Finally worth getting at 5am

dooly · 1st June 2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Dooly and Ricky, you're very welcome, and it was truly my pleasure to learn from this example and share what I found. That really is was this forum is all about and I really appreciate you guys' input.

The arrowheads topic is most interesting but there are sincere concerns about compromising archaeological sites and potentially important finds without proper protocol. We are interesting in weaponry from all times and thier history as long as these perameters are observed.

Again, its really great what you guys are doing with these old guns! and please keep us posted with progress.

All the very best,
Jim

Hi Jim .. just a note on the arrow heads and tools i find .. hear in Northumberland .. all my finds are handed over to the finds leasion officer at the Hancock museum in Newcastle who records the site of the find (my metal ones as well) on a national data base .. so far i have found 9 unrecorded sites of neolithic activity and 6 Roman sites .. there is very little information from this high up in Northumberland and Rob is very happy when he sees stuff from up hear .. .. I have some videos on youtube if anyone is interested under doolybottleking .. why not have a lookin some time ..
PS all my digging and detecting is with the landowners permission !!!

Now back to the gun .. well my timber man did not let me down .. I have attached a couple of pictures of the bit (1 meter) of Cameroon Sapele i have chosen for the gun .. (the timber is FAS registered). I think this is as close as i can get to a appropriate re stocking timber for this gun ..

link to the tree
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapele

Now the next hard bit .. pick the bit to cut out the new stock out .. !!!

rickystl · 1st June 2011, 07:54 PM

Question is what would they have used in the country the gun was used, Lead / Leather / felt ??

Lead for the jaws was usually issued to European and American military troops. But not exclusively. I would think that leather and fabric (maybe thick felt) would be more plentiful in that part of the World. But I'm only guessing. One of the questions that comes up with Middle Eastern flintlock type guns is why the mainsprings are so strong compared to their European counterparts. Their are a couple therories. But the one that makes most sense to me is that the "quality" of flint in that Region was simply not as good as English black or French amber flint.

Jim McDougall · 2nd June 2011, 12:00 AM

Hi Dooly,
Thank you for the notes on your activities in locating these neolithic finds, and especially for handling these matters so responsibly. My mention was of course intended as a reminder to general readership that archaeological sites are so fragile in the sense of preserving data, that following proper protocol, just as you have illustrated is truly a must, and deeply appreciated. Thank you so much.
That having been said, it would truly be interesting to see these. There is so much history up there, and I am always fascinated when news items herald new finds and information.

Great news on the timber!!! please keep us posted, and this pistol is gonna look great!!

All the best,
Jim

1st June 2011, 07:54 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Question is what would they have used in the country the gun was used, Lead / Leather / felt ?? Lead for the jaws was usually issued to European and American military troops. But not exclusively. I would think that leather and fabric (maybe thick felt) would be more plentiful in that part of the World. But I'm only guessing. One of the questions that comes up with Middle Eastern flintlock type guns is why the mainsprings are so strong compared to their European counterparts. Their are a couple therories. But the one that makes most sense to me is that the "quality" of flint in that Region was simply not as good as English black or French amber flint.

2nd June 2011, 12:00 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Dooly, Thank you for the notes on your activities in locating these neolithic finds, and especially for handling these matters so responsibly. My mention was of course intended as a reminder to general readership that archaeological sites are so fragile in the sense of preserving data, that following proper protocol, just as you have illustrated is truly a must, and deeply appreciated. Thank you so much. That having been said, it would truly be interesting to see these. There is so much history up there, and I am always fascinated when news items herald new finds and information. Great news on the timber!!! please keep us posted, and this pistol is gonna look great!! All the best, Jim