Safari BP gun.

[cdn_traveller]

I had a friend show me a .50 Safari Blackpowder gun with an octagon(or was it hex) rifled barrel.

His dad won it in Manitoba when he was a kid, it was won in a stagecoach race. It does have a small brass plackard on it saying what race it was won for. I guess his dad has about 6 of them..

I know absolutely nothing about BP. He wants to take it out to the range this summer...What do I need to shoot it? It seems to have a rod and some type of little nipple like thing that screws to the end of the rod... It had 2 triggers that worked together somehow.

It says it is made in Italy, but also says Safari, Toronto on it.

What can you guys tell me about it? If it hasn't been shot, would it reduce it's value a lot to shoot it?

It does have some minor surface rust in a few spots...it hasn't been stored all that well.

Overall, a nice heavy gun though!

 

[snowshoe]

I would suggest a book by Sam Fadala, on the shooting of black powder guns, or find someone to walk you through it all. It is very important to clean it up real good at the end of the day, or it will rust. I have seen rifles ruined very quickly, by no or poor cleaning.

 

[mooncoon]

My first muzzle loader was a Safari Arms flintlock (in 1980). They are a import firm and the guns are made in Italy. Like Snowshoe I would strongly suggest getting a reference book first and hopefully there is a club somewhere near you with someone who shoots traditional guns that can take you in hand for the first couple of times. An alternate book is Lyman's Black Powder Manual.

cheers mooncoon

 

[eastwind]

I have no info on the rifle but, for many years mb rodeo's gave away a variety of rifles as prizes for winning chuckwagon races. Besides BP, winchester model 94's were very popular.