3538

RARE BRITISH BOARD OF ORDNANCE CHIEF'S GUN BY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
RARE BRITISH BOARD OF ORDNANCE CHIEF'S GUN BY
ROBERT WHEELER. Pictured on pages 76-77 of The Fur Trade by Milton Von Damn. Cal. 62. 55" overall, 39.5" octagonal to round barrel. "A different government agency, The BOARD OF TRADE, according to James Hanson, "purchased many, if not most, of the arms furnished to Indians by the British Government in the 18th and 19th centuries." The records are incomplete but Dr. Hanson provides insight into the variety and quality levels of guns furnished during the last half of the 18th century in the Museum of the Fur Trade's Encyclopedia of Firearms. French and Indian and American Revolutionary related war orders came through and directly from Sir William Johnson, the British Indian Agent. Most, if not all, of the Indian guns were manufactured by the Wilson family. It is interesting to note that in 1797-98 many more chief's guns, 500, were issued than Indian common fusils, 150. treaty guns were also supplied in 1809 in anticipation of war with the U.S.: common fusils (500), Chief's guns (800), rifles (400), and pistols (300).
The British Board of Trade had a few high quality fusils made as gifts to important Indian chiefs. This is one of a few survivors. Besides Robert Wheeler, Ketland and Whately also made these pre war of 1812 Indian Chief's guns. They are classified as Type V or D.
The name Wheeler was associated with British gun making as early as 1573. Robert Wheeler, the maker of this gun, made guns from 1799-1813 and this gun was made around 1797. The firm was renamed Robert Wheeler & Son in 1813 and was in business until 1843. Robert Wheeler made Indian Trade Guns for the fur trade and the British Government, but not the Hudson's Bay Company.
The flintlock has a roller bearing and had been beautifully reconverted. It is marked at the tail with the boars head and trumpet and has WHEELER in front of the cock in script. Barrel marks on the top flat contain a very faint fox in a circle and only the N from London. In contrast, the pre 1813 London gun maker's proof marks and RW are deep and clear on the barrel flat above the two screw sideplate. There is a "spider" front sight less than a half inch from the muzzle. The barrel is 3 inches longer than the Board of Ordnance War of 1812 type E. The brass furniture includes a flat side plate engraved with a bow, arrow and shield design, a trigger guard with the same design on the small bow, and a 2 screw buttplate with the boars head/trumpet motif. There is a German silver escutcheon on the wrist of the stock depicting an Indian head." CONDITION: very good as restored and reconverted. PROVANANCE: from the life long collection of Milton Von Damm. (01-24774/JS). ANTIQUE. $3,000-5,000.