This short barreled canoe guns is stocked in maple with a round faced flintlock. Made without a rear sight, this gun qualifies for NMLRA trade gun match events, shooting patched round balls at paper targets, and shot charges at clay birds. It will be a powerful short range hunting gun, very handy when hunting from a boat or in thick brush. Trigger reach is 13-3/4" to fit today's average size shooter. Weight is 5.6 pounds.
The 24" long barrel is 1" octagon at the breech, with a single wedding brand transition to tapered round. The bore measures .620" inside diameter, and is polished bright. The top flat at the breech end of the barrel is stamped with a oval around Beathe Knives, which appears to be made with a one piece stamp. The barrel is finished to a lightly textured brown. A brass hunter's star front sight is soldered behind the muzzle. No rear sight is fitted.
The maple stock has a warm brown tone with patches of figure over the length of the stock. This smoothbore is used and the stock has scattered handling marks. The buttstock shows a bit of a French influence with the shape similar to a Tulle fusil-de-chasse. The buttstock is fitted with a buttplate formed from sheet stock that wraps over the heel. The barrel is fitted with a straight tang, a single tang bolt engages the triggerplate below. The bottom view reveals the rounded toe. The browned steel triggerguard is shaped with an acorn finial and is surface mounted with screws. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a flared steel tip with 8-32 threads for accessories. The steel sideplate has a French influence and is inlet flush with the side panel. The buttstock is shaped with a cheek piece for a right hand shooter.
The lock panel displays some wear on the edges. The round faced flint lock, by Jim Chambers, provides reliable ignition. This attractive early English flint lock has a round faced cock and plate, and rounded frizzen and pan surfaces. Locks of this design are often found on American longrifles and fowlers of the 1730 - 1770 era. Fast ignition is assured by the stainless vent liner. Positioned well above the bottom of the pan and centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay. Study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.
Used, this light weight canoe gun has a handy 24" octagon-to-round 20 gauge barrel. The lock sparks well and the bore is bright. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
