Hudson's Bay Fuke
J.E. Barnett & Sons · Rifle · Discontinued · 1770
Also known as: North West Gun, Northwest Trade Gun, Mackinaw Gun, Indian Trade Gun, Fusil, Fusee
Overview
The Hudson's Bay Fuke is a lightweight flintlock smoothbore trade musket supplied by British gunmakers such as J.E. Barnett & Sons to the Hudson's Bay Company for barter with First Nations and Native American peoples during the North American fur trade. Chambered around a .60 caliber (24 gauge) lead round ball or shot load, it was built with a slim part-octagon, part-round barrel, a distinctive brass serpent-form sideplate, and an oversized trigger guard sized to be worked while wearing winter mittens. Known variously as the North West gun, Mackinaw gun, or fusil, it became the standard trade firearm across Canada and the northern United States from the late 18th into the late 19th century.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2950 g (104.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1156 mm (45.51") |
| Barrel Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Flintlock |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 350 m/s (1148 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1100 J (811 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 55 m (60 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Walnut |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Browned |
Calibers
- .60 Caliber Rifle Ball · primary — also known as 0.60 in, lead round ball, ~15mm bore, 24 gauge
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Features: Smoothbore Barrel, Part Octagon Part Round Barrel, Oversized Trigger Guard, Brass Serpent Sideplate, Brass Tacked Stock
Service history
Operators
- Hudson's Bay Company · adopted 1770 · as North West gun
- North West Company
- First Nations and Native American peoples
Production
Production years: c. 1770-1900
Hundreds of thousands were traded across North America by the Hudson's Bay Company, North West Company, and American fur companies over more than a century.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Discontinued: 1900
Notes
Barrel lengths ranged widely from roughly 30 to 48 inches; the 30-inch barrel became the popular standard by the late 1820s, giving an overall length near 45.5 inches. Later production examples were made with, or converted to, percussion locks. The brass serpent (dragon) sideplate is the hallmark identifier of a genuine North West trade gun.
Background
The oversized trigger guard was a practical adaptation for the fur country, letting a trapper fire while wearing heavy gloves or mittens in sub-zero cold. The cast brass serpent sideplate became so associated with quality that Native buyers reportedly judged a gun's worth by it, and imitation dragons appeared on trade guns for generations.