Half Stock Trade Musket ?

[Loyer]

The trade muskets I am most familiar with had a full length wooden stock. The attached photos show a gun with a 1/2 wooden stock.

Is this likely a cut down gun or did the manufactures of these guns sell cut down versions also ?

 

[tiriaq]

By "Trade Musket" are you thinking of the Northwest guns marketed by the HBC, NWC and other companies?
It isn't one.
Nor is it a Northwest gun as supplied by the British government to his Britannic Majesty's Indian allies.
It looks to be a cheap shotgun which has had a serpent sideplate affixed to it. That doesn't make it a trade gun.

 

[Loyer]

Thanks Tiriaq, you saved me from making a huge mistake.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

By "Trade Musket" are you thinking of the Northwest guns marketed by the HBC, NWC and other companies?
It isn't one.
Nor is it a Northwest gun as supplied by the British government to his Britannic Majesty's Indian allies.
It looks to be a cheap shotgun which has had a serpent sideplate affixed to it. That doesn't make it a trade gun.

Agreed. The HBC history was well written up in the old Arms Collecting journals. Fifty-sixty year old knowledge is still valuable. The Company had a very good grip on the contracts for trade guns, with an inspector and pattern guns, along with a fairly short schedule between call for tenders, issuing contracts, receipt and inspection, then shipping to North America. There was no need for ornamentation, and the right side plate has "too much" decoration for a utility firearm.