|
NORTHWEST TRADE GUN – PARKER, FIELD & Co. DATED
1862 – HUDSON’S BAY CO. ACCEPTANCE STAMPS – VERY NICE
SPECIMEN: Probably one of, if not the,
most under appreciated firearm of the North American
Frontier, the Northwest Trade Gun dates back to the
earliest years of western expansion into the interior of
the unexplored continent. Arguably the most established
and constant commodity of the fur trade, and traded to
Native Americans and European trappers alike, the
Northwest Trade Gun was manufactured for over 200 years
with only minor changes in the pattern and
specifications.
While firearm technology certainly advanced, and for so
many practical reasons the flintlock gave way to the
percussion lock, and in turn the metallic cartridge
dominated the market in the years following the Civil
War, in reality no collection of firearms accumulated
with the intent to represent American history can be
considered complete without the inclusion of the
Northwest Trade Gun.
Long after Sam Colt and Oliver Winchester had dominated
the frontier gun market; and Christian Sharps’ heavy
rifles had gone silent when last of the large buffalo
herds were gone, these simple muskets with their
distinctive serpent side plates, oversized trigger
guards, and octagon-to-round banded smooth bore barrels
continued to be stocked in the inventory of remote
trading posts. Through the
turn of the 20TH Century, they were carried
into the mountain ranges, open plains, and vast deserts
by the native people who relied on the Northwest Gun’s
dependability, simple – and importantly, easily repaired
– mechanics, and readily available ammunition. In
short, no other single firearm was carried through as
much of American history, from the primeval forests of
the east to the shores of the western coast, as were
these Northwest Trade Guns.
This very nice specimen was manufactured by the firm of
Parker, Field, & Co. of London in 1862, and is so
legibly stamped on the tail of the lock plate. In front
of the hammer, the lock plate bears the famous Hudson’s
Bay Company viewer (inspector) stamp, the “Tombstone
Fox” seated over the initial’s “EB”. The initials are
believed to be those of Edward Bond, an early viewer
employed by the HBC, and whose descendants served the
company for many decades after Edward’s death,
continuing to use their forbearer’s cartouche.
A very special feature of this Trade Gun is the
relatively rare viewer’s acceptance stamp which was
applied once the gun was fully assembled and delivered
to the HBC. This stamp is partially legible on the
right side of the butt stock – the outline of the ½”
circle that when newly struck and fully legible,
encircled a standing fox surrounded by the initials “H.
H. B. C.” for the Honorable Hudson’s Bay Company.
These acceptance stamps were characteristically lightly
struck, and with any wear or handling, they were soon
worn away. To my knowledge, only two guns exist on
which this stamp is fully legible, and it is very rare
that even the outline of the stamp survives as is
present on this Trade Gun. The presence of this stamp
is certainly an added value.
Despite obvious evidence of long and regular use on the
frontier, this Northwest Trade Gun has survived in very
good condition.
The barrel, measuring 30”
long, from all appearances retains its full length with
no sign of shortening. The original front sight is
intact and the muzzle shows no sign of cutting. All of
the inspector and gauge stamps are present and legible
on the left flat of the breech. The bore diameter is
indicated with the stamped “24” indicating the barrel
diameter is 24 gauge or approximately .579 caliber. The
muzzle measures approximately .62 which could be the
original muzzle diameter, flared a bit to allow for
starting the patched ball, or it could be enlarged as
the result of use.
The gun was originally manufactured as a flintlock, and
as was the case with so many of these guns, at some
point in the period of its use, it was updated to
percussion with the addition of a drum and nipple
screwed into the side of the barrel, and the flint
hammer and frizzen were removed and replaced with a
percussion hammer. The gun saw extensive use after this
modification, evidenced by the wear visible on the face
of the hammer and the nipple. As noted above, the maker
name, the date, and the Tombstone Fox stamps are all
fully legible on the lock plate. The lock functions
properly with a notably strong hammer cock, and a smooth
trigger pull.
The balance of the furniture is all correct for this
vintage gun, and all of it is original to the gun and
fully intact. Of special note, the classic serpent side
plate which was retained as a feature of these guns
throughout their history, is full form and retains very
good detail. The iron trigger guard with the large
finger loop, the beaded ramrod pipes, and the brass butt
plate are in equally very good condition and firmly
attached.
The stock, retaining a rich aged color, is full form and
shows very little wear in view of its age and obvious
use. There is some wear at the muzzle end which is
normal on these early guns, but the remainder of the
stock retains its original shape and form. There is a
very old repair between the lock plate and the barrel
tang where a split was repaired with a small square iron
brad - from all appearances done long ago. There are no
other splits or cracks, and the stock is generally
smooth with only minor dings from regular use. The
stock has a smooth naturally worn feel to it, with the
edges softened through years of handling. The ramrod is
a period replacement, featuring a flared brass upper end
and a twisted wire jag on the lower end. The rod is
similar to those carried in muzzle loading shotguns and
it was likely salvaged from another gun to fill the need
– a common feature on these Trade Guns which rarely
retain the original rods.
This is a very good specimen of a Northwest Trade Gun
which was traded from the Hudson’s Bay Company at a time
before the Indians had access to the metallic cartridge
guns, and certainly present during the active conflicts
of the Indian War engagements in the west immediately
following the Civil War. SOLD
|
