What is this??

canuck

canuck

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I bought this from an estate many years ago and its been hanging above the fireplace in the cabin ever since (it looks good there :p )
I've often wondered about the manufacturer/history - someone once told me it was an old trade rifle?
Sorry 'bout the crappy pics, but maybe one of you BP guys recognize it?
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Certainly would be handy to know whether or not it is rifled and how many lands and grooves it has. Any marks on the stock to indicate ownership? Caliber of bore? Letters on butt tang are interesting...any ideas what they are?....appears to be ?OR...is that correct. Where are you located and where did you find the rifle? The Brits, in the early 1800's contracted out to Belgium for rifles...back action lock...interesting. With more info I can help. Dave
 
Maybe 40 years ago, various importers, Dixie in the US, Century Arms in Canada, were selling ml guns like this. They were assembled using whatever old or new parts were available. Some were even set up as flintlocks, using a similar back action lock to drive the ####, and with a separate plate carrying the pan and frizzen. I do not know if one of these qualifies as an antique. If the barrel is 19th century, it probably would be considered antique. Some of the advertising suggested that these guns had been set up for sale in Africa, so it could be a trade gun in that sense. Some of the guns were available in 4 guage, with the suggestion they were for elephants. ML guns remained in use in parts of Africa until rather recently.
 
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Dantforth said:
Certainly would be handy to know whether or not it is rifled and how many lands and grooves it has. Any marks on the stock to indicate ownership? Caliber of bore? Letters on butt tang are interesting...any ideas what they are?....appears to be ?OR...is that correct. Where are you located and where did you find the rifle? The Brits, in the early 1800's contracted out to Belgium for rifles...back action lock...interesting. With more info I can help. Dave
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Sorry, should have included in my original post;
50 cal, smooth bore, no markings on the stock, in fact the only markings on the gun at all are what you see in the pics
I believe on the butt is 9R over 689 - I'll have a closer look and perhaps some more pics today when I go up to the cabin.
I'm kinda inclined towards tiriaq's take as there seems to be a mish-mash of different screws used, it definatly isn't a high quality piece
Tx Fellas.
 
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It has Belgian proofs just in front of the nipple bolster. The nipple looks as if it should be screwed in a couple of turns. Check it over carefully. There is probably no reason that it couldn't be fired.
 
tiriaq said:
It has Belgian proofs just in front of the nipple bolster. The nipple looks as if it should be screwed in a couple of turns. Check it over carefully. There is probably no reason that it couldn't be fired.
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Yes, heres a close up. I may have to try shooting it some day :)
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What can you tell me about this 12G dbl? It is also a hunting cabin wall hanger!
"Western Arms Co" on side panels, I can't find a reference to Western Arms in my (few) firearms books.
Belgium proofs on this one as well.
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"Western Arms Co." may have been an actual wholesale/retail business. Or it could just be a name that had regional appeal. The gun appears to be one of the many generic double guns made in Belgium prior to WWI. Looks to be in better than average condition. If you can locate a copy of one of the reprinted Sears Roebuck catalogues, you will see pages of similar guns, which retailed from $10-$20. I just checked the Fall 1900 edition. The ads for the guns seldom mention chamber length, but in the ammunition section, 12ga. shotgun shells and cartridge cases are offered in 2 5/8" and 2 3/4" lengths. If the bores are clear, the firing pins fit properly, and the action is tight, it MIGHT be acceptable to shoot the gun with moderate black powder loads. This has been discused on this forum, and there are mixed opinions about whether guns of this nature should ever be fired.
 
Thanks tiriaq, for your info.
The bores look great and the gun is in very nice overall condition, although the action is a bit loose, but I see no reason to tempt fate with this one ;)
It and the ML above will be returned to the mantle where they serve a useful purpose as wall decorations :p
 
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