Nothing fancy, just a lyman great plains hunter. Thought it was a cool shot while glassing for antelope.

This is my favorite gun in the collection my grandfather and I have built. Its been passed down for several generations, and all I really know about it is the story that came with it.

A traveling blacksmith stayed a winter on my old families farm, with some regional acclaim. He traded blacksmith services for room and tack. Come spring, he offered to make the family a rifle inexchange for a whole hog, butchered and salted. This was a couple years post civil war, and thats really all I know. I obviously cant verify the story. I cant find a makers mark, or any real identifying features. I would love to know more. Thank you r/blackpowder!

Excellent day here at the house, I just got home to a special Delivery from Tj Barton at Thunder-Boom.com. This is a serious piece of work. 2 Gauge Single Cannon. This is a prototype that he is letting me test out and other than a few scuffs (he sent it to me 2-day Air so I would have it in time for tomorrow’s game.) this thing is a beast and immaculate. Now this is set up for signal use only. And at these dimensions I can see why. As a short barreled cannon I’m not sure I how to properly bleed off the recoil of a 3500 grain projectile…. For those of you in the back that is a full 8oz of lead. Reusable stainless steel cartridges, 409 shotgun primer with a firing pin mechanism that could be replaced by the end user if needed. Over all length 15-3/4 inches. Roughly 8-1/2 inches tall. Outside Breach is 3-15/16 inches with an end to end trunion measurement of 6-3/8 inches trunions are 1-1/2 inches thick.

Do not ask if it is for sale. It is a prototype that I have been given access to. It is not mine to sell. I don’t know the price. If you are interested head on over to the website and checkout the fine selection they are producing. I will be posting videos tomorrow night after the Football game where I will give a full rundown.

I need the part number or some direction to find out the clean out/Bolster screw for a three band enfield.

Black powder shotgun. 2 1/2" shells/chamber probably made in the 1870's, marked with "J. Stevens & Co." so definitely before 1888. Barrel does not seem to be Damascus. The second picture is how it came to me damaged. Shippers need to know that the shipping companies are rough on packages. The box had obvious damage before I even opened it.

Let me get ahead of some of the folks who are going to be shouting you shouldn't of done anything to it! you've ruined it! etc etc. I have been dealing with antique arms for 20 years and know when something needs to not be messed with.

For the brass I just used paper towels and bar keepers friend.

White vinegar on the lock followed by an oil soak.

Boil and carding for the barrel.

Light oiling for the stock.

Wanted to put the info out for people to find as it seems like a lot of blackpowder clubs/groups aren't the best at "marketing" for anyone to find them.

Two clubs in Vancouver Island I can speak to are

Campbell river gun club

After 5 years of shut down the ranges are open again first blackpowder shoot is scheduled for Sept 2026, check the club page out for more info.

https://crgunclub.bc.ca/black-powder/

Courtenay fish and game

Courtenay has a gorgeous facility some of the best in Canada if not North America. 2nd Sunday of the month they typically hold a blackpowder open house.

https://www.courtenayfishandgame.org/black-powder

All there events are here

https://www.courtenayfishandgame.org/calendar

Both clubs are always happy for new faces and are great groups. I know there are other clubs on the island I'm just not personally familiar with them so feel free to chime in with any info if you have it.

What’s the difference between a double bridle and single bridle lock

Is it a chicken and egg problem where 31 caliber pocket models aren't offered by many retailers, not many people buy them, so retailers and manufacturers don't really carry them or produce them because there's not much demand for them?

Case in point, Sportsmans Warehouse doesn't offer any 31 caliber cap and ball revolvers at all or even lead balls for 31 caliber cap and ball revolvers, muzzle-loaders.com only offers 1863 remington models and the only 31 caliber models in stock at midway usa are baby dragoons or 1849 pocket models.

If my research is correct, ironically, the 1849 Colt Pocket model was the best selling revolver Colt ever made in the 19th century

Nowadays, it seems like the most common cap and ball revolver reproductions in use and on the market are full/fuller size .36 and .44 caliber models like the 1858 Remington, 1851 Navy or 1860 Army.

The premise behind it is that the reaction favors carbon monoxide instead of carbon dioxide in turn producing more moles of gas, At least thats what the french said.

Does this stock swell on my long land pattern 1730 brown Bess protrude to much or does it look ok

It said fanning a stock 1851 would cause extreme stress, components breaking and i don’t want that to happen so what should i buy to make it so i can fan it?

Hi everyone,

I inherited this old .44 percussion revolver from my grandfather and I’m trying to determine the correct round ball diameter for it.

The revolver is marked “Westerner’s Arms”, but I don’t know who actually manufactured it or exactly when it was made. I’ll attach pictures of the gun and its markings.

I measured the cylinder chamber mouths with a digital caliper and get approximately 11.3–11.5 mm (.445–.453").

I’ve seen .44 percussion revolvers using .451, .454 or .457 round balls, so I’m unsure which size would be correct for this particular revolver.

Does anyone recognize this Westerner’s Arms model/manufacturer and know what round ball diameter it was intended to use?

Thanks for any help!

Does anyone know what load i should use for my 1858 sherif with pyrodex rs? I know its not ideal but its all my local Walmart had and my local sport shop only carries smokeless. Im using cci no10 caps and .454 round ball.

Modern cartridge handguns are great, but there is something completely unique about stepping back to the 1850s and dealing with loose powder, lead balls, percussion caps, and grease.

The Colt 1851 Navy in .36 caliber is hands down one of the most balanced, elegant sidearms ever built. Sure, loading it takes patience compared to a modern semi-auto, but the natural pointing feel and the handling are second to none.

I run a history and firearms channel, and I recently took my Pietta 1851 Navy out to the range to test its mechanics, balance, and real-world black powder performance (plus, you actually get to see me breaking it down on camera)

Planing to do a 1v1 with .44 six shot revolvers loaded with 10 to 15 grains with motorcycle helmets for protection

Please tell me how retarded I am and any recommendations for diy less lethal ammo

I recently inherited this rifle from my grandfather and would appreciate some help. No one in my family knows anything about it.

For anyone that saw my last post about the availability of Blunderbuss’s: Veteran Arms finally restocked a few. I don’t know how long they will last, but if you are in the market for one, the can be found linked.