Need Help ID'ng Musket!

[S&WOwner]

I picked this up at a yard sale for $25! Yes, it is in very very bad condition - but still neat. I can only find two markings on it.

1. Belgian (E over LG star) Proof House Marking...
2. 8734 on Barrel...
3. 47 1/2 Inches (Butt to end of Barrel)...

Any idea what it could be?

Thanks for your help.

​

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Nice wallhanger you found there pard. What is the bore size? Is it rifled or smoothbore?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Single barrel back action lock muzzle loader shotgun made in Belgium or England Sold here in US in the 1880 s for about $2.00.

 

[S&WOwner]

Nice wallhanger you found there pard. What is the bore size? Is it rifled or smoothbore?

Yuppa - have it hanging already.

Bore is 12/16th diameter and smoothbore.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[S&WOwner]

Single barrel back action lock muzzle loader shotgun made in Belgium or England Sold here in US in the 1880 s for about $2.00.

Neat! Thanks for the information.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Zimm
If you're referring to the Zulu or Hunter trade brand shotguns weren't those converted in mass by the Belgians from Franco-Prussian War surplus 1867 French 17.8 mm Trabatatiere breech loading battle rifles, which in turn had previously been converted from 1853 and 1857 caplocks and even some 1822 French flintlocks? I had originally thought this was what you had suggested, but this one here is still a caplock and the hammer shape is not quite right for a French battle musket of that period, perhaps it was replaced sometime during its long life. I just past on an excellent condition Zulu shotgun recently for
$175. If only these old gals could talk of their adventures in Algeria, Indochina, and finally America.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Nope lots of those old shotguns were sold here in the 1880's

Most have bad cracks at the wrist
They came with both back action and front action locks.

I have two of those cheap old front stuffers.
In fact, I think sears still offered them in 1902.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Trade gun.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Even still sold in the 1960's

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Well there ya go.

 

[S&WOwner]

Thanks zimmerstutzen!

 

[AJumbo]

My dear. departed friend Hank Slusar used to call these "feed store guns.'' Apparently they were offered as incentives to buy seed corn, etc, as late as the 1920s. They were also sold by Sears, Montgomery Ward, and similar. I have one that takes a patched .530 ball, and patterns pretty well with 3/4 oz of shot.

 

[S&WOwner]

Neat!

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

This is the Zulu single shot breech loading black powder 12 gauge that got away from me that I was referring to. This one did begin life as a French caplock ml battle rifle circa 1853-1857, then was converted to a breech loading 17.8 mm cartridge Trabatiere rifle circa 1867, with some used by 2nd line units in the Franco-Prussian War. After the war, these were retired and Belgian gunsmiths bought most of them as war surplus, reamed the barrels out to smoothbores, and modified the breech to accept bp 12 gauge cartridges. They were shipped all over the world.

 

[S&WOwner]

Beautiful Zulu elhombreconnonombre.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Yeah I was pretty dumb on not pulling the trigger on that one. Although it was probably modified and reproofed in Belgium circa 1871, these were cheap and plentiful all across the US in the 1880s and for several decades beyond. Although in shotgun configuration it would still classify as a single shot cartridge gun for use in Grand Army of the Frontier shoots, since it would still throw a near 17.8 mm soft lead slug relatively accurately at short range.