Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Flintlock Long Guns => Topic started by: WhiteBlanket on September 06, 2008, 09:15:13 PM

Title: New ERA French Trade Gun - new pics
Post by: WhiteBlanket on September 06, 2008, 09:15:13 PM: Well, the French Trade Gun that I ordered well over year ago from Early Rustic Arms has finally arrived. It's not late; Larry Williams told me a year ago that he had a huge backlog of orders, which he was doing one at a time. He's had some hard times; he lost his wife to cancer last year, and has been a bit lonely, I fear, in his shop. His son Terry has recently entered the business, and is actually the one who turned out my trade gun; which I am very happy with. I think the plans are to bring the entire operation out of Kentucky, to his son's place in Camdenten, MO.

It's not advertised as a Tulle fusil de chasse; it actually has the look, I think - but of course I'm no expert - of something that might come out of the St. Etienne works. The furniture is later 'D" type styling. It's a 42 inch barrel, made by the Williams' in .62 caliber/ 20 gauge; walnut stock stained very dark, and steel furniture, all antiqued in a gray finish. It's going to be much easier for me to maintain this gun than my other 20 gauge fusil de chasse, which metal is armory bright.

I did something I shouldn't of with it; I shot it out of the box without sighting it in. And what I shot it in was the local muzzleloading club's smoothbore competition, in which I finished second place! She's already won me 2 pounds of black powder! The balance is extremely sweet, and she holds like a rock.

The next day, I went out with some friends to shoot trap. I haven't shot trap in 20 years. I hit three of every four birds flown; I'm not sure how many we shot, we were there all afternoon. It was an informal family get-together, which I came to as an invited guest. Shooting a smoothbore flintlock successfully against all those people missing their birds with pump shotguns caused a bit of conversation, you can imagine!

I think this one going to become a favorite hunting gun. She needs a name, but I haven't thought of one yet. As you can tell, I'm very happy with her performance so far. Next week, we take her to the range to become more intensely acquainted with each other. I'll probably give you a range report when I have one.

At any rate, here she is (I wish the pictures were better):

Edited Sunday PM: New Pictures!

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0009.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0010.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0011.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0012.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0013.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0014.jpg)

(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k30/scutariusscottus/ERA%20French%20Trade%20Gun/000_0015.jpg)
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Post by: jbullard1 on September 06, 2008, 10:14:55 PM: Very nice Sir Very Nice Indeed
And some good shootin da boot
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Post by: rollingb on September 07, 2008, 01:46:10 AM: YES!!!!.... Very, very, NICE!! :rt th
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Post by: Roaddog on September 07, 2008, 06:21:38 AM: That is a dandy for sure, and it sounds like you two hit of right off the bat. Way to go.
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Post by: sse on September 07, 2008, 08:10:23 AM: All in all, quite a past and quite a future in store for that sweet smoothie...good show.
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Post by: Two Steps on September 07, 2008, 09:21:21 AM: Very nice there Mr. WhiteBlanket..very nice. Seems like ya have a keeper, nice looking, nice shooting...and I can tell that you like her...heck, she's already got her own bed!!
Al
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Post by: WhiteBlanket on September 07, 2008, 03:10:12 PM: UHH Two Steps,..

It was probably imprudent to photograph this firecracker on the bed... people might think it's a glamour shot or something! At any rate I have replaced last night's pictures with this afternoon's photography, which gives a much better sense of her form and colour.

Thanks everybody for the kind words.. as you can tell, I am in agreement!
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Post by: melsdad on September 07, 2008, 03:14:41 PM: Very nice gun you got there.
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Post by: Pitchy on September 07, 2008, 04:13:15 PM: Yepper, very nice indeed. :)
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Post by: Chairslayer on September 07, 2008, 04:27:36 PM: Very nice.
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Post by: Minnesota Mike on September 08, 2008, 10:37:50 AM: Cool.

What were you using for shot loads on the clays?

r/
MM
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Post by: WhiteBlanket on September 08, 2008, 11:49:30 AM: Quote from: "Minnesota Mike"
Cool.

What were you using for shot loads on the clays?

r/
MM

What I had in. It was on short notice.

So that meant 70 grains of FFg Goex BP with a fiber wad greased with Bore Butter, an equal volume of #4 shot, and a 1"x2" bit of brown paper grocery bag doubled over on itself insead of an overshot card.

If I was doing it over I would of course use a #7 shot for clays, but I only had the stuff I use for turkeys on hand. #7 would give me a denser and wider pattern, I think.

I've made military-style paper cartridges before and filled them with shot instead of powder, and used the paper cartridge itself rammed over the shot to keep it in the barrel.
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Post by: Kermit on September 09, 2008, 06:50:00 PM: Thanks for posting the pics. It's helpful to all of us to see and hear about examples of various makers' work. Looks like Larry&Son did you good!