Shortened and Modified Parker, Field & Co. Flintlock Trade Gun
.58 caliber. 18" three-stage octagon to round barrel with baluster turned rings at the transitions, shortened from full length with added barrel band. SN: NSN. Bright finish, brass and iron furniture, walnut stock. Round-tailed lock remains in original flint with a bridled and fenced, rounded iron pan and rounded, reinforced cock. Lock marked in a three-line arc at the tail "PARKER/FIELD & Co/1869" and with the "{Tombstone Fox/EB}" Hudson's Bay Company trademark under the pan. Barrel with weak London commercial proof marks on the breech and another HBC mark on the top flat. The barrel was shortened with a narrow barrel band added during the period of use and the buttstock was replaced with a military musket butt during the period of use as well. Mr. Ness notes that guns shortened in this manner for use in "Buffalo Running" and suggests the butt was broken and replaced at some point. It is equally possible that the gun was shorted and the butt remove for concealed use as a "blanket gun" and a butt was later reattached for more conventional use. The added musket butt appears to be from a European gun and is neatly attached with a an old riveted brass band at the junction. An interesting and attractive Native-modified Northwest Trade Gun with a really great "been there, done that" look. Parker, Field & Sons started to produce arms for the Hudson's Bay Company under contract in 1837 and continued to do so until 1883. In 1875, the HBC contracts show the name changed to Parker, Field & Co, although arms bering that marking were produced by the late 1860s.
Provenance:The Collection of Larry Ness
Condition:
About good as modified. Metal with a dull pewter patina and scattered surface oxidation, with some age standing and scattered pitting. Markings mostly legible, lock functional, bore pitted. Stock shortened and showing moderate wear with bumps, dings, bruises and some minor cracking.
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