W. Chance

[Nokey]

Hello I have what appears to be a trade gun it's rough but very restorable was flint but has been converted. The lock is marked Tower with a crown under it W. Chance warranted . the barrel is 49"long and smaller than 20 gauge 24?. the butt and trigger guard are brass with nice engraving . the side plate is very nice with the serpintine but local experts have never seen one like it . the stock is walnut also the barrel has a fish engaved on it I'm not really looking for value but what it was and who W.Chance was and when it was made the only thing I've found is W.Chance and Son .Thank you for any info.

 

[Stophel]

I have a rifle from Massachusetts with a lock marked "W & G Chance". I had wondered if this was an American or British lock maker. I guess I know now they were British! :winking:

 

[Mike Brooks]

Got picures? That will help us to identify what you have.

 

[Okwaho]

This is a Northwest gun but without pictures I can't go much beyond that. W Chance and son sold trade guns to The American Fur Company and probably The Hudson's bay Company in the mid 19th century at least from about 1850-1859. They were located in Birmingham,England and W Chance very likely worked before his son came into the business.You have a very historic gun and I would strongly advise against any restoration.You can,however, clean it.A light cleaning with warm water,a MILD dishwashing soap such as Dove and a soft cloth is all you need do.After the gun is clean and dry I start hand rubbing and I can,after a while, have the gun looking pretty good. These guns are best left alone but if it needs some stabilization go to a competent gunsmith with a lot of experience in the restoration of antique guns.Not just anyone who works on guns will do.I have seen far too many old guns damaged or ruined by people who didn't know what they were doing.I have cleaned several old guns with the procedure I just outlined but that's as far as I go.I don't know where you live but there's probably someone who can help you.I recall hearing about a fine old Kentucky rifle{value about $5,000.00 then}whose owner cleaned the lock and barrel with a wire brush and really sanded all the patina off of the stock.Then he used polyeurethane on the stock.He then found out that what he had was a gun worth about $700.00-$850.00 maybe.
For more info see:[url] http://klesinger.com/jbp/tgun2.html[/url]
"The Northwest Trade Gun" by Charles E. Hansen Jr. Paperback PP.61{plates va,vb} and 64{plate VIIIa}for pictures of W.Chance guns.It may be out of print but I think it is still available at the Museum of The Fur Trade,Gail De Buse Potter, Director

See [url] http://klesinger.com/jbp/tgun2.html[/url]
1-308-432-3843,Email- [email protected]
6321 Highway20 Chadron,Ne.69337
They can give you further information,this is a pretty valuable gun so take good care of it.
Tom Patton

 

[robinghewitt]

I have a box lock by him, that's 3 Chance's so far, popular make :grin:

William, London, 1830-60 :thumbsup:

 

[Nokey]

I should have said that the gun is not all together theres some wood missing I will try to put photos on to show everyone someday I would like to copy this gun for use thanks Nokey

 

[Stophel]

Here's mine. The lock is much more attractive than many of this period (early 19th century). The engraving/stamping is restrained and well done, whereas many locks have hideous squiggly lines all over them.
[url] http://photobucket.com/albums... Flintlocks/?action=view&current=IM000053.jpg[/url]

click this and then click "next" to cycle through the photos.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Squire Robin,
Is that a screw barrel gun? It is very nice. Are you planning to shoot those roundballs?
YHWH bless.
volatpluvia

 

[robinghewitt]

It is a screw barrel, but it is not a very nice gun :rotf:

I got it cheap for our Christmas Competition, boxlocks at 10 paces into a 100m target. I restocked it in blackwood, nickel plated the action but have yet to line the bore. It doesn't shoot very straight, but I think it might be cheating to rifle it :thumbsup:

 

[Nokey]

Hello I have what appears to be a trade gun it's rough but very restorable was flint but has been converted. The lock is marked Tower with a crown under it W. Chance warranted . the barrel is 49"long and smaller than 20 gauge 24?. the butt and trigger guard are brass with nice engraving . the side plate is very nice with the serpintine but local experts have never seen one like it . the stock is walnut also the barrel has a fish engaved on it I'm not really looking for value but what it was and who W.Chance was and when it was made the only thing I've found is W.Chance and Son .Thank you for any info. For picture copy and paste the link below.