Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness

.58 caliber. 25.75" three-stage pinned octagon to round barrel with baluster turned rings at the transitions. SN: NSN. Heavily oxidized metal, brass and iron furniture, walnut stock. Original flint lock with rounded and fenced bridled iron pan and rounded swan neck cock. Lock marked "BARNETT" at the center bottom with the "{FOX in a Circle}" trademark above it. This same Fox mark appears on the top flat of the barrel, along with London, with London commercial proofs on the left angled breech flat and the maker mark "*/RW" for Richard Wilson (I). Standard trade gun features including the brass serpent side plate, "two ring" barrel and oversized iron triggerguard. The gun has been shortened during the period of use with the barrel and forend cut back somewhere between 6" and 10" from the original length, the forend narrowed and tapered and secured by some sinew and the buttplate removed with the butt probably shortened an inch or so. Some old tack holes are present in the obverse butt with a couple of the tack shanks still present. A crude period repair to the forend is present between the two sets of baluster turned rings utilizing a small sheet iron plate attached with six nails. A somewhat salty and well used but very authentic example of a Native used trade gun, shortened during the period of use to be more handy for its owner and marked by two of the most prolific of the Northwest trade gun makers, Richard Wilson on the barrel and Barnett on the lock.