Punt guns
Have you ever heard of a punt gun?
A punt gun is a type of extremely large shotgun used in the 19th and 20th centuries for shooting large numbers of waterfowl for commercial harvesting operations. Punt guns were usually custom-designed and so varied widely, but could have bore diameters exceeding 2 inches and fire over a pound (.5 kilos) of shot at a time.
(From Wikipedia.org)
2 inches is over 50mm!
20mm is considered a cannon in the military! Unfortunately not many punt guns exist these days and most are not capable of being fired.
Here are some photos of punt guns and two videos showing one in operation.
The second picture down is of a gun made for the fourth Tremors film-
http://www.thelegendbegins.com/weapons_of_tremors4.html
“There are few working punt guns in existence so the one used in Tremors 4 was custom built for the show. It had a two inch bore which according to the Gun Barrel Proof Act of 1868 is calcified as an, “A Gauge”, the largest size on record. Prop master Bill Davis had our gun designed around a real H&R 12 gage shotgun. The entire trigger assembly of the punt gun dropped down to allow the loading of the internal shotgun with triple load 12 gauge black powder blanks. This design made the gun much simpler and safer to use on the set than a real muzzle loader. The total weight of the gun is 94 pounds and the overall length is 8 feet 4 inches. For more authenticity, WD-40 was sprayed into the barrel before firing to create extra smoke.”
So thats an A Guage! Thanks for the info.
I am looking at a shotgun that has a 7/8 inch bore (an 8 ga ??) for sale that has no markings, no proof stamps, no identification…..
She weighs 18 pounds. Fires on a nipple with cap by hammer.
The barrel varies from octagonal to round and is 40 inches long.
The stock is fair. The barrel is mildly pitted.
There are no visable cracks or damages. All appears to be original.
If safe (if………….. safe !!) what load might one shoot?
Is this a punt gun or a bank gun?
I have seen such guns in Scotland that date back to about the same period. They were referred to as the village gun………… ducks taken for the community on rivers.
What might this be worth………… a range is good.
Again, there are no markings, engraving, nada……….
Thanks,
Frank
Hi Frank, I have absolutly no idea what it is worth. I would be interested in some photos, if you have them. My email is on the “Contact” page.
I have wanted a Punt gun since I first read about them but didn’t think they would ever be in my price range. I actually saw one on display at a Pro Bass Shop about 15 years ago. It was mounted on a boat like the one pictured here.
Would it be leagle to build one of these? They also remind me of the old Wall Guns that were found in the middle east.
Arthur, its really just a muzzleloading cannon so I imagine it would be legal to build if your state allows you to build blackpowder muzzleloading cannons.