that Wilson Trade gun out to my wife earlier tonight. Page 135 of the book For Trade or Treaty. I’m seriously thinking about that gun as my 2024 project. You have a great eye for style. It shows in your gun building.

Old post but I’m leaning towards that same one for my next build.

 

[Clark Badgett]

Circle Fox even earlier than I had known before !! Check this gorgeous lock out !! Francis Smart marked lock ...he made guns for HBCo 1715-1727 ! Simply amazing !!!

Rob, that is what they call the thumb nail fox, as the bottom wasn’t a full circle. The true circle fox came later.

AFAIK, Chris Hirsch is the only source for a true NWTG lock and it is a Belgian style with double bridles. But, because it’s a lock kit, it could be altered to an earlier style by removing the external bridle and resharing the pan, and not adding the internal bridle.

 

[Rob M.]

Ive heard it called and even misquoted a few different ways bud . I'm not even 100% sure to be honest . One author calls it the tombstone fox but another author calls the " BOND " stamp the tombstone fox so .... Ive heard that the circle fox with flat bottom is the oldest stamp , even older than the circle fox , and ive heard they are actually the same stamp its just that on curved surface the bottom of the circle doesnt show up , done in a hurry ... Funny , doing lock plates I have that happen , you have to tilt the stamp to get the bottom of the circle to show up ....go figure. And our stamps today are made different than the stamps back then , the back ground etc.

 

[Rob M.]

Rob, that is what they call the thumb nail fox, as the bottom wasn’t a full circle. The true circle fox came later.

AFAIK, Chris Hirsch is the only source for a true NWTG lock and it is a Belgian style with double bridles. But, because it’s a lock kit, it could be altered to an earlier style by removing the external bridle and resharing the pan, and not adding the internal bridle.

Yeah , I have to remove the external bridles on some locks . Not a biggy .

 

[Rob M.]

Thumb nail , interesting ...I like that . Unfortunately this one ....the stamper got the whole circle in there so no " thumb nail " . Its an amazing piece . The earliest NW trade gun plate that I know of . His contract for HBCo was done in 1727 and by the style of the lock plate its obviously a 17 " teens " made lock . Fascinating !!