Wall hanger or shooter?

[sherpadoug]

A friend is considering buying a musket from another friend to use for shooting blanks at reenactments, but I question its safety.

Points I note are:
1) The octagon and round parts of the barrel seem to be welded or threaded together. There is a noticeable bump on the inside of the barrel at this point as well. I measure it to be a 67 caliber smooth bore with no barrel taper. http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/...684&1436819913775&1436819914858&1436819918228
2) The breech plug does not seem to be removable, but it is about the right thickness and in the right relation to the touch hole. The tang is welded to the barrel, not to the breech plug. http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/...685&1436819913777&1436819914859&1436819918230
3) The frizzen is only moderately hardened. Nowhere near hard enough for a reliable spark. Otherwise the lock seems operable but not of good quality. http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/...688&1436819913782&1436819914863&1436819918235
4) The octagon to round barrel, two piece stock, and patch box in the stock are odd for a smooth bore but not unheard of. http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/...683&1436819913769&1436819914856&1436819918225

If I had to make a decision now I would say this is not a safe musket for reenacting and definitely not for live firing. But maybe someone here recognizes the gun and can tell me more about it.

 

[Zonie]

That is a fine example of a gun that is brought up for discussion every once in a while here on the MLF.

It was made back in the '70's in Japan and its existence has put a cloud over all muzzleloading guns made in that country.

The round part of the barrel is screwed into the octagon section and there is usually a noticeable step in the bore.

Although many think the breech plug is held in the barrel only with the short weld joint, the plug is threaded. The weld joint is only holding the tang in place.

The lock and hardware are very poor quality and not suitable for use in building another gun.

Although it might be actually shot using a projectile I wouldn't feel totally safe shooting anything more powerful than a blank.

IMO, unless we are talking about a price of $75 or less, my recommendation to your friend would be to look around for something that is totally safe for firing live loads.

A used CVA or Traditions could be bought for a bit more and it would not carry the doubt in safety that this gun has.

 

[mooman76]

It's actually not a bad looking gun. Too bad it's so poorly made. Nothing but a wall hanger.

 

[Pete G]

Hang it.

 

[tenngun]

I had one and replaced the frizzen spring and it shot well. That was years ago. I wouldn't even think of shooting it now.

 

[Birddog6]

Wall hanger. And drive a wooden plug in the bore. :wink:

Keith Lisle

 

[hawkeye2]

In addition to all the above it isn't an accurate copy of anything and would only serve to embarrass your friend at a reenactment even if they allowed him to carry it. I expect the other reenactors would be embarrassed by its presence too. Finally, there are a lot of better and more accurate wall hangers available.

 

[MSW]

fwiw, I think it's a wall hanger

one guy's free opinion ... worth twice the price!

 

[ehoff]

I agree with Birddog, plug the bore, plug the touch hole and hang it on the wall.

 

[gunmaker43]

Nah, don't drive a plug in bore---make a floor lamp out of it....

 

[kaintuck]

tomtom said :td:

and he's a cat in the know!

mmarc

 

[zimmerstutzen]

We sold those pieces of junk for 69 dollars when I ran a sporting goods store outside philly. About Thanksgiving of 1977 two brother were killed by a catastrophic failure. The smokeless powder contributed to the occurrence, however the chains loss and libility officer took one look and told the entire chain to remove them from the store and return them. I think they were from century arms. There were both pistols and long guns with the same construction

 

[MSW]

wow- small world ... I was in the greater Philly area then and I vaguely remember that incident. the take- home point was simple: don't put smokeless powder in muzzle loaders. seems simple, but if you don't know, and there's nobody there to tell you (or you're too proud to ask or you just flat won't listen) ...