New Rifle

[teakmtn]

OK, so I purchased the Wheeler Rifle posted here a few weeks back.
My bad, because, I did not do the research I should have done regarding Wheelers before I bought the rifle. Fortunatly,I lucked out because it is pretty nice and, I found out it IS correct for my period, with the limited research I have been able to do. And some advice from "Longarm" a member of this board.
But, I can't find out much else out . Ryan Gale's book "For Trade and Treaty" has a Wheeler and Son trade gun. I don't know if they are the same factory or not. I know they were made in England, but where, Birmingham or London? I believe they were one of the protypes for the Henry "Early English" rifle.
I have ordered the "Enclylopedia of Firearms of the Fur Trade". Should be here any day. I was able to look at a copy briefly and it has some info there.
What does the collective know? Please either share or shove me, push me, kick me in the right direction. This whole internets research thing is kinda new to me but, I'm catching on fast.
Thanks for your help, Doug

[Rod]

That Wheeler looked like a pretty nice rifle----they were distributed in goodly numbers, but they're not often seen today for some reason.

Here's a very good source on English trade rifles:

collections.rmsc.org/LibCat/publications.html

Scroll down to #18, Proceedings of the 1984 trade gun conference, vols. I & II. At $5 apiece, they are one of the best deals out there. Volume II tells all about the English trade rifles.

When your copy of firearms of the Fur trade arrives, it'll go indepth on them as well.

Rod

[teakmtn]

Thanks Rod, yes the Wheeler is under represented. That's one of the reason I went for it. Also, all you guys with your Deringers, Henrys, 1972 contract rifles etc, have given me the Trade Rifle bug in a bad way. So, once again, but, this time I get to say it,
"It's Rod's Fault"!

[teakmtn]

Rod, I received the Encyclopedia yesterday and, wow, what an amazing accumulation of information. Fascinating.
I went to the Rochester Museum's web site yesterday and plan on calling during a weekday to order #18, I&II. Also I have been communicating with John Spangler of the ASOAC. We are discussing some of thier bulletins to see if Wheelers are represented. I will probably just purchase #14, where Hanson discusses Indian Trade Guns, and #62, Fur Trade Pistols, and #101 More Trade Gun stuff. A fellow just can't have too much reference info, especially as I've caught the "Trade Rifle" bug in a bad, bad way.
Cheers, Doug