This is a very large muzzleloading smoothbore. Post 1813 Birmingham proofs on the 47" barrel. The lock assembly was missing. Inlet is for an Enfield pattern lock. Found a lock, which fit the inlet with minimal alterations to the lockplate A hammer is needed. The Enfield percussion hammer is too small. From the center of the tumbler shaft to the tip of the nipple is 2.2". Checked the usual suppliers, couldn't find one this large. I'd rather not cut and weld or scratch build a hammer. Any suggestions?
Restoring Newfoundland Sealing Gun
- Thread starter tiriaq
- Start date
Sounds like an interesting project. I would probably just get a hammer off something like a parker hale musketoon cut it then weld in an extension then touch it up/ profile it with a file or 5" gringer with a flap disk that wraps around the edge
https://www.kmstools.com/pferd-5-po...ExhjRawaIGxJPezRyXjPC3vWp7F-r9ysaAh4YEALw_wcB
https://www.kmstools.com/pferd-5-po...ExhjRawaIGxJPezRyXjPC3vWp7F-r9ysaAh4YEALw_wcB
I have the hammer for the repro lock. If I decide to cut and weld, that is the hammer I will use. It would need about 5/16" insert. I'll take some photos tomorrow. This is a really big gun. Haven't weighed it, but I'm guessing 16 pounds. 4 gauge.
Years ago, I worked with a Newfoundlander who had seen muzzleloading guns in outport use. He referred to 3/4" doubles and 7/8" singles. I suppose the doubles would have been 12ga and 7/8" would be 6ga. The load was a fired 12ga case full of powder, oakum wadding, the same fired 12ga case full of shot, then more oakum.
I've never weighed how much powder or shot a fired 12ga shell would hold.
In theory, a 4ga gun would use 4oz, a quarter pound of shot, equal volume of coarse powder for a "square" load. This one is about .95 caliber, 4ga is .945". The gun has the hole through the butt so a line could be run through to secure the gun to the gunwale of a dory. Prevent loss overboard and help snub the recoil - which I expect would be stout. Haven't scrubbed out the bore yet, don't know if it might be a shooter.
I've never weighed how much powder or shot a fired 12ga shell would hold.
In theory, a 4ga gun would use 4oz, a quarter pound of shot, equal volume of coarse powder for a "square" load. This one is about .95 caliber, 4ga is .945". The gun has the hole through the butt so a line could be run through to secure the gun to the gunwale of a dory. Prevent loss overboard and help snub the recoil - which I expect would be stout. Haven't scrubbed out the bore yet, don't know if it might be a shooter.
Over the years, I have acquired a few big guns.
Two gunsmith made doubles (one originally flint) using Brown Bess barrels. The one in the lower photo used a Long Land pattern buttplate.
A Belgian 8ga double.
A 10g percussion single waterfowler.
A full stocked no trigger guard Newfoundlander.
Now this one.
The doubles are all 14 pounders.
Two gunsmith made doubles (one originally flint) using Brown Bess barrels. The one in the lower photo used a Long Land pattern buttplate.
A Belgian 8ga double.
A 10g percussion single waterfowler.
A full stocked no trigger guard Newfoundlander.
Now this one.
The doubles are all 14 pounders.
Big bore guns are addictive, and if you could only find out the history of them and what game they have taken. Glad someone takes the time to work on the guns to put them back together
Here are some in that reside at my house,
top gun is a single 4 bore shotgun with a 42 1/2 inch barrel and is a 4 bore paper case gun, weights around 16 pounds
next was sold by Jukes Coulson and son and is english made, it is a 75 cal smooth bore and from what i have reserch was likely made for the Bores in Africa. they used a heavy stock gun and loaded from there horse when chasing big game. It has a 42 inch barrel also likey 14 pounds
the double is marked Tryon Philadelpha and is a 8 bore with 32 inch barrels and is also English made around 14 pounds
bottom gun is marked M Cadle and is a 4 bore, inside th elock it is marked Issac Hollis so i think they made the gun
The last gun is a 8 bore double rifle 3 1/2 inch case with 26 inch barrels and it weights in at 16 pound
Here are some in that reside at my house,
top gun is a single 4 bore shotgun with a 42 1/2 inch barrel and is a 4 bore paper case gun, weights around 16 pounds
next was sold by Jukes Coulson and son and is english made, it is a 75 cal smooth bore and from what i have reserch was likely made for the Bores in Africa. they used a heavy stock gun and loaded from there horse when chasing big game. It has a 42 inch barrel also likey 14 pounds
the double is marked Tryon Philadelpha and is a 8 bore with 32 inch barrels and is also English made around 14 pounds
bottom gun is marked M Cadle and is a 4 bore, inside th elock it is marked Issac Hollis so i think they made the gun
The last gun is a 8 bore double rifle 3 1/2 inch case with 26 inch barrels and it weights in at 16 pound
WR1894 - fine pieces! Thanks for sharing!
After I took the photos, I wiped out the bore of 4ga. Didn't scrub it, just dry patch in and out. Dropped in my little flashlight. The bore looks as if it will clean up.
Had a pig of a time getting the barrel out. The two captive bolts slid out easily enough. But the hooked breech was seized solid. So was the tang screw. Had to use a tiny cold chisel to recut the slot and grind a screwdriver to fit. Penetrating oil and a couple of days, and I was eventually able to get the screw to move. Once out, it was hard to tell that there was a hooked breech. Layer of built up crud. More penetrant, gentle tapping, got it broken loose.
After I took the photos, I wiped out the bore of 4ga. Didn't scrub it, just dry patch in and out. Dropped in my little flashlight. The bore looks as if it will clean up.
Had a pig of a time getting the barrel out. The two captive bolts slid out easily enough. But the hooked breech was seized solid. So was the tang screw. Had to use a tiny cold chisel to recut the slot and grind a screwdriver to fit. Penetrating oil and a couple of days, and I was eventually able to get the screw to move. Once out, it was hard to tell that there was a hooked breech. Layer of built up crud. More penetrant, gentle tapping, got it broken loose.
