Relic Condition Late 1700's Northwest Trade Gun by Robert Wheeler
Item #: AA3413
Click on an image to enlarge
This is a black powder trade gun from the late 1700's manufactured by Robert Wheeler of Birmingham, England. Wheeler operated from Birmingham from 1766 until 1799 when he died. This old trade gun was originally flint, but has been crudely converted to percussion. It measures 53 1/4" overall, with a barrel length of 38 1/8". The barrel is the typical fowling piece design, with the first 7 3/4" being octagon at the breech terminating in baluster turned "wedding band" rings, then a 3 1/2 round section ending in baluster turned "wedding band" rings with the remaining 26 1/2" of the barrel being round. The smooth bore barrel gauges out at .65 caliber and is very dark with active rust and pitting. There is no rear sight on the barrel, the front sight is a small iron blade type. The barrel has an untouched brown patina and shows two London proofs marks of a crown over GP and a crown over V in depressed ovals on the left barrel flat at the breech end. In the center of the two ovals is a star in a depressed circle over the makers initials, RW. LONDON is stamped on the top barrel flat. The lock plate and hammer have a matching patina of the barrel. The lock is stamped with the name Wheeler in cursive forward of the hammer, but does not have a fox within a circle on it. The mechanics of the lock still operate, the hammer locks in the cocked position, there doesn't seem to be a half cock position. The conversion from flint to percussion has been crudely done. The original flint hammer is still being used, with an improved striker in the jaws. The barrel has had a drum conversion performed to bring it to percussion. Amazingly, when the hammer is cocked and the trigger depressed, the hammer snaps forward and the improvised striker smartly strikes the nipple. The remaining ramrod thimble and butt plate are brass, the trigger guard is iron. The side plate is missing, no serpent or dragon left on this old smoke pole. This one has been together for a while, as all the brass has a matching almost black patina. The butt plate is secured to the stock through the use of seven small square nails. Two of the original three barrel pins still retain the barrel, the forward pin is missing and a piece of iron wire now secures the barrel where it used to be. The stock is a medium brown and shows damage and repairs from a couple hundred years of hard use. About 12 1/2" of the stock on the right side from the muzzle back are missing. The stock is broken at the wrist and uses another piece of iron wire to hold it together. The ramrod is no longer with the gun. This is a good representative of an untouched, late 1700's trade gun made by Wheeler for export to America and Canada for the fur trade, and could have been used by trappers, mountain men or Native Americans. It has seen some hard use, has some cracks and breaks, but still survives in one piece.
Shipping Weight:
6 lbs
Item # AA3413
(Sold)
We are currently not accepting on-line orders. If you see something you would like give us a call.