Here is a neat gun. This is an original tack decorated Percussion Altered Northwest Chief's Grade Trade Gun by Ketland. This early weapon would date from the Fur Trade Period. The barrel is about .52 caliber in bore diameter. It is crafted with a 32 inch two stage octagonal to round barrel. The dark walnut wood is detailed with brass stock fixtures and brass tacks to grip. The walnut stock also sports a cow's hoof style butt and full length forearm. There are hairline stress cracks around lockplate and wrist, as well as to heel of buttplate. There is a moderate to heavy crack on bottom of stock extending from triggerguard. The percussion action was converted from flintlock eons ago. The lockplate still has spring and catches on both of the position but you have to push it forward to get it to release. The barrel is marked with several pre-1813 Birmingham proof marks including two crown with an intertwined GP marks surrounding a WK mark to left side of barrel. Most Ketland trade gun examples have been seen with "TK" maker's marks for Thomas Ketland, therefore "WK" could possibly be the maker's mark of William Ketland. Along the top of barrel it is marked "LONDON" followed by a seated fox within circle marking. Sources indicate that the fox within a circle marking was changed to a fox in tombstone following the Northwest-Hudson Bay Co. merger around 1821 so we know it was made before them. The lockplate has some pitting, but appears to be marked KETLAND to center. There is also an engraving of a hog with tusks within a hunting horn to tail of lock. Stock fixtures include several characteristics typically seen on Ketland Chief's guns examples including: three brass tacks to both sides of wrist, brass neoclassical vignette fixture to top of wrist, brass buttplate and sideplate, and brass ramrod guides. The buttplate and sideplate are engraved with simple neoclassical motifs and simple scroll. In the channel under the barrel it has part of an old wooded ramrod. Known as an early English manufacturer and merchant of locks for North American trade guns, the Ketland company was established in Birmingham and is believed to have been active from the last decade of the 18th century up through the 1820's. Seeing opportunity in the newly formed American frontier, Thomas Ketland opened an office in Philadelphia around 1789. The company was run by Thomas Ketland Sr., his brother William (little known information), and his sons John and Thomas Jr. It is believed that Thomas Sr. returned to England after only a few years, but Thomas Jr. continued to operate in Philadelphia until about 1815 when he returned to England following Thomas Sr.'s death. Information was gathered from Vol. 1 of Great Gunmakers for the Early West by James D. Gordon. This is a cool gun with a ton of character!

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