Thank you
A friend ID it
and I read about it since,
it justifies the brittle but well preserved nature of guard which is like a Tombac material
"I believe the trigger guard is from a British trade gun of the late 1700s ."
Both the English and French governments sent thousands of these less expensive
trade guns to the colonies in North America and the Caribbean to arm the colonists.
These guns were also used to trade with the native peoples for furs and to gain military and
trade alliances with them.
Generally speaking, trade guns were of a lower quality and finish than the military musket
and many were of questionable safety, (although our copies are fully functional and safe).
Trade guns were usually of a smaller bore and lighter than the regulation musket of
the period, however large bore fowlers were not uncommon.
Both these guns predate the F & I war, so they would both be acceptable for F&I as well
as Rev. War and beyond
