The Pig War long guns? - The Firearms Forum

millrat · 07-30-2012, 12:51 AM

What long guns would the U.S. and Britsh troops have carried when they met here in the north west, was one better armed then the other?

WHSmithIV · 08-17-2012, 11:57 PM

Well, first of all, long guns were less of an issue than the Navies were. The Pig War was very simply decided by naval forces. The USS Massachusetts was there and they set up a post on top of one of the hills. The British had some small picket ships and their commander decided not to escalate the situation. The long guns that forces 'may' have had would have been the Sharps carbine - however, keep in mind that at this time in history just about any long gun owned by anybody would have been being used. This is back when you still melted your own bullets. Many long guns and pistols didn't even have any manufacturers engraving on them. Since there was no 'standard' that any forces would have had, the answer to your question is simply 'No - neither side was better armed than the other'. The deciding factor was the ship the USS Massachusetts being present at the time.

07-30-2012, 12:51 AM	#1
millrat Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 30	The Pig War long guns? What long guns would the U.S. and Britsh troops have carried when they met here in the north west, was one better armed then the other? -->

08-17-2012, 11:57 PM	#2
WHSmithIV Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Moore, Idaho contributor Posts: 2,636	Re: The Pig War long guns? Well, first of all, long guns were less of an issue than the Navies were. The Pig War was very simply decided by naval forces. The USS Massachusetts was there and they set up a post on top of one of the hills. The British had some small picket ships and their commander decided not to escalate the situation. The long guns that forces 'may' have had would have been the Sharps carbine - however, keep in mind that at this time in history just about any long gun owned by anybody would have been being used. This is back when you still melted your own bullets. Many long guns and pistols didn't even have any manufacturers engraving on them. Since there was no 'standard' that any forces would have had, the answer to your question is simply 'No - neither side was better armed than the other'. The deciding factor was the ship the USS Massachusetts being present at the time.