3543 EARLY CIRCA 1740 FRENCH MILITIA AND TRADE GUN.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Cal. .69 caliber. NSN. 71.5" overall, 56" octagonal to round barrel, pictured and described on pages 16-17, "The Fur Trade", author Milton Von Damm: "This is an early French fowler made for New France for colonists and the fur trade. Merchant inventories identify Thiolliere as a family of makers of arms involved in the Indian trade. This gun was made in St. Etienne, France, and is marked by its maker, Francois Thiolliere. A variety of arms were made at St. Etienne for New France under the direction of the French Navy. The military caliber of this specific gun may mean it was intended to be used as a militia arm. The lock has a slight banana shape and heavy use is evidenced by its refaced frizzen. The lock is engraved with a sailing ship with a bird bow sprit at the locks tail. The barrel is marked with the makers name and the stock is decorated with parallel groves along each side of the barrel. Note the graceful Roman nose curve of the comb of the stock. The furniture is all iron. The trigger guard has the flaming torch finial and chevron design which has been found on Indian guns of French allies. The triangle side plate contains some faint designs and is typical of the 1730"s. A fusil marked Thiolliere is at Fort Ticonderoga in New York has a 45 5/16 inch barrel and is also .69 caliber. Trade guns were usually .62 caliber reconversion". UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Copy of "The Fur Trade, A History of Arms and Trade Goods" by Milton von Damm. Paperwork. CONDITION: good to very good. PROVENANCE: Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm. (01-24756/JS). ANTIQUE: $3,000-4,000.