What would Thompson carry??

[flintlocknfur]

Two questions..

1. If you were a french engagé trecking to the columbia across Kootenai country with david thompson in the 1805 ish period working for the NW company what would you be carrying...

2. In Clark's journals he mentions the loss of Charbonneau's "elegant fusee" on June 29, 1805 at the Great falls. What do you think that fusee was..? I read that some thing it was an officers musket, which to me does not make sense.. It would seem more logical that a french trader would be carrying a french gun not an english one. Especially in 1803.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

It could have been a fusil or fowler ordered from France. Of course, by 1803 Canada had long been in English hands and lots of trade goods came in by that route.

 

It makes perfect sense that a french engage' working for a British fur company to be carrying an English trade gun, especially in 1803. By that time the French had not been in power for 40 some years. There may have been some old French fusils still in use but the new issue/purchase would most likely have been a NW trade gun if any gun at all.

 

[Okwaho]

1. I agree with Cooner that an engage working for the North West Companyin the early 19th century would have had a Northwest gun.
1. As to Charbonneau, an elegant gun could have been any type of high grade fowling piece either French or English but more likely the latter.
Tom Patton

 

[Le Grand]

flintlocknfur, For question #1 I agree with the others, that gun would most likely be a Northwest Gun. For question #2, that elegant fusil easily could have been a Chief's Grade trade gun similar to what North Star West offers. Take a look at it at[url] www.northstarwest.com[/url]. Le Grand

 

[flintlocknfur]

Which is why I'm torn... Matt's place (NSW) is just down the way a few miles... I could prob go pick out my own stock..

 

[hawk]

don't be torn....get both...yah that's the ticket

 

[trent/OH]

Two questions..

2. In Clark's journals he mentions the loss of Charbonneau's "elegant fusee" on June 29, 1805 at the Great falls. What do you think that fusee was..?quote]

Since "fusee" (fusil) means rifle, or gun, I would reckon his statement to mean that he lost a nice gun at the Falls. Not having read more of the writing, I wouldn't try to read it too literally.

 

[tg]

With the common meaning at that time it is most likely a fine non-military smoothbore, like a fowler/fancy trade gun.

 

Hey! There ya go. Problem solved. :thumbsup: