AFC weapons

[Rod]

I came across these items under an invoice and bill of lading of goods shipped from New York to New Orleans, by ocean, for the Western Department. They were itemized under goods purchased in the US, there was also a separate list for goods purchased in England.

From C. & I.D. Wolfe
10 Short Indian guns @ $4.50
Plated Scabbard Sabres
Mounted Sabres
Brass Scabbard Sabres

From Peterson & Mensch
20 NW Guns 2ft. 6 inch barrels, in imitation of Barnetts @ $3.00

From J. Joseph Henry
10 NW guns 2 ft. 6 inch barrels raised walnut stock @ $6.50
40 " " " " " Plain " " @ $6.40
40 " " " " " Raised " " @ $6.50
30 " " 3 ft. " Plain " " @ $6.40
30 " " " " Raised " " @ $6.50
10 " " " " Plain Maple " @ $6.50
30 " " 3 ft. 6 inch " " " @ $6.50
30 " " " " " Plain Walnut " @ $6.40
______________________________________

40 Rifles, American Pattern @ $10.50
80 Rifles, English pattern @ $10.12 1/2


I find the maple stocked NW guns to be pretty interesting, although they are in the minority, it shows that there were NW guns stocked in maple--at least from J.J. Henry. Anybody have any idea what the difference is on the Raised vs. Plain stocks? Is it the raised carving around the tang and rear of the lock panels?

Rod

[char]

Thanks for sharing Rod! What year was this?

Would be interesting to see list of purchases from England.

/Char

[Rod]

1829.

I'll look back when I get a bit of time, and see what's on the list from England---although as I recall, that list was mainly raw materials, iron, sheet brass, etc.

Rod

[spottedhorse]

Feb 8, 2014 18:03:35 GMT -7 Rod said:

I find the maple stocked NW guns to be pretty interesting, although they are in the minority, it shows that there were NW guns stocked in maple--at least from J.J. Henry. Anybody have any idea what the difference is on the Raised vs. Plain stocks? Is it the raised carving around the tang and rear of the lock panels?

Rod

I wonder if by "raised", they might have been describing the barrel instead of the stock, and the process of using a cold chisel to raise metal towards the rear of the barrel to function as a rear sight by filing a notch in the raised metal?
We know some of the original trade guns have rear sights (of sorts), while some of them don't.
It might also justify the additional cost of $0.10 cents for "raised vs. plain" by doing so.

[TurkeyCreek]

Okay, so looking at this AFC invoice, which is VERY interesting, it doesn't say what the metal finish is on the NW guns. I'm currently building one and am trying to decide whether to brown the barrel and lock or leave them in the white and patina them. What say you gents? The list definitely shows that quite a few guns had maple stocks so no problem there. So if anyone can enlighten me on metal finish I would greatly appreciate it.

[Chuck Burrows]

English Trade Guns began to be browned in the late 1700's, other finishes based on orders is charcoal or rust blued barrels (the last is my preferred period finish - easy to do - basically just brown and then boil in water to turn it blue/black). Never seen an order yet for in the white but that doesn't mean some weren't sold that way or that I missed a reference.

some book suggestions:
Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather: Firearms in the Nineteenth-Century American West

Firearms of the American West, 1803-1865

For Trade and Treaty: Firearms of the American Indians, 1600-1920

[TurkeyCreek]

Thanks for the info Chuck. That's exactly the kind of guidance I am looking for.