Nice gun, nice video, looking forward to the next one. As a amateur historian I truly appreciate your videos, even the landscape fits (even though it is not New England).
Sweet piece Ben, the simple elegance of the Trade Gun captured beautifully. I have a 20 Gauge by Mike Brooks with the wrist mended in the traditional way with copper sheet and homemade iron nails, well under seven pounds also. Your beautiful Trade Knife and Ax are it's constant companions...Best Wishes.
That's a good looking gun. Painted guns definitely catch my eye. My preference would be for brighter colors. I would call that a type G trade gun, the limeys' answer to the preference for French fusils.
For the finish you did on the trade gun. You indicated you used red milk paint and varnish. Did you p a int the stock then added varnish or mixed varnish with the paint.
Would love to have one, but with a dark whiskey stain (not painted), a 48 - 50 inch barrel, .62 cal. and no brass band at the ramrod inlet. Would also like the fancy scrolled sideplare. Have met Clay Smith a few times when Iived in Williamsburg a few yrs, ago.
There are originals listed that are described as "red handle" trade or butchers knives. It may be a reference to the wood type that was used or could have been painted. It is totally possible.
Man that thing speaks to me! Sky blue? 🤔 Who knew. I love alcohol staining my tomahawks poles with a yellow. Still see the grain of wood as dark brown. I think the dark yellow rocks! Teach us more about tuning our flintlocks and locks. You musta learned what makes them tick over the years.
Yes Sir, the 18th century saw use of a broad array of dyes & stains. Sounds like a cool coloring on your tomahawk handles! Please see our shooting series of videos on flintlocks here. We talk about some of the ways to make them work well.
I’m wanting to do a painted finish on my next gun, about March or April What steps are there to painting and protecting the paint afterwards to keep durable?
I sand the stock to 220 grit. Then use 2 coats of milk paint gently steel wooling in-between coats. I follow that up with 3 coats of true oil varnish, then gently buff out with 0000 steel wool dipped in mineral oil. Wipe dry, then a coat of paste wax buffed on then off. Seems to hold up really good.
Very nice, i have a Northwest Trade Gun made. By David. Dolliver, 36" Colerain barrel oct/round. 2 bands..with a Davis lock..maple stock.. Brass butplate and brass serpant inlaid in wood..a pewter Inlay in top of wrist.. Also browned triger guard.. The one i have is 62 caliber.
@@HoffmanReproductions enjoy yoyr videos. I also just purchased a percussion sxs pedersoli 12 gauge shotgun. And a 54 cal percussion rifle custom built by unknown maker. It does have L&R lock, L & R triggers. A 24" rice barrel twisted 1 in 60. Stocked in AAA curly maple.iron hardware and browned metal.. Looking forward to recieve it.. However im wondering if you know of anybody whom purchased a double barrel fowler from loyalist arms? Im from Nova Scotia , ive not met or heard of anyone buying one.. Being they have 36" barrels i thought would be interesting.
I'm wanting to get a gun common in 1740s and 1750s to North Carolina as my ancestors were doing their thing. So, would white colonists used these or do you think it was mostly Indians?
@@HoffmanReproductions Really? The lead ball is pretty hard. How hard are you ramming? I would imagine you'd dent or split the bare and of the rod after a while. Isn't the concave end on the metal end designed to seat on the center of the ball? Thanks for the video!
As a rule many I know follow, muzzle loader lead should be soft enough that you can cut into it with your fingernail. When using lead of that density, you can deform it when using the metal end on a ram rod. Historically in most cases, this was how it was done as the other end was only used to attach cleaning gear. No Sir, I load mine pretty lose and never had a problem with it damaging the rod. At the end of the day though, to each his own. If folks prefer to ram with either end of the rod, totally fine with me, as it is just the way I prefer to do it. Thanks for watching!
@@HoffmanReproductions Thank your for your insight! I personally shoot a Brown Bess but am researching American Colonial rifles presently. Many thanks!
Ben, a clarification please: if that gun has a 46 inch barrel, what is the length of pull? I ask because the gun looks so small when you hold it. Are you particularly tall? 6'5" or thereabouts?
