Antique ZULU plug. conversion
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Here is a link:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/8076572610 -
thanks Sam, somehow I drew a blank on how??? Friggen losing it- to much possum stew. 0 -
My dad used to sell those for $7 
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Originally a French sphere of influence .577-450 martini Henry???
Conversion was performed in Belgium - in liege on rue 22 within line of sight view of the town square monument to firearms manufacturers and gunsmiths and arsenals / ammo production facilities (see the town square tower proof mark and the Belgian L proofs and typical witness marks...
12 gauge 2 1/2" black powder or BP equiv high brass and paper hulls
Some ended up being converted to 8mm lebel ball D 1893 variant - than converted again into a fouling piece or trade / constabulary / gendarme / militia platforms
It may be a parts piece or a commercial conversion - some were converted from muzzle loader to breech loaders (think trapdoor springfields)
The shot shell or .577 conversions were both short and stubby length and profile
The French rolling blocks in .43 French would have used a much longer cartridge
The stock at the wrist is ready to grenade - not uncommon to see them wire wrapped or iron strip reinforcement at some point as it was a common source of failure
Guns that saw service on the dark continent vary greatly in condition and quality of maintenance or armory upkeep
The Arab / Islamic states kept their arms in often impeccable condition - often embellished or decorated / gilded
The Zulu nation also kept their weapons in great condition - in this case probably a Belgian clone trade name not an actual Zulu nation piece
Often warm - hot - dry - arid condition leads to dry rot or wood shrinkage or punky furniture
Some were stored in semi sub surface casserines or engineered underground resivoirs and those will show creeping death persistent corrosion
Guns found in coastal salt water littoral regions often just rusted away into dust
The breech trapdoor mechanism / springs and hardware have been replaced or upgraded with well made copper and bronzed / brass alloy parts
Nice display piece and good demonstrative transitional / patent infringement teaching tool
Such pieces fascinate me as you can clearly see the rapid development and speedy obsolescence in the 1886 - 1912 golden age of firearms design
Mike0 -
June 1892 production / conversion date revealed upon closer inspection
So after the introduction of the M1886 level rifle but prior to the M1886/93 final configuration
Slightly before the introduction and acceptance of the Ball D FMJ improved powder cartridge
Mike0 -
Remove of sling swivel appointments and bayonet lug - simple bead front fowling piece sight - no cleaning rod or ramrod acceptance points - sanitizing of markings from butt stock and removal of stock disk - plugging of holes and negative spaces in furniture - offset side mount hooded cap hammer...
Interesting and intriguing as forensic visual examination reveals additional details
Mike0 -
Wow! Thanks Mike -! Whatever it is it to me would be and has been great decor. Running out of spaces -( 0 -
Spider7115 wrote:My dad used to sell those for $7
Yeap!!!
I remember those flooding the US market back in the early 60's.
I "looked" at one in a gun shop for $11.00. Thought it was cool!!
Same price as my age.0 -
babun wrote:Spider7115 wrote:My dad used to sell those for $7
Yeap!!!
I remember those flooding the US market back in the early 60's.
I "looked" at one in a gun shop for $11.00. Thought it was cool!!
Same price as my age.
Yea, and I bought gas at 29 cents a gallon,, just saying. things change.0 -
Before my time but bannermans had a private island with a castle on it in new York State (not new York City)
I do remember seeing the ads in men's magazines as a kid - selling exotic guns by the pound
They literally had a freight scale and a barrel scale and and a giant oversized supermarket style fruit scale...
.epic ads that contained what seemed to me as a kid to contain iconic rare storied firearms
Mike0
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