British Board of Ordnance Marked Percussion Altered Trade Gun by Galton

.60 caliber. 36.75" pinned three-stage octagon to round barrel with baluster turned rings at transitions. SN: NSN. Heavily oxidized brown barrel, brass and iron furniture, walnut stock. Three screw percussion altered flint lock marked with the "{Fox in a Circle}" trademark under the bolster, along with a Board of Ordnance "{CROWN-Broad Arrow}" acceptance mark and "GALTON" at the tail in a vertical arc. Top flat of barrel marked "LONDON" with British Board of Ordnance proofs on the left angled flat. Reverse butt branded upside down in two lines "C/I {Broad Arrow} D" most likely indicating "Canadian Indian Department". Typical Northwest gun features include the serpent side plate, oversized iron triggerguard, nailed brass buttplate, and raised carved moldings around the tang and at the tail of the lock and counterpane. Wrist wrapped with copper wire to effect an old repair. Standard ribbed brass ramrod thimbles with metal tipped wood ramrod that appears to be period. Two generations of Galtons worked as gunmakers in Birmingham, initially as Farmer & Galton with Samuel Sr making his son Samuel Jr a partner in the firm in 1774 after the death of James Farmer. The firm continued under the name Galton and then Galton & Son though the early 19th century. Their primary products were inexpensive trade guns for the African slave trade and the East India Company but they were also one of the 16 contractors to produce guns for the Board of Ordnance to distribute to the Native allies of the British during the War of 1812. Between 1813 and 1816 Galton delivered 2,557 such guns for the use of North American Natives and this is one of those scarce guns.

The Collection of Larry Ness