Thanks Ben for clarifying ..... never seen a 46 inch barrel look so short. I checked out the kits, which whilst very nice, show you've done a great job. Thanks for sharing, Gus
@@HoffmanReproductions I just learned about it myself (see p. 11 in D.J. Silverman's book "Thundersticks"). It connotes darkness and 'death' since the gun could kill at a distance, an allusion to similar powers held by native shamans who had experienced visions of the Horned Underwater Serpent.
I think that it's a great looking firearm. And just as practical, efficient, and effective now as it was back in the day.
Love it! Never thought "paint" could look so good! Great video.
Thank you!
Nice gun, nice video, looking forward to the next one. As a amateur historian I truly appreciate your videos, even the landscape fits (even though it is not New England).
Thank you for all!
Beautiful Fowler!
@@Utahflintlocks Thank you!
Ben..that is beautiful! Definitely a firelock anyone would've been proud to own! Great job, sir! See ya at an event, out there, soon!
Thank you kindly!
Hi, Ben ! Great work. I enjoy your historical notes when referencing your builds ! See ya one the next one Take care !
Thanks so much!
The wrist is so skinny! Beautiful work, Ben!
It is a slim one for sure. Thanks Jake!
Thanks for sharing!! Beautiful gun
Thank you!
Nice work on the gun and using "What Do We Do With A Drunken Sailor" for an intro tune.
Thank you!
Sweet piece Ben, the simple elegance of the Trade Gun captured beautifully. I have a 20 Gauge by Mike Brooks with the wrist mended in the traditional way with copper sheet and homemade iron nails, well under seven pounds also. Your beautiful Trade Knife and Ax are it's constant companions...Best Wishes.
Great to hear! Thank you on all!
Interesting gun. Great video as always. Thanks Ben.
TC
Thank you!
That's a good looking gun. Painted guns definitely catch my eye. My preference would be for brighter colors. I would call that a type G trade gun, the limeys' answer to the preference for French fusils.
Thank you!
I like Bumford Fowler. Excellent video as usual. Excellent finished product! Ben you done a excellent job!Like the target practice. David Back.
Thank you!
For the finish you did on the trade gun. You indicated you used red milk paint and varnish. Did you p a int the stock then added varnish or mixed varnish with the paint.
2 coats of milk paint. After drying a few hours, 2-3 coats of varnish. Once cured a few days, rubbed out with mineral oil soak piece of steel wool.
Would love to have one, but with a dark whiskey stain (not painted), a 48 - 50 inch barrel, .62 cal. and no brass band at the ramrod inlet. Would also like the fancy scrolled sideplare. Have met Clay Smith a few times when Iived in Williamsburg a few yrs, ago.
Thank you! Please check out our other video on the Bumford where I build one similar to that!
Were handles of trade knives ever painted to match stocks?
There are originals listed that are described as "red handle" trade or butchers knives. It may be a reference to the wood type that was used or could have been painted. It is totally possible.
Thank you! I have a blue stock on a trade musket and was considering matching a knife to it.@@HoffmanReproductions
What's the difference between a Bumford Fowler and the type g Carolina trade gun? And is that the 41 inch barrel?
Just few little things really. This one has a 46 1/4"
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks! Im debating either a NWTG kit by pecatonica or clay smiths Carolina Fowler kit. Do you have any opinions?
Have not built any from Pecatonica but others have and been happy. Clays kits are real nice too and I've been pleased with how mine turned out.
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks for the insight!
Man that thing speaks to me! Sky blue? 🤔 Who knew. I love alcohol staining my tomahawks poles with a yellow. Still see the grain of wood as dark brown. I think the dark yellow rocks! Teach us more about tuning our flintlocks and locks. You musta learned what makes them tick over the years.
Yes Sir, the 18th century saw use of a broad array of dyes & stains. Sounds like a cool coloring on your tomahawk handles! Please see our shooting series of videos on flintlocks here. We talk about some of the ways to make them work well.
I’m wanting to do a painted finish on my next gun, about March or April
What steps are there to painting and protecting the paint afterwards to keep durable?
