Stocked in walnut this is a replica of a North West Trade Gun, circa 1770 to 1820. Produced by Davide Pedersoli of Italy this gun is neatly inlet, fitted, and finished. Correctly made with no 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 deer hunting gun, accurate to about 75 yards, very handy in thick brush. The bore is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. The trigger reach on this gun is 13-7/8", perfect for today's average sized shooter. The gun weighs 7.3 pounds, so you can carry it everywhere.
The 36" barrel measures 1" octagon at the breech, tapering to sixteen sides, with a double wedding brand transition to tapered round. The bright bore measures .626" inside diameter, ideal for our 19 gauge wads and cards. The barrel is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. No rear sight has been positioned on the gun, and a rounded brass blade front sight is soldered 1-1/4" behind the muzzle. The manufacturer's markings are stamped on the left oblique flat. In addition to various proof and inspectors marks the flat is stamped BLACK POWDER ONLY - Italy/21 PEDERSOLI - cal. 20 indicating this trade gun was manufactured in 2021.
The stock is finished to a medium brown with satin sheen. The stock has a few minor handling marks from normal use, and the brass has developed a mellow patina. The long ballister wrist runs from the lock panels down towards the toe, and the comb seems to sit on top of the wrist. This is classic architecture for early English muskets, especially the early Sea Service muskets, which apparently served as a model for the North West Trade Gun. The design is simple and functional, and these inexpensive guns were imported and sold by the Fur Trade Companies, for many decades, perhaps centuries. Flint guns were still popular long after the Winchester arrived, due to the low cost of ammunition for flint guns. The top view shows the exaggerated thumbnail finial of the flat brass buttplate. The flared comb stands above the ballister wrist. A raised carved arrowhead finial surrounds the rounded tang of the breech plug. This well finished trade gun has a conventional tang screw. Many originals had an inverted tang screw, which served at a front triggerguard screw, as well.
The bottom view reveals the rounded toe, and the flat brass buttplate which is held in position by two large screws. Notice that the balluster wrist tapers slightly larger at the toe. The forged steel triggerguard is surface mounted with three screws, exactly like early originals. Finished to match the lock above, the guard has been color case hardened with a display of blues and grays. The wooden ramrod is fitted with a brass loading tip, and the opposite end has a brass tip threaded to accept 10-32 cleaning and loading accessories. The ramrod passes through two plain brass pipes, and no entry pipe is used. The brass serpent sideplate is retained with two screws. Serpentine sideplates were common on early English guns, especially English Sea Service Muskets, where the serpent probably represented strength and stealth at sea. The brass serpent became a standard feature on trade guns made in England, Belgium, and America.
A trim lock panel surrounds the large flint lock. Marked Lott the lock plate has a bit of factory executed engraving. The color case hardened lock sparks well using our #FLINT-ENG-7 7/8" knapped English gun flints. The brown finish of the barrel has a small rub mark from the frizzen. The vent is correctly placed well above the bottom of the pan. A properly placed vent is essential to fast ignition. The large trigger provides an easy trigger release.
In excellent used condition, this gun is nicely finished. The bore is bright and clean, and the lock sparks well. This trade gun will be perfect for your next reenactment or the upcoming hunting seasons. 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.
