|
|
Post by Badger on Sept 19, 2015 18:21:45 GMT -7
Howdy, Gents. Most likely my winter project (or one of them anyway) will be building myself a NW trade gun. Anybody have a comment on Track of the Wolf's Trade gun kit? It looks good and the price looks good. 'preciate any input. Badger
|
|
|
|
Post by leatherstocking on Sept 19, 2015 18:55:03 GMT -7
Badger I agree it looks good....and the price is decent....much cheaper than North Star and I'm of the opinion that Track's version may be as good or better. Research barrel finish and desired barrel length. Back in the 70's, when "brass lizard guns" were gaining in popularity, most of my Northwestern Colorado buddies had maple stocked guns...and most with browned barrels....including myself. But one of the guys before he built his, did the research and came up with a walnut stocked kit with a 30" barrel that he blued. Personally I'd go with walnut stock as ...and if I recall correctly walnut was the most common. IMHO....  |
|
|
|
Post by Chuck Burrows on Sept 20, 2015 10:55:28 GMT -7
While the most common stock wood was walnut on those imported from England, using American black walnut (juglans negra) is not anymore correct since the wood was English/Euro walnut (juglans regia). I have seen a few black walnut stocks that were made to look fairly close to English walnut.
On the other hand plain maple stocks can be correct at least by 1829:
10 " " " " Plain Maple " @ $6.50
This is from an 1829 AFCo trade list - the guns listed were made by the American firm of J. Henry.As for browning vs blue - both were used on trade guns. Somewhere I have a note that HBC started ordering trade guns with browned barrels in 1780.
Hope that helps.
|
|
|
|
Post by leatherstocking on Sept 20, 2015 18:04:37 GMT -7
Chuck...thanks for the clarity on the walnut. I didn't know that black walnut wouldn't be appropriate. Wasn't a lot of wood exported from the colonies to England for gun stocks?.......thinking more specifically maple?  ?? |
|
|
|
Post by leatherstocking on Sept 20, 2015 21:38:37 GMT -7
|
|
|
|
Post by TurkeyCreek on Sept 21, 2015 8:21:14 GMT -7
I'm currently building one of these TOTW trade guns right now. Getting closer to finishing it as I'm working on the final shaping of the stock now. I am very pleased with this set of parts and have run into nothing unexpected. Be prepared to apply your inletting, soldering, drilling, etc skills as there is definitely quite a bit of gun building required for one, which I totally expected and wanted. Also, I might suggest you try Track's silver solder paste as well; works like a charm and just as strong as regular solder. I will post some pics when I get it finished, hopefully before TOO much longer! Hope this helps you out Badger.
|
|
??