New Knight 45
#23
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 1,408
You can't read the plaque through the glass but this is a rifle that has been in my family AT LEAST since the 1860s. Probably earlier. From what I have learned over the years from people who know about such things, the gun as it sits today was probably put together in the 1820s-1840s. The barrel is probably a converted flintlock originally manufactured in the 1700s. My great-great-great grandfather carried this rifle in a little-known post-Civil War uprising called the Fienian Raids. A group of poorly coordinated Irish-American Civil War veterans decided to take control of Ontario and force the British to divert troops there from Ireland so that the Irish could force the rest of the Brits off the island. My g-g-g grandfather was most likely called up in the militia the first year of the Raids, when the Canadians basically carried whatever gun they had handy. A second Raid followed the next year, but by then the Canadians had re-armed with repeating weaponry and the US gov't decided they could not incite the Canadians (and British) by letting an invasion launch and be supplied across the US border so they cut the supply lines and the Raids ended.
Here are a few more pics. Not that at some point long ago the stock was cracked off and (sort of) repaired with metal strips. The lock is pretty corroded, for all I know the thing is still charged but I decided that, given its condition, I would leave the cork in and preserve as-is as trying to remove the cork and check for a load could severely damage the gun.
I built the case myself a couple Christmases ago so it can hang in house.
Belt from g-g-g grandfather's Canadian uniform:
Notice the detail on this boar's head, complete with glass eye:
#25
spaniel
Heck no I am a history teacher I love the information and the history of that great gun...
U know when we (they were writing the constitution) there were provision for Canada to become part of the Union... We really believed that Cananda really wanted to part ways with England just as we had. We were pretty bold with our thoughts in those days also.
Thanks for the information...
PS - sorry for the highjack
U know when we (they were writing the constitution) there were provision for Canada to become part of the Union... We really believed that Cananda really wanted to part ways with England just as we had. We were pretty bold with our thoughts in those days also.
Thanks for the information...
#28
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,918
My first and last new ML for 2010...
I do fear our old buddy Sabotloader is stretching credibility a bit. Or maybe he's getting so old that he no longer remembers just how long a year actually is.
Last edited by Semisane; 01-24-2010 at 11:09 AM.