- Messages
- 1,678
- Reactions
- 3,262
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Not sure what NFG means...butOk, that's kind of what I expected still going to do it but this means I can do it in my usual NFG style.
Andy's right proud o them there muskets n stuff!Lots of rifles in that caliber range ( .30 to .40 caliber )....not so with muskets.
If pressed for a guess on the average rifle caliber of the time period of the 1760's- 1860's I'd guess it was in the .47 -.55 caliber range...depending on time period , and intended use.
That said...there are plenty of examples of rifles in the .32 to .45 caliber range....
( Such calibers are generally found later...in the 1800 to 1860's )
The barrel length is also unusual , for a musket....not unheard of , just not as common.
Muskets were generally in the .60 to .80 caliber range and smoothbore ....with barrels in the 40 to 48 inch range....depending on time period and unit usage.
One can of course , can find cut down guns...some cut down for military use...many however were cut down after their service life was over.
There were muskets with barrels in the 30 to 38 inch range made for specialized units...but again not issued to the regular Infantry units....Units like Dragoons , Rangers , Some Light Infantry and Highland units as well as Artillery or for Naval use can be found with shorter barrels and at times a lighter caliber ( .60- .69 caliber ) .
Now some Officer's Fusils were both lighter in caliber ( .60 -.69 ) and had shorter barrels in the 36 to 42 inch range....again depending on time period and usage....
Rifled Muskets are a later development and can be found with barrels in the 30 to 42 inch range....but these are generally large caliber .54 caliber on up....
Also some trade muskets and or Trade guns were made in the late flint and percussion period with a 30 inch barrel...but these were made for the fur trade and not a military musket.
These were also in the .58-.70 caliber range...mostly found in 28 gauge to 20 gauge and all were smoothbore.
Some trade rifles had the barrels in the 30 odd inch range...these are mostly found in percussion and are late as in the 1860's to 1870's time period and in the .40 - .58 caliber range
Rifles can vary wildly depending on maker , intended market and time period.
Most rifle barrels are in the 36-48 inch range....again depending on time period and market.
Some early Jager rifles can be found with 28 to 36 inch barrels...but these are found in large calibers.
large as in .60 caliber on up....
To sum up :
As a general rule a .375 caliber gun or one in the caliber range of say .30 to.40 caliber , will be a stereotypical "Kentucky Squirrel Rifle" , either in flint or percussion or a midwest style rifle with a half stock and in percussion used for small game, both with barrels in the 36 to 42 inch range...Not a musket.
( Sorry for the long lecture above... )
Below are some shots of my antique guns....notice that the barrels are in 36 inch plus range....
Andy
View attachment 630855
View attachment 630856
View attachment 630857
View attachment 630858
View attachment 630859