Punt Guns!!
- Thread starter dieguy59
- Start date
If you are near a major city, check your public library or university library. I have seen many (older) books about punt guns, punts (boats), Sneakboxes, and market hunting.
http://www.wildfowling.com/puntgun.htm
http://www.wildfowling.com/puntgun.htm
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
The book "Outlaw Gunner" by Harry Walsh ... a former US F&WS Warden gives a very good account of a lot of the old market gunners weaponry and gear. Loads of info within the book concerning layout boats, battery's, punt & multi-barrel battery guns, lights, live decoys, etc. etc.
In addition, James M. Michener did a fair bit of research on market gunning
as one of the components in his novel "Chesapeake". Beyond the history lesson we all get with a Michener read, there is some stuff mid-book about the baymen, ducks, geese, other wildlife & gunning on the Chesapeake that every waterfowler should read. Just how one of the "scofflaws" kept the Warden from finding the big "Twombly" punt gun was quite ingenious. I won't spoil it for you.
Sworn to secrecy, I know where there is a fully- operational genuine punt
gun which was manufatured in England. Provenance with the gun lists it's
load data ... don't tremember the charge of black powder, but do recall,
" 1lb. of Swan Shot" as being the payload.
This "gun" is a very well-made cap lock with an external hammer, that looks to strike a big percussion cap - like a musket cap. The "stock" is rather short and has a flat bottom, obviously meant to sit on the floor of the duck punt, and it has hardware meant to rope it into place to help absorb recoil. While I haven't measured it, the barrel looks to be about 7 feet long, and has a diameter I would guess to be about 2 inches. Weight - maybe 40 lbs.
Would I like to touch it off some night over the marshes of Lake Erie ... you betcha ! Probably hasn't been done for almost
a 100 years ! Well ... then again, maybe 50 or 60 !
In addition, James M. Michener did a fair bit of research on market gunning
as one of the components in his novel "Chesapeake". Beyond the history lesson we all get with a Michener read, there is some stuff mid-book about the baymen, ducks, geese, other wildlife & gunning on the Chesapeake that every waterfowler should read. Just how one of the "scofflaws" kept the Warden from finding the big "Twombly" punt gun was quite ingenious. I won't spoil it for you.
Sworn to secrecy, I know where there is a fully- operational genuine punt
gun which was manufatured in England. Provenance with the gun lists it's
load data ... don't tremember the charge of black powder, but do recall,
" 1lb. of Swan Shot" as being the payload.
This "gun" is a very well-made cap lock with an external hammer, that looks to strike a big percussion cap - like a musket cap. The "stock" is rather short and has a flat bottom, obviously meant to sit on the floor of the duck punt, and it has hardware meant to rope it into place to help absorb recoil. While I haven't measured it, the barrel looks to be about 7 feet long, and has a diameter I would guess to be about 2 inches. Weight - maybe 40 lbs.
Would I like to touch it off some night over the marshes of Lake Erie ... you betcha ! Probably hasn't been done for almost
a 100 years ! Well ... then again, maybe 50 or 60 !
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Punt Guns are for waterfowl ... not Yogi & Boo-boo !
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
Use the "Search" feature & feel free to add your 2 cents to the
"bear Defence" threads !
"bear Defence" threads !
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
OldSavage:
No problem ... just thought you might like to find the bear defence page to humour yourself a little.
No problem ... just thought you might like to find the bear defence page to humour yourself a little.
Wow that far back. I remember a member posting a pic of one he had for sale. But he didnot know what is was until he shared the pics here
Cheers
LOL best you come to the east coast and you will still see the odd one. Not that uncommon with sea duck hunters on this shore back in the day
Cheers
LOL best you come to the east coast and you will still see the odd one. Not that uncommon with sea duck hunters on this shore back in the day
Cheers
Boy just one shot from a barrel looks like it could kill 500 ducks...
So that boat is good for what 2500 ducks?
That picture was only the third one down on google images must be from the east coast?
What difference does the source of the picture make . It was just to show they exist. Yes it came from google since I don't own one but have seen them a few times down this way years ago . Newfoundland in particular. They were also called sealing guns there but were single barrel
Not something your cabelas sells is it jimmy or you would ever see on a counter LOL that I know for sure
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