Time period for the NWTG

[Rod Lassey]

To answer the original post----

The NW gun as we recognize it first showed up (or evolved from previous trade guns) in the 1750s. However, keep in mind that at that time the NW gun was a product of the Hudson's Bay Coy., although it was quickly picked up by the Great Lakes traders after the Conquest. NorthWest, by the way, probably had nothing to do with the Old North West---more likely referred to the area north and west of the Great Lakes, which was the HBC stronghold. Post-Conquest, the use of the NW gun quickly overspread the Great Lakes and points south, filling the vacuum left by the lack of French firearms.

So, as far as time span, 1750 to 1900 or so, but please keep in mind they weren't available everywhere that early--instead they were limited to the areas of Hudson Bay/James Bay until after the F&I war.

By the way, as Hamilton's book was mentioned, I'll put in a plug for Charlie Hanson's "The Northwest Gun", and Jim Hanson's new "Encyclopedia of Trade Goods: Firearms of the Fur Trade"

Rod

 

[tg]

"If they see you all you will see is bear a*! '

Some areas may have more cautious Bears and Deer than others I have wakked up to within 20 yds of Bull Elk and Black Bear here when trapping in the winter, by going slow and quiet of course the season was not open whish may have been why :wink: , I just feel tha camo is much more important to the camno makers.sellers in general than it is to the average hunters, in SE Alaska I have tapped Blackies on the nose with my fly rod as they were so focused on Salmon the ignored me walking amongst the mid stream boulders, I know that more than once I have came out of the woods with a nice Buck and the camoed in-line guys nearby ate baloney instead of liver that night, I have never found any need for it except for some Goose/Duck hunting on very heavily hunted Federal reserves with drawn permits, and I am not so sure that with the covers swivel top can blinds that it would have mattered there, but my good rain gear that was a gift was camoed, I just think the words NEED and CAMO may not belong in the same sentence in most cases and it is basicaly a carry over from our modern hunting methods which are much dictated by magazine articles and advertisment, just from my personal observations spending most of the year in the woods for 30 years+ hunting,trapping scouting for hunting,trapping, counting Deer/Elk populations,fishing and watching all types of critters and how they react to people.I imagine that camo is as much a mental as real advantge, and should be used if it give one confidence, as not having confidence in ones gear or ability to do what needs done is the fastest way to ruin a hunt I believe.

 

[Shine]

I stole mine from the army anyway :grin:

 

[Ken Cormier]

Shine that is 2 fugly looking dudes on the right.

 

[Shine]

yes they are but one of them owns the camp :grin: