Puzzling trade list

[Rod]

Tonight I ran across this listing in the Chouteau papers, concerning trade goods for A.P. Chouteau, from R. McKnight and delivered by Rueben Sanders. A.P. Chouteau was trader to the Osage for most of his life.

28 April 1825

27 traps
6 Dutch rifles
2 kegs of powder @ 100 lbs. ea.
80 lbs. lead
15 squaw axes
1 large tent

My question---what about the "Dutch rifles"? I presume that Dutch actually refers to Belgian [Liege], but rifles? Liege NW guns were common enough, although this is pretty early for them. Does anyone have any reference to rifles from Belgium being shipped to the US? Or did McKnight not know what he was talking about?

Rod

[Pare]

I wonder if it meant Pennsylvania, ie; where the Dutch live at?

Pare-

[Mark]

The "1 large tent" also gets the mind to asking all sorts of questions: style, size, tepee?

Mark

[Pare]

The tent may have been military. Then again, we see "skin" and "Indian" tents on lists, so who knows. Interesting list, Rod.

Pare-