I would and a sword would look great with them.
Where/who can I take guns to for history research and/or appraisal in OKC area?
- Thread starter ILike22s
- Start Date
What kind of sword would go with them well?
To me, those type guns were more popular in the mid-east so I would display them with something like this.
For others that might need stuff on other guns.
Might try the Tulsa Show.
Davis Gun Museum in Claremore.
Best would be Cody Museum in WY though.
Although if it is WWI through the Cold War?...
Me! :-)
Might try the Tulsa Show.
Davis Gun Museum in Claremore.
Best would be Cody Museum in WY though.
Although if it is WWI through the Cold War?...
Me! :-)
That will be an awesome display!
Just post them for sale in the classifieds at outrageous prices. Someone will be along shortly to tell you what they are really worth.
Last edited:
2024 - 50 = 1974
Thats roughly the bicentennial.
Around that time there was a renewed interest in flint lock and percussion arms.
A lot of inexpensive imports replica and antique firearms came into a country hungry 200-year-old guns.
Some were high quality, and some were absolute garbage.
Others were purely decorative and never were intended to function or fire.
The other issue is in that era information on loading and shooting these things was a lot harder to come by. Attitudes about safe storage were different as well.
Step 1 is to ascertain that they are not charged. That means verifying nothing in the bore all the way to the touch hole at the lock. Just insert a small rod and mark the length where it bottoms out relative to the muzzle and compare to the length from the muzzle to the touch hole. Note that I said small rod. Many large bore muzzle loaders have reduced diameter powder chambers, so use something pencil diameter.
If it's the same, great.
If not, why not.
Examine the vent - if it's obviously a blind hole or dimple that never communicated with the barrel, then its display only, and you have a shallow bore to save manufacturing costs.
If it looks like the vent hole communicates with the bore and its charged you need to find out what is in the bore. Could be paper wads from a kid playing with it or a charge that's been in place for 50 years or more. Gunsmith time.
Remember safety first, then, history.
Assuming its all clear and not a display piece:
If it's a more modern replica intended to be fired you should find proof marks on the barrel, that will help bracket the age and country of origin. However the lack of text on the barrels indicates they are old or decorative. The fine line engraving on the lock is typical of a functional lock rather than a cheap zinc casting.
Thats roughly the bicentennial.
Around that time there was a renewed interest in flint lock and percussion arms.
A lot of inexpensive imports replica and antique firearms came into a country hungry 200-year-old guns.
Some were high quality, and some were absolute garbage.
Others were purely decorative and never were intended to function or fire.
The other issue is in that era information on loading and shooting these things was a lot harder to come by. Attitudes about safe storage were different as well.
Step 1 is to ascertain that they are not charged. That means verifying nothing in the bore all the way to the touch hole at the lock. Just insert a small rod and mark the length where it bottoms out relative to the muzzle and compare to the length from the muzzle to the touch hole. Note that I said small rod. Many large bore muzzle loaders have reduced diameter powder chambers, so use something pencil diameter.
If it's the same, great.
If not, why not.
Examine the vent - if it's obviously a blind hole or dimple that never communicated with the barrel, then its display only, and you have a shallow bore to save manufacturing costs.
If it looks like the vent hole communicates with the bore and its charged you need to find out what is in the bore. Could be paper wads from a kid playing with it or a charge that's been in place for 50 years or more. Gunsmith time.
Remember safety first, then, history.
Assuming its all clear and not a display piece:
If it's a more modern replica intended to be fired you should find proof marks on the barrel, that will help bracket the age and country of origin. However the lack of text on the barrels indicates they are old or decorative. The fine line engraving on the lock is typical of a functional lock rather than a cheap zinc casting.
Took a few more minutes to look at the photographs of the iron barreled one.
The engraving on the lock is much finer and more carefully executed than the barrel carving and checkering, however, locks were mass produced and exported to be assembled into guns by regional tradesmen.
The threads on the clamp screw on the cock don't have sharp crests, so they are not made to modern standards.
The barrel appears to have a touch hole with some debris in it.
The problem is the wear and tear is just not right.
This is what jumps out at me.
The stock shows no wear or rubbing from the saddle ring on the left side of the stock. Go look at any gun with a saddle ring in comparable condition and half the age, it will have ware from the saddle ring moving around.
The stock has the same patination on the grip as the rest of the gun. Folks pick up and play with guns even if they don't shoot them.
High spots on the wood should show rubbing and neighboring low areas should be darker. Look a the edge of the cheek piece, even all the way across.
I don't see handling damage consistent with the overall condition and 250 years of existence.
The screw heads are not torn up.
There is a lack of grime and dirt in places you expect it, like around the radius at the bottom of the cock where oil collects and is always hard to rub away regardless of cock position.
Also, the workmanship is inconsistent. Note that the butt plate was not properly inlayed into the top of the stock, but other parts are inlayed. Why would you do sloppy work on the butt plate, guard and do the wire work on top and take the time to carve the barrel.
Some of the brass parts show file and casting marks on areas you would expect to see ware after a few hundred years.
My best GUESS and it's just a GUESS.
The iron barreled gun is a combination of new and old parts thrown together and made to look old around the time your family acquired it.
Probably from somewhere with a thriving cottage industry of making things that look collectable for tourists.
The engraving on the lock is much finer and more carefully executed than the barrel carving and checkering, however, locks were mass produced and exported to be assembled into guns by regional tradesmen.
The threads on the clamp screw on the cock don't have sharp crests, so they are not made to modern standards.
The barrel appears to have a touch hole with some debris in it.
The problem is the wear and tear is just not right.
This is what jumps out at me.
The stock shows no wear or rubbing from the saddle ring on the left side of the stock. Go look at any gun with a saddle ring in comparable condition and half the age, it will have ware from the saddle ring moving around.
The stock has the same patination on the grip as the rest of the gun. Folks pick up and play with guns even if they don't shoot them.
High spots on the wood should show rubbing and neighboring low areas should be darker. Look a the edge of the cheek piece, even all the way across.
I don't see handling damage consistent with the overall condition and 250 years of existence.
The screw heads are not torn up.
There is a lack of grime and dirt in places you expect it, like around the radius at the bottom of the cock where oil collects and is always hard to rub away regardless of cock position.
Also, the workmanship is inconsistent. Note that the butt plate was not properly inlayed into the top of the stock, but other parts are inlayed. Why would you do sloppy work on the butt plate, guard and do the wire work on top and take the time to carve the barrel.
Some of the brass parts show file and casting marks on areas you would expect to see ware after a few hundred years.
My best GUESS and it's just a GUESS.
The iron barreled gun is a combination of new and old parts thrown together and made to look old around the time your family acquired it.
Probably from somewhere with a thriving cottage industry of making things that look collectable for tourists.
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