black powder artillery
 

no pictures I am afraid, but thought some might like to hear about a monster I saw today.

we stopped in a gun shop I don't go in much, most of the few doubles they get are overpriced.

but in the black powder rack behind the counter I saw a big chunk of iron. I asked to see it and the not so big young man had a little trouble reaching up to get it down.

the tag said market hunter's gun from Baltimore,

:shock: a 6 bore side by side muzzle loader - percussion locks

without a scale -I would guess the weight in the low 20 pounds range, the barrels looked to be about 34 inches maybe 36, the rib said fine twist, and they looked to be in good shape on the outside. The gun's iron fittings had been rusted at one time and aggressively cleaned. The butt plate tang was the long multiple step down type often seen on flintlock fowlers, the engraving on the butt plate, trigger guard and lock plates was mostly lost to the cleaning, which is too bad because from what is left it would have been attractive. the wood looked to be in good shape but refinished. Over all, a little steep to my mind at just under 7K.

but it was just cool to see it, handle it and feel the heft and think about the history it had seen.

bringing that artillery to bear on a raft of ducks and touching it off was a real man's task

thanks O H i really like hearing this type of storey...charlie

I'm guessing still a shoulder gun, not a punt gun, and the 20 pounds seems extreme. I've got one myself, probably very similar, in 6 gauge, that comes in around 14 pounds.

DLH

could be Destry- it seemed very heavy when the kid handed it to me, but heck, I'm a grouse hunter any double over 7 pounds is heavy.