Punt gun

[UKShooter]

Came accross a vid of one on youtube... now I want one!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7FeeamC4qk

Thats one crazy shotgun. I was reading up on them a bit. Apparently they used to mount them on small boats and use them to take large groups of ducks sitting on the water in one go. They report taking up to 30 ducks sometimes in one shot but apparently the practice is now banned in a lot of countries. It's certainly banned here in the UK.

More info on them here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punt_gun

Just found it interesting so I thought I would share

 

[rromeo]

Oddly, I was thinking of punt guns today at the park as 100 geese were idly swimming by. They know that the season opens tomorrow.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Pretty cool. They used to be used for "market hunting" which is basically a commercial hunting operation. Bunch of birds with one shot then take them all to the meat market or restaurant to sell.

It's not a lot different than commercial fishing if you think about it, to me anyway.

I don't want to shoot one but I'll watch someone else do it

 

[mesinge2]

I saw those on Tremors 4 many years ago and I have wanted one ever since.

I just looks like a fun gun to shoot.

 

[Ron James]

A little chuckle at my self, I always feel old when I see a posting from some of our younger members about something new and wonderful discovered, In this case, punt guns.. I think I will go and have a glass of milk and take a nap.

 

[Sam1911]

We had a pretty cool thread on the subject a few months back: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=521779

Some cool pics and great info.

 

[mesinge2]

Thanks, Sam1911

looking at it now

 

[mach1.3]

The old pictures I have seen depict absolute cannons. The barrel seemed 4-5 feet in length maybe more. They were deployed by lying longitudially from the prow to aft of the boat. When shot the little boat must have gone on a rearward joyride and I'm sure earplugs were a must. Hopefully, all other boaters were off the water at the time of ignition.

 

[John Peddie]

Punt Guns legal?

This webpage has some neat old photos, and posts #9 and 10 indicate that they are still legal in at least some parts of the UK.

I've read that there is a museum of these things on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Anyone been there?

Dr. McCracken?

http://www.worldwaterfowl.com/showthread.php?t=250

 

[mesinge2]

John Peddie, thanks for the site.
That boat with the 7 punt guns is crazy!

 

[LibShooter]

From the World Waterfowl Forum

Until modern times a gunner wouldn’t touch off a shot unless there was expectation to kill at least 100 birds with the shot. However habitat loss throughout the breeding grounds, stopover resting areas, and the UK wintering grounds, has changed duck number to the point where the most recent records show that the average UK punt gunner has 7 outings each season and only fires a total of 4 shots for the year with an average of 16 birds killed per shot.

I suppose habitat loss plays a roll in lower duck populations. But a gun that kills 100 birds with one shot might have been contributed, too.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Among others, the Upper Bay Museum has a number of punt guns. So do various homes, bars, gun clubs, etc. Most are in well used condition. Built as tools rather than as show pieces, they resemble plumbing more than Parkers.

Many are MLs, but a few are breechloaders. One I saw at the Smithsonian Folkways festival a few years ago looked JUST like a H&R scaled up.

 

[JWF III]

I've read that there is a museum of these things on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Haven't been there, but I am hoping to get over there this Jan. when we go to DC for a week.

Dave, what town is it in? I know i've seen it somewhere, and I can find it again if need be. But if you, or anybody, knows; it'll save me a bunch of time searching.

Also, NFM in Fairfax is at the top of the list of must see places. But the waterfowler in me wants to get over to the Maryland museum.

Wyman

 

[Sam1911]

Dave, what town is it in?

There are probably several worth checking out, but my personal favorite is the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD.

http://www.cbmm.org/

A bit on the waterfowling exhibit:
http://www.cbmm.org/wh_exhib_wfowl.html

(Also, if you've ever sawed a board or driven a nail, the boat-building shop is NOT to be missed.)

 

[Dave McCracken]

The one near Havre De Grace is good also.

The waterfowl Fest in Easton is a must. I'll get the dates for you.

 

[JWF III]

Thanks Sam and Dave. Those are the ones I'd heard about. The Harve De Grace is the one I couldn't remember where it was.

(Also, if you've ever sawed a board or driven a nail, the boat-building shop is NOT to be missed.)

Do it for a living. (At least try to make a living of it now-a-days.:banghead And I've built a few small boats, just pirogues to date. (With one modified into a scull boat, that turned out way to heavy.) I hope to try other plans in the future. So the shop will have to be added to the must see list.

I may have to add another week to this trip for all I want to see.:banghead:Or I guess I could just make a seperate trip with some time to actually chase some ducks on the Chesepeake.

Thanks again,
Wyman