[agalloch]

http://i41.tinypic.com/214qzus.jpg

anyone in southern california do restorations on these old guns?

[Jim K]

It looks like it originated in North Africa or the Middle East. It may have been made for serious use, but many such guns were made for sale to tourists; they were never made to fire and won't.

Better pictures might help in attempting to assess the nature and value of the gun.

But solely on the basis of that picture, I would say it is probably a "real" gun but even then the value is not high. Before spending money on any kind of restoration I would try to have it appraised, as it might not be worth the cost of any work done on it.

Jim

[krs]

Interesting gun! Reminds me of my old thumper, M79. :)

It's hard to be sure from the photo, but the lockwork looks real enough - strong too, which it would need to be in order to function for very long.

Although I would tend to agree with Jim that the inlay work looks to have a North africa/Middle East nature, there doesn't seem to be a symbolic pattern to it. Instead it looks purely decorative and not done with an expressive intention.

Some silver wire, or even a roll of solder. Cut a shallow groove and pound the wire flat in the groove.

How about it was done by some sailor aboard a slave trader's ship. The old deck sweeper was used to control the cargo.

You may not want to pay the price of a restoration by the people that do such stuff but it doesn't look like it'd be very fdifficult to do over at home.

Find out exactly what it is and what it's history is before any restorative type work is done. If it turned out to be of real significance ANY cleanup will take away from it's value.

[Ron James]

The original reason for the bell barrel was not to spread the shot, but to facilitate fast reloading such as on the top of an express coach to Lancaster. Couldn't miss pouring the powder and shot with that huge flare.

[Ron James]

oops

[krs]

It sure would make loading quicker too, but don't you think that the flintlock design predates the Express Coach to Lancaster?

[Ron James]

Well, not if it was the English version of the stagecoach. Express predates the trains.:)

[krs]

Coaches predate Lancaster.

I think that blunderbusses were in use aboard sailing ships before Lewis and Clark took their long walk, passing through what would be Lancaster, PA on their way to Oregon-to-be. :)

[Ron James]

Lancaster ,England. There was a Lancaster, Pa? :)

[Jim K]

They made a lot of long rifles in Lancaster, PA, but I don't think they made blunderbusses.

Jim

[krs]

Isn't it Lancastershire in England?

I think that the R.A. Gilmore Co. is in Lancaster, PA and while they may not make street sweepers there the R.A. Gilmore garden sprayer is the finest sprayer in the world.

[Ron James]

You know, I think you're right , it was the express coach to Lancastershire with the Kings dispatches.

[krs]

Well, we're helping a lot...:)

[Ron James]

Yeah, but Jim and you pretty much answered the question. and sometimes it helps not to be so serious.

[krs]

Yes, it certainly does.

[agalloch]

thanks guys, learning a bit about guns at least, i will bring it to a shop or gun show and have it looked at, hopefully it,s not a replica....

[Jim K]

BTW, KRS, Lewis and Clark didn't pass through Lancaster, PA, at least not on their famous expedition. They started in Pittsburgh, Aug. 31, 1803, going down the Ohio river.

Jim

[Ron James]

I thought it was the Yazoo by the way of the Rio Grandee, I think I read it on the Internet? :)