Musket piece

[stevef]

Some finds from awhile back I believe the dragon piece is from old musket.

 

[Nancy-IL]

Interesting piece. It's quite ornate. Thanks for sharing and for the picture, HH, Nancy

 

[Curt_in_W.Mass]

Very ornate.and im sure a lot of work even making that item back then..Curt

 

[silvernail]

The dragon is probably from an Indian trade gun. Try http://www.furtrade.org/3collct/3collct1.html and/or google up "Northwest guns."

 

[coloradocav]

SWEET serpent sideplate!! I about passed out last year when I found one, I never thought I would get one of those, even though mine is broken, these are still a rare find. Yours is in awesome shape,congratulations!

 

[coloradocav]

n/t

 

[Old Katz]

Extraordinary!
I'll definitely keep my eyes open!
Katz

 

[MeMatt]

n/t

 

[Gary-Iowa]

Thats pretty interesting !!

 

[stevef]

Colaradacav, Thanks for posting picture of rifle with sideplate, is that your gun, or do you know the year of manufactor, sounds like they used these serpent sideplates on guns for a long time, do you know of any way of dating them, one picture is saw on internet had only 2 screws for mounting. I was stoked to find it, living in alaska we just dont have as much of that kinda stuff as some places. Silvernail thanks for posting link on indian trade guns, looking forward to returning to that site with new detector.
Thanks

 

[coloradocav]

northwest smoothbore trade guns were made from the latter part of the 1700's through the 1860's or so. pretty interesting finding one in Alaska, but things like that got around. The gun photo is from a website, I really don't know how to age the sideplates. The sideplate I found was definately from the late 1700's "Way old for Colorado" by the other artifacts found around it. In the right corner of the photo of my sideplate is a religious medallion found next to the sideplate, it is French catholic I had it checked out by an expert and he dated it late 1700's also musketballs and 1 blue trade bead. In the mid to late 1700's There were French trappers in the area where I found it so I just put it all together. What other items did you find near yours? you ever find any relics from the trappers, gold rush or any of that early russian stuff? I was in Alaska about 11 years ago fishing, what an awesome state you live in, I hope someday to come up again. Good Hunting!

 

[stevef]

Its interesting you finding a religous item with your sideplate, there was also one found by my hunting partner near my sideplate, a copper necklace piece with jesus on the cross with russian writting (not sure what it said) and a skull and crossbones was at jesus's feet, it was an awesome piece, I quess the russians used the skull and crossbones on some of their religious items, not sure when they stopped? have found some musketballs also, but no trade beads yet but hope to find some, also a few russian items that I believe was used as trade with local natives. Have found some miners stuff, am planning on working on that more this summer.

 

[coloradocav]

What are the chances of us finding the same items like that in totally different states! Maybe we should play the powerball! how about a picture of the medallion, I'd like to see that, sounds pretty cool.

 

[stevef]

The necklace piece, basically a small crusifix was my partners find and he has left the state, I will see if he can send me a pic. Im hoping to find some more good items there. were you up here sport or commercial fishing, the ground is finally thawing out so the hunt can begin!!!!

 

[coloradocav]

I was up there flyfishing, hit the Kenai and Russian rivers for silvers, stayed in a rented minivan the whole week, what I really liked was fishing in daylight untill almost midnight, I squeezed in two weeks worth of fishing in one week! Heck I had to almost be clubbed and dragged off the river by my partners just to go eat. You are lucky!!