The Only Surviving Mayflower Gun

[arcticap]

The only gun known to have survived from the original Mayflower crossing is a .50 wheellock rifle that was carried by John Alden, the 1st to set foot ashore.
Its markings can be traced back to Italy where it was made by the Beretta family.

1. The Story of the Mayflower Gun--->>> http://www.beretta.com/en-us/mayflower-gun/

2. NRA Museum Photos-Mayflower Wheellock Carbine--->>> http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-g...he-new-world/mayflower-wheellock-carbine.aspx

3. The Mayflower Gun: The Only Surviving Firearm from the Pilgrims--->>> https://www.neatorama.com/2012/11/2...The-Only-Surviving-Firearm-from-the-Pilgrims/

 

[Arkansas Paul]

That is super cool.
I would love to see that on display.

I got to see a cool piece at the Museum of American History in DC a couple years ago. It was the Spencer that President Lincoln test fired on the White House grounds.
It doesn't come close to one that literally came over on the Mayflower though. That's incredible.

 

[arcticap]

There are 2 videos in the lower right corner of the #2 NRA Museum Photos linked page that bring more of the story about the gun to life.

 

[vagunmonkey]

Thank you for posting!

 

[Browning]

Cool story along with the rifle.

Oldest guns in my family were from the 1850's. Almost new in comparison.

 

[arcticap]

There's was a previous thread where someone asked: "So why are all the replica gun makers Italian?"

I did some research and was fascinated to learn some of the reasons why, which are still as relevant today as they were during the time of the Mayflower when the guns weren't replicas, but were originals.

If anyone cares to follow along, here's the link to my old post as well as the link to the original research paper that provided the reference:--->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...plica-gun-makers-italian.458020/#post-5702624

 

[mushka]

Neat gun and good pictures. Said it went from 50 cal to 66 due to rifling wearing. I didn't know that they rifled guns that far back. Haven't read much about guns that old.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Don't know the story behind the Mayflower gun growing from .50 to .66 caliber, but I have heard locally it was not uncommon in the muzzleloading era for rifle owners to take their bullet mold to a blacksmith or gun smith and have the mold recherried to a larger caliber as the barrel wore, then eventually have the rifling grooves recut and the raised lands reamed smooth.

 

[ThomasT]

I tried the two links at the NRA museum and neither one would play. Too bad. I really wanted to see them. Great post Arcticap.