Musket?
- Thread starter Steel Horse Rider
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Steel Horse Rider
Member
I ordered the Brown Bess kit this morning.
Ephraim Kibbey
Member
Sandy4570
I saw the Track of the Wolf Charleville too and was also sorely tempted. And like you, I wondered how it could be so much cheaper than the Pedersoli. I had never heard of the East India Company guns or any Indian made black powder firearms. I went googling and found both positive and negative posts.
What I took away regarding Indian made guns was:
1. The stocks are made of Teak not Walnut and some are two piece with the split beneath one of the barrel bands
2. The butt cap is riveted on
3. Wood to metal fit is very well done
4. The lock parts may need smoothing but are very accurate
5. Frizzens were well hardened but I did not see any information about the internal lock parts one way or the other
6. The proof markings are cosmetic only because shipping the guns with vent holes drilled and barrels proofed would be impossible under Indian law
7. The barrels are made from steel tubing and are not 4140 steel
8. Some importers offer proofing of barrels for around $100 and then provide a certificate attesting to the fact
9. Some re-enactor groups refuse to allow them to be used
10. There are multiple manufacturers in India and quality varies
11. Quality also varies from gun to gun from the same manufacturer so it was suggested that you only buy from a seller who would accept exchanges if you were mail ordering
12. It was suggested that you have a gunsmith do the vent letting and proof the gun before using it as a firearm as some importers disclaim any liability for such use and state that they are selling a wall decoration
I found both very passionate defense and attack of these online.
I have no personal experience with these guns and no bias one way or the other so I tried to only state undisputed facts that I read in my online search.
I saw the Track of the Wolf Charleville too and was also sorely tempted. And like you, I wondered how it could be so much cheaper than the Pedersoli. I had never heard of the East India Company guns or any Indian made black powder firearms. I went googling and found both positive and negative posts.
What I took away regarding Indian made guns was:
1. The stocks are made of Teak not Walnut and some are two piece with the split beneath one of the barrel bands
2. The butt cap is riveted on
3. Wood to metal fit is very well done
4. The lock parts may need smoothing but are very accurate
5. Frizzens were well hardened but I did not see any information about the internal lock parts one way or the other
6. The proof markings are cosmetic only because shipping the guns with vent holes drilled and barrels proofed would be impossible under Indian law
7. The barrels are made from steel tubing and are not 4140 steel
8. Some importers offer proofing of barrels for around $100 and then provide a certificate attesting to the fact
9. Some re-enactor groups refuse to allow them to be used
10. There are multiple manufacturers in India and quality varies
11. Quality also varies from gun to gun from the same manufacturer so it was suggested that you only buy from a seller who would accept exchanges if you were mail ordering
12. It was suggested that you have a gunsmith do the vent letting and proof the gun before using it as a firearm as some importers disclaim any liability for such use and state that they are selling a wall decoration
I found both very passionate defense and attack of these online.
I have no personal experience with these guns and no bias one way or the other so I tried to only state undisputed facts that I read in my online search.
sandy4570
Member
Look like I might have step in to a can of worms here after did some reading about this Indian musket. I figure since Track of Wolf sell them ,they might be okay. Good thing that I don't have money save up yet so still plenty of time to read about them.
EljaySL
Member
Steel Horse Rider - Very cool, let us know how you like it.
Sandy4570 - It's definitely something people feel passionately about. You'll have to decide for yourself if you're feeling lucky, and do enough reading to get a sense of if the odds are acceptable to you or not.
Sandy4570 - It's definitely something people feel passionately about. You'll have to decide for yourself if you're feeling lucky, and do enough reading to get a sense of if the odds are acceptable to you or not.
Palehorseman
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
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- 736
In the early 1970s I bought an India made double barrel 12 gauge percussion, it is still going strong after all these years.
Loyalist Dave
Member
There are some good looking, ready to fire muskets coming from importers who obtain them in India. Wood to metal fit and lock action are very good on these same muskets, and they arrive with the touch holes drilled.
The lower price is due to the fact that 1) No union labor 2) the Indian Rupee is not valued at the same exchange rate as the Euro 3) costs for materials (Italian muskets are made with European walnut for example) 4) Pedersoli may be price gouging.
I have two from India. Both are excellent. I also have several Pedersoli guns, and two Bess from Japan. Currently, I won't buy a brand new Pedersoli Bess, for at that price, I can buy two of the India muskets, which are more authentic in appearance, AND...if I was worried of their safety, I'd simply have the Colerain First Model Barrel fitted, and still save about $300 over the suggested retail price. Now I might pay about $100 more than the Pedersoli Bess on sale or as a kit.... but it's still the wrong musket for most of the folks doing Rev War living history, and absolutely the wrong musket for F&I.
I have a friend in Germany, who sent his India musket to the proofing house there as required by law. It passed (and the standards are HIGHER than at the Italian proof house), AND he saved more money than I would as he has an in-country proofing house. Alas we have no such place here in America.
LD
The lower price is due to the fact that 1) No union labor 2) the Indian Rupee is not valued at the same exchange rate as the Euro 3) costs for materials (Italian muskets are made with European walnut for example) 4) Pedersoli may be price gouging.
I have two from India. Both are excellent. I also have several Pedersoli guns, and two Bess from Japan. Currently, I won't buy a brand new Pedersoli Bess, for at that price, I can buy two of the India muskets, which are more authentic in appearance, AND...if I was worried of their safety, I'd simply have the Colerain First Model Barrel fitted, and still save about $300 over the suggested retail price. Now I might pay about $100 more than the Pedersoli Bess on sale or as a kit.... but it's still the wrong musket for most of the folks doing Rev War living history, and absolutely the wrong musket for F&I.
I have a friend in Germany, who sent his India musket to the proofing house there as required by law. It passed (and the standards are HIGHER than at the Italian proof house), AND he saved more money than I would as he has an in-country proofing house. Alas we have no such place here in America.
LD
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