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Northwest Indian Flintlock Barnett Trade Musket

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Northwest Indian Flintlock Barnett Trade Musket
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You are bidding on a Northwest Native American Indian Flintlock Barnett Trade Musket. This trade musket by popular maker “Barnett” from the very early 1800s fur trapping era. Very few of these arms that were actually traded by members of the early fur trapping companies to the Indians have survived. Those that are in collections and museums today were probably left over weapons that were made too late for the beaver pelt trade. Those few examples that do exist show incredibly hard use and abuse by their original Native American owners. Most Northwest Trade Guns were either flintlock or percussion and were made by several makers in England expressly for the purpose of trading to the Indians of the West. For more than three hundred years the name Barnett was prominent among gun makers in England. The North West Company, The Makinaw Company, The American Fur Company and the U.S. Indian Trade Office all distributed Barnett Trade Guns in the early nineteenth century. The Barnett Company produced more Northwest Indian trade guns than any other company. This particular example which is clearly marked “BARNETT” on the lock plate is in very hard used relic condition. All metal parts show an uncleaned very dark patina. The stock appears heavily worn and dry. The metal butt plate has been removed, probably to be used as a hide scraper which was very common on Indian used long guns, and there are two separate sinew sewn rawhide wrappings around the barrel and stock which show much age and staining. The approx. 35” smooth bore barrel still retains the low original front sight blade and is correctly octagon shaped for the first 10” before going round for the balance of its length. Several brass parts including the trigger guard appear to be frontier replacements fitted during the time of use and are made from hammered brass. All brass parts show a heavy dark uncleaned and unpolished patina. This outstanding piece has never been cleaned or preserved in any way. It has been in a Montana collection for many years and even the protected areas still retain years of dust and dry rust. Most of these authentic Northwest Trade Guns were simply worn out through use and obsolescence and discarded decades ago. A surviving relic, like this one, is an extremely rare item that is seldom offered for sale. NO FFL transfer or NICS background check required.