This "Chief's grade" trade gun closely matches the standard description of the "Chief's grade" smoothbore guns presented to various Native Americans by British agents in the early 19th century, especially just before and during the War of 1812. See page 762 of "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values, 9th Edition" for a very similar example. These weapons are really a separate entity from other trade guns in that they were used diplomatically rather than for commerce, and their design is based more closely on the English fowling guns of the same period rather than the Northwest Trade Guns. Exchanging gifts was an important part of alliance building and maintenance for many Indian nations, and firearms were obviously appropriate gifts when asking allies to go to war against the Americans. Many tribes expected to be supplied with arms and ammunition if they were to fight on behalf of the British. This example has a converted "WHEELER/& SON" and broad arrow marked flintlock. The tail of the lock and the buttplate tang have the essentially standard engraved boar's head and horn designs, and the trigger guard and side plate have the common bow and arrow patterns. The stock has the standard silver thumb plate with a raised relief Indian bust armed with a bow and arrow and also has "M. 1837" in black on the left side of the butt