Newest Muzzle Loader

mooncoon

mooncoon

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Location
Vancouver Island
Below are photos of my newest find but who the maker was is most puzzling. From the shape, I am guessing it was made in the US from imported parts. The writing on top is too worn for me to decipher and the crest is very distinctive. On the bottom of the barrel is a very large P deeply stamped into the bottom flat ; presumably a proof mark. The lock has the worn remains of "warranted" stamped on it which means it is probably Belgian but there are also the worn remnants of some tasteful engraving on the lock. The bore is .397 with deep sharp rifling

cheers mooncoon


Any thoughts on identity of the maker are welcome

DcAxj4L.jpg


hpaJbGh.jpg


biVZU3c.jpg
 
Last edited:
It is reminiscent of some of the early Canadian gun smith guns - no patch box, single key half stock, checkered, drum rather than snail arrangement - it has no cheek piece either - right?

That hole in front of the second pipe - is that a "spare" hole or is it used to secure the rib?

My guess it is a repurposed barrel - but from where??? .38(ish) too small for military, The P , probably a proof/inspector's mark. The rampant "whatever it is" could be a maker's mark/company brand? I would not think ownership or acceptance mark.
 
sean69 said:
That hole in front of the second pipe - is that a "spare" hole or is it used to secure the rib?

.
Click to expand...
I will have to check later but the small hole up by the nose cap, I think is a pin to hold the ramrod pipe in place. Above the rampant lion are the initials IL, presumably the barrel maker's initials. It is quite possibly a repurposed barrel and that would explain the drum to hold the nipple. The lock shows no signs of ever being a flintlock, so possibly a salvaged flintlock barrel using a new Belgian percussion lock. I just wish that I could read the writing on the top of the barrel

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
I will have to check later but the small hole up by the nose cap, I think is a pin to hold the ramrod pipe in place. Above the rampant lion are the initials IL, presumably the barrel maker's initials. It is quite possibly a repurposed barrel and that would explain the drum to hold the nipple. The lock shows no signs of ever being a flintlock, so possibly a salvaged flintlock barrel using a new Belgian percussion lock. I just wish that I could read the writing on the top of the barrel

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

I meant the hole in the rib ahead of the soldered pipe - 1/2 up/down the barrel.

The lock looks like a Goulcher - from here - how about a close up and the guts?
 
sean69 said:
I meant the hole in the rib ahead of the soldered pipe - 1/2 up/down the barrel.

The lock looks like a Goulcher - from here - how about a close up and the guts?
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure that the lock was made in Belgium; I can see the remains of the word "warranted" on the lock plate ahead of the hammer. There is the remains of engraving at the back of the lock plate, which looks better than the common rolled on engraving. The inside of the lock is reasonable quality and the sear has been replaced with a quality sear. Not sure what the hole is for; I hadn't noticed it
I am pretty sure that a previous owner shot it a little bit because the original breach plug had been replaced with probably the end of a 5/8" bolt and the original tang silver soldered or brazed onto the bolt. I think a previous owner ran a 5/8 tap into the barrel and probably wobbled in the process so that the threads were quite loose. I made a slightly larger tap and chased the threads out as well as squared up the end of the threaded hole to allow the new breach plug to seat square against the rifling. Also silver solder what I presume to be the original tang onto the new threaded portion of the plug. ( I made a new threaded portion on the lathe to match the new theads.) For those wondering how I squared up the end of the rifling, I made a home made tap and filed teeth onto the end of it so that when it reaches the bottom of the threaded area, it starts cutting and forming a square shoulder for the plug to seat against

cheers mooncoon
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom