This Spanish "Escopeta" and it's place in Colonial America is often overlooked by students of early American history; and when it is mentioned, it's almost always in the context of the Southwestern border. Certainly these sturdy miquelets were prevelant in Texas and Mexico, but what most don't realize is that the by the late 18th Century, these unusual muskets had become the among the mostly widely distributed firearm in North America, with examples having been found from East to West in states ranging from California to Florida, and North to South from Michigan to Louisiana.
When the Spanish colonized the Southwest, they brought with them the "Escopeta", or "Smoothbore". These distinctive military muskets featured distinctive "Catalan" style stocks with simple brass furniture and a small, yet robust, miquelet lock. These military weapons were used to great effect during the colonization of Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, and even Florida. They were were used for trade items and defense weapons when interacting with local Indian tribes. As a result of these interactions, Spanish weapons were quickly distributed throughout North America via traditional native trade networks that ran up and down the Mississippi River. Tribal trading has accounted for the archeological discoveries of a Spanish arms and armor in both Colorado and Detriot. Even after Spain had updated her armaments to include the modern flintlock musket in the mid 18th Century, the Escopeta continued to be distributed throughout the colonies; as Spain, who was anxious to settle the score with England after their losses during the Seven Years War, sent thousands of obsolete arms to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
With Independence won, the Escopeta remained common place in North America; particularly on the American frontier. Both Zebulon Pike and Lewis and Clarke reported Native warriors armed with escopetas during their expeditions. Andrew Jackson discovered a small stand of Spanish weapons in a warehouse of arms in Louisiana and put them to use during the Battle of New Orleans. Accounts of Natives carrying 17th and 18th Century Escopetas in Texas and California can be found as late as the 1890's. In short, the beauty of the Spanish Escopeta to the modern day reenactor or living history enthusiast is its versatility. It can be used for nearly any impression; from 17th Century Colonist, all the way up to late 19th Century Comanche. These once commonplace but now forgotten weapons are the perfect compliment for anyone who wants a truly unique arm that adds that extra element of historical authenticity to use impression.
This particular Escopeta was built by renowned master gunsmith Steve Krolick. It is loosely copied from a 19th Century painting by the Hudson Bay Company that featured a Manitobe Indian carrying his Escopeta across a frozen Lake Superior.
The stock is walnut and was cut from a blank by Steve. Steve hand-shaped the Catalan-style butt stock and hand-inletted each component with expert precision.
The lock is an original Spanish Miquelet in excellent condition. It functions perfectly and throws a beautiful shower of sparks with every pull of the trigger.
The smoothbore 44" .62 caliber barrel was made by Colerain barrels and features an attractive and historically accurate octagon-to-round profile with turned wedding band. The muzzle features a simple brass font sight.
All the furniture was also hand-made by Steve and lightly patined, like the rest of the piece, to give the gun a warm look.
