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THE NORTHWEST GUN

The natives of North America were sophisticated, intelligent customers. They immediately saw the advantages of firearms over spears and bows and arrows. (It requires much less practice to use a firearm, and a gun has superior range.) By 1620 firearms were flowing to the Indians despite strong governmental efforts to prevent such trade. Guns were a universal part of the trader’s outfit by the late 17 th century. Influenced by Dutch designs brought to Britain during the reign of William III, English gunmakers in the early 18 th century began placing a fancy brass plate shaped like a sea serpent opposite the lock on shotguns, muskets, and the guns intended for the Indian trade. By 1750 a standard pattern of Indian trading gun had emerged. A light and dependable weapon for hunting and war, it featured a large iron guard, a brass serpent-shaped sideplate, and a thin, smooth-bored barrel that could be loaded with either shot or round ball. Fur traders called them Northwest guns because large numbers were then being shipped to the Great Lakes, the “Northwest” of that time. The same pattern with minor variations was manufactured for the fur trade until 1900.

Snake sideplate on Northwest gun.

The first American-made Northwest gun by Deringer, 1816.

Shawnee chief Tecumseh's Northwest gun.

Northwest gun made in England by R. Pritchett for the North West Company, 1819.

Mountain man rifle by J & S Hawken, St.Louis.

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