Gun Question for Chuck

[leatherstocking]

Chuck

I have looked extensively and can find no reference to HF 1803's being used by civilian trappers during the western fur trade. I have considered the only possibility that Colter might have been given permission to keep his...if in fact he had one or carried his own civilian gun.
I know it's a popular concept among buckskinners, but I'm just not connecting it to historical reality.

Thanks for your time

Doug

[Chuck Burrows]

Howdy Doug -
I have yet to find a reference to any one civilian individual trapper carrying a HM1803 Short rifle (of course there is still the question/argument? amongst many historians of just what short rifle was carried by L & C Members.)

On the other hand I do have a reference or two of the later sale of such rifles as surplus to the civilian market. IIRC the first is around 1810 and then again 1818 or 1825. I'll see if I can track them down.

[leatherstocking]

Chuck

Thanks for that. Actually I am pretty firmly in the camp of shortened version of the '92/94 contract rifles, but just threw that in as speculative. If there were sell offs of surplus rifles, then I suppose one could "safely" argue for the 1803, '07 of having got into the hands of "especially novice" adventures, purchasing surplus at rates below custom made guns of the period......but again speculative!
I'd love to see those references.

As always, thank you for your knowledge and expertise.

Doug

p.s. Thinking about organizing a "'32-33" Mounted Ranger Battalion at some point in the future.............

[leatherstocking]

Chuck

How much do you know about "Mortimer" English sporting rifles/shotguns?........especially in the time period of the 1820's to 1830's