A FLINTLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??? Big Smoke with a rock lock? say it aint so!

Well, even the best of us makes a mistake once in a while.
Also, the fine wood blinded me to the ignition type.    

I was going through some stuff the other day and found these pictures.  I thought I would share them here.
I bought this at a gun show in Moscow, ID in maybe 1980 or 1981.  This was one of the prettiest pieces of stock wood that I had ever seen.

I still have and wear the shirt and the pants and the belt.  The rifle?  Long gone.

upload photo internet

The belt bag has also gone its way.  I gave it to a friend's wife to contain his ashes in after he died.

upload photo internet

These photos were taken back in my fuzzy face days.  I think I wore that beard for about 20 years or more.

upload photo internet

Here is the knife which can just barely be seen.  It was made by Robert's Roost in MT.  My uncle redid the handle.

upload photo internet


Here is me dressed a little more properly, depicting a factor at Spokane House, circa 1811.  The photo was taken in about 1990.

upload photo internet

These photos are of things that have come and gone and were caught on camera.  Which is unusual for me.
The rifle was a .50 caliber and the lock on the rifle came from Dixie Gun Works.  It sparked occasionally.  It always surprised me when the thing went off.

John (Bigsmoke)

Check with Mr. Smoke about shooting large, heavy projectiles with large powder charges, as he did/does it for pure fun!

Yessir, that I did.  There is just something indescribable about touching off 400 grains of Fg pushing a 1,450 grain round ball out the barrel.  Did it hurt?  Nah, not really.  Did it kick?  Well, hell yes.  But no worse than getting punched in the shoulder by a fair sized man.  Did I do it again?  Well, of course.  Actually, that four bore kicked less and hurt less than a T/C Renegade I converted to a .62 caliber rifle.  That was brutal.  As a .54 rifle with a 100 grain charge it was not a big deal.  But going up to the .62 with a 310 grain ball and 200 grains of Ffg - totally different story.  I believe the real difference was the stock design, way too straight to handle recoil efficiently.

As far as shooting big guns go, I kind of liken it to the difference between driving a Yugo to the corner store and driving a Corvette there also.  They both get you there, but the Vette is a heck of a lot more fun.  And the big guns are a lot more fun to shoot, although it does take a bit longer for the smoke to clear.  Hint:  My moniker was fairly come by - Big Smoke, think about it.

Kevin,
My opinion on your rifle is that your stock is too straight and you are shooting a heavier charge than you need.  Obviously, I have not shot your smoothbore, but from what you have said, that's what I hear.

John (Bigsmoke)

The heavier gun should recoil LESS than a light one, all else being equal.  100 grains of powder seems like a rather hefty charge to me.  Also, that 20 gauge ball is a lot heavier than a smaller one; pushing it out of the barrel will result in more push against your shoulder.  And then there is stock design; some are going to kick you right in the teeth, while others are a delight to shoot.  Check with Mr. Smoke about shooting large, heavy projectiles with large powder charges, as he did/does it for pure fun!

I'm with Beav on this one. If you're happy with it's performance, don't F#$% with it! I'm also waiting impatiently for Kibler's new fowler!!!