Help with choosing a flintlock muzzleloading rifle

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cdnskier

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Hey everyone,

I am interested in purchasing a traditional muzzle-loading flintlock rifle or double-barrel shotgun.

I was looking at the Traditions Hawken Woodsman Flintlock Rifle, what is your opinion on this rifle? Which rifle is superior in your opinion and where is the best place to purchase the rifle? A big name retailer in Barrie, ON has the Woodsman rifle on sale for $469.99 but I don't know if I should buy that rifle. Any recommendations?

I am also interested in a flintlock double barrel shotgun, however, the RCMP bulletin in regards to Black Powder Firearms does not mention flintlock double barrel shotguns. Are newer production double barrel flintlock shotguns considered antiques or only rifles? I could not find any retailer in Canada selling a flintlock shotgun, maybe I am just not looking hard enough.

Thanks so much!!
 
Any smooth bore ML is also a shotgun if loaded with shot. I don't remember seeing a double barrel flint lock rifle before.(but they made every thing one can think of in the 1800's) But i have seen them in percussion cap.

if it is a flint lock(or match lock) rifle (over 26"), then it will also be a muzzle loader only and there for an antique even if you use shot in it, the rcmp talk about shotguns is in the sense of breach loading shells of 10,12,16,20,28,410 gauge, not a ML loaded with shot. if it were to be a breach loading shotgun it would have to be made before 1896 and also not chambered for the shells listed above to be an antique.
 
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The only double barrel flintlock shotgun I've ever seen was in the NRA firearms museum in Fairfax Virginia. It also belonged to some short Frenchman by the name of Napoleon or something. Or maybe it was Trudeau ??:confused:
 
NaturalPath said:
I don't know if this US company will ship to Canada but, they don't say that they don't. You'd have to contact them and ask but, since it's a flintlock, I don't see any issues with it crossing the border.

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MDBF.shtml
Click to expand...


Here's one that's a bit cheaper priced than middlesexvillagetrading. Scroll down to middle of page. They show a price in Canadian dollars so I assume they ship to Canada.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket26.htm
 
Traditions flinters were recently discussed in this thread https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1635916-Traditions-vs-Pedersoli

I have a Traditions cap lock Hawken and it's ok. Not as well made as the T/C Hawken I had. If I was ever to decide to delve into flinters I would probably be looking at getting something a bit better than a Traditions offering. A flaky troublesome rifle would probably put one off flinters pretty fast.

M
 
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All flintlock longarms have antique status, regardless of when made.

Do you want a rifle or a smoothbore?

The best that I have heard about the Indian flint doubles is that they can be considered a kit that might respond to additional work.
There has been no news about the Pedersoli project for a year and a half. The styling of the pictured prototype is awful, when compared with an original. If the thing was executed as well as their Mortimer guns, it would be great. As is, ho hum.
There are gunmakers who handcraft flintlock double shotguns. If you have back pain from sitting on a thick wallet, ordering one of these will help. A shootable original double flint isn't likely going to leave much change from 10 grand.
The Traditions guns are economy guns. If the lock sparks well, you will have fun. If it doesn't, you will have a frustrating experience. An indifferent flint lock is an abomination. A quality flint lock costs about as much as a cheap gun.

If you want a fun shooter, there is a North Star West reproduction flintlock trade gun in the EE right now. These have a good reputation. Smoothbore trade guns are light, handy, and do well with either shot or ball.
 
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