In the last few years I have made it a point to get rid of anything that I do not need or use.
I am not a materialistic or money driven person either. I am comfortable in life, and my personal possesions consist of my tools, bikes, workout equipment, and a few firearms for home defense.
The rest of my house was minimalistic, as I was a divorced single guy for a few years, and really only bought a couch, kitchen table, tv, and a few other 1st world 'necessities' because I have a daughter.
Fast forward to the present, and I am happily married...and the wife has her share of farkles about...you can tell a woman lives here too, lol, I don't have to explain that to most of you.
Anyway, I ramble all of this to hopefully answer any questions as to why I want to sell or trade this antique gun.
My daughter or stepson have no intrest, although he thinks it's cool.
The wife likes it, but doesn't care either way.
If I'm gone tomorrow, it'll hang on the wall, and eventually end up going to who knows where.
So...it's just stuff at this point.
This is a fowling rifle or shotgun(just depending on what load you put in it), and it is from the 1730's
It has a .700" bore, and is rare in that it is over 6' long, much longer than most of it's kind.
It was originally a flintlock, but converted to percussion cap at whatever point that technology became available.
It has alot of fancy engraving on it, along with the maker's marks.
Apparently my umpteenth grandfather, a guy named Soloman Hill was a wealthy dude.
There were literally dozens of these things in my great grand mother's house in Connetucut, but when she passed in the early 80's, her house was broken into, and robbed of most everything, even before local family could come to get anything.
There were a few surviving relics, this being one of them, which my parents didn't mind me taking, and do not care if it's sold, traded whatever, as they have the same outlook on stuff as I do.
I like history too, but again, it's just stuff that maybe someone else could enjoy.
I took it to the NRA museum in Fairfax, Va in 2005, and the curator clarified the above info(minus the family history), and he also said that it was in fireable condition...to which he asked would I like to shoot it? I laughed and said no way, I'm not getting killed by an ancient gun exploding in my face, lol.
The thing has amazing craftsmanship too, as it will balance on one finger, in the center of the gun.
He told me it was meant to lay on your back, pack as a shotgun, and shoot at a flock of birds, hence the name 'fowling gun', but, that you could load a steel ball, and shoot it as a rifle as well.
He valued it at $5k, and said that it could go for more, given the rarity of it's size.
Guns of the era have crept up in value since, but, at the end of the day, like anything else...it's worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I looked into selling it, but nowhere in the U.S. knows much about them outside of the New England area, and it would have to go to an auction house there.
So, after shipping, insurance, fees, taxes, comission, and general hassle, I would be getting about 30-35% of the sale price, if that, which isn't worth the hassle to me.
Firearms also come with alot of red tape to sell anywhere, but, considering this thing is almost 300 years old, it really is just an antique, regardless of being in fireable shape.
I told a few friends to spread the word that I would like to sell, or preferably trade it, but no one in this area is really interested.
So, I thought that I would post it here, as given what it is, I hope, and don't think that I'm breaking any site rules or laws.
I would really like to trade it, or sell it.
I need another bike like I need a hole in the head...but a bike would be good, lol.
Sport, sport touring, or maybe 4x4 truck, I have a good truck, but could use a spare vehicle.
Anyone interested would have to come to me in Va.
Any offers of cash or trade are welcome, worst I can say is no thanks.
More pictures upon request.
The picture on the wall is over a 4' door frame.
I am not a materialistic or money driven person either. I am comfortable in life, and my personal possesions consist of my tools, bikes, workout equipment, and a few firearms for home defense.
The rest of my house was minimalistic, as I was a divorced single guy for a few years, and really only bought a couch, kitchen table, tv, and a few other 1st world 'necessities' because I have a daughter.
Fast forward to the present, and I am happily married...and the wife has her share of farkles about...you can tell a woman lives here too, lol, I don't have to explain that to most of you.
Anyway, I ramble all of this to hopefully answer any questions as to why I want to sell or trade this antique gun.
My daughter or stepson have no intrest, although he thinks it's cool.
The wife likes it, but doesn't care either way.
If I'm gone tomorrow, it'll hang on the wall, and eventually end up going to who knows where.
So...it's just stuff at this point.
This is a fowling rifle or shotgun(just depending on what load you put in it), and it is from the 1730's
It has a .700" bore, and is rare in that it is over 6' long, much longer than most of it's kind.
It was originally a flintlock, but converted to percussion cap at whatever point that technology became available.
It has alot of fancy engraving on it, along with the maker's marks.
Apparently my umpteenth grandfather, a guy named Soloman Hill was a wealthy dude.
There were literally dozens of these things in my great grand mother's house in Connetucut, but when she passed in the early 80's, her house was broken into, and robbed of most everything, even before local family could come to get anything.
There were a few surviving relics, this being one of them, which my parents didn't mind me taking, and do not care if it's sold, traded whatever, as they have the same outlook on stuff as I do.
I like history too, but again, it's just stuff that maybe someone else could enjoy.
I took it to the NRA museum in Fairfax, Va in 2005, and the curator clarified the above info(minus the family history), and he also said that it was in fireable condition...to which he asked would I like to shoot it? I laughed and said no way, I'm not getting killed by an ancient gun exploding in my face, lol.
The thing has amazing craftsmanship too, as it will balance on one finger, in the center of the gun.
He told me it was meant to lay on your back, pack as a shotgun, and shoot at a flock of birds, hence the name 'fowling gun', but, that you could load a steel ball, and shoot it as a rifle as well.
He valued it at $5k, and said that it could go for more, given the rarity of it's size.
Guns of the era have crept up in value since, but, at the end of the day, like anything else...it's worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
I looked into selling it, but nowhere in the U.S. knows much about them outside of the New England area, and it would have to go to an auction house there.
So, after shipping, insurance, fees, taxes, comission, and general hassle, I would be getting about 30-35% of the sale price, if that, which isn't worth the hassle to me.
Firearms also come with alot of red tape to sell anywhere, but, considering this thing is almost 300 years old, it really is just an antique, regardless of being in fireable shape.
I told a few friends to spread the word that I would like to sell, or preferably trade it, but no one in this area is really interested.
So, I thought that I would post it here, as given what it is, I hope, and don't think that I'm breaking any site rules or laws.
I would really like to trade it, or sell it.
I need another bike like I need a hole in the head...but a bike would be good, lol.
Sport, sport touring, or maybe 4x4 truck, I have a good truck, but could use a spare vehicle.
Anyone interested would have to come to me in Va.
Any offers of cash or trade are welcome, worst I can say is no thanks.
More pictures upon request.
The picture on the wall is over a 4' door frame.