I sand the stock to 220 grit. Then use 2 coats of milk paint gently steel wooling in-between coats. I follow that up with 3 coats of true oil varnish, then gently buff out with 0000 steel wool dipped in mineral oil. Wipe dry, then a coat of paste wax buffed on then off. Seems to hold up really good.
@@HoffmanReproductions thanks
I was imagining putting on a coat of paint then having it look sand blasted after my first jaunt in the woods
@@jeffreyrobinson3555 Welcome! This treatment has been pretty durable thus far.
Awesome channel brother. Just subscribed.
Awesome thank you!
Ben, what is the thin strap that holds your powder horn? Some sort of cord? If so, what material and thickness? Thanks so much!
Just a heavy cord of hemp on this one. I generally make a strap of leather or woven hemp, just have not got around to it on this one.
Very nice, i have a Northwest Trade Gun made. By David. Dolliver, 36" Colerain barrel oct/round. 2 bands..with a Davis lock..maple stock.. Brass butplate and brass serpant inlaid in wood..a pewter
Inlay in top of wrist.. Also browned triger guard.. The one i have is 62 caliber.
Thank you! Sounds like a very nice gun you have there.
@@HoffmanReproductions enjoy yoyr videos. I also just purchased a percussion sxs pedersoli 12 gauge shotgun. And a 54 cal percussion rifle custom built by unknown maker. It does have L&R lock, L & R triggers. A 24" rice barrel twisted 1 in 60. Stocked in AAA curly maple.iron hardware and browned metal.. Looking forward to recieve it..
However im wondering if you know of anybody whom purchased a double barrel fowler from loyalist arms? Im from Nova Scotia , ive not met or heard of anyone buying one.. Being they have 36" barrels i thought would be interesting.
I'm wanting to get a gun common in 1740s and 1750s to North Carolina as my ancestors were doing their thing. So, would white colonists used these or do you think it was mostly Indians?
No based on mu research, colonist would have used trade guns too. A very common gun for the common man during the 1700's.
Why do you use the raw wood end of the ram rod instead of the metal capped end to ram the charge and ball home ?
The wood end puts less damage to the lead round ball when driving the charge home.
@@HoffmanReproductions Really? The lead ball is pretty hard. How hard are you ramming? I would imagine you'd dent or split the bare and of the rod after a while. Isn't the concave end on the metal end designed to seat on the center of the ball? Thanks for the video!
As a rule many I know follow, muzzle loader lead should be soft enough that you can cut into it with your fingernail. When using lead of that density, you can deform it when using the metal end on a ram rod. Historically in most cases, this was how it was done as the other end was only used to attach cleaning gear. No Sir, I load mine pretty lose and never had a problem with it damaging the rod. At the end of the day though, to each his own. If folks prefer to ram with either end of the rod, totally fine with me, as it is just the way I prefer to do it. Thanks for watching!
@@HoffmanReproductions Thank your for your insight! I personally shoot a Brown Bess but am researching American Colonial rifles presently. Many thanks!
@@DARIVSARCHITECTVS Anytime. I don't have all the answers but happy to share what I can. Thank you!
Ben, a clarification please: if that gun has a 46 inch barrel, what is the length of pull?
I ask because the gun looks so small when you hold it. Are you particularly tall? 6'5" or thereabouts?
Hello! Good eye! I am indeed 6'-5" and the length of pull is 13 1/2" to match the original.
Thanks Ben for clarifying ..... never seen a 46 inch barrel look so short. I checked out the kits, which whilst very nice, show you've done a great job. Thanks for sharing, Gus
You might point out the significance of the horned underwater serpent side plate...the reason why Indian trade guns had them.
Not sure of the reason myself. Would love to hear!
@@HoffmanReproductions I just learned about it myself (see p. 11 in D.J. Silverman's book "Thundersticks"). It connotes darkness and 'death' since the gun could kill at a distance, an allusion to similar powers held by native shamans who had experienced visions of the Horned Underwater Serpent.
@@folday6169 Thank you for sharing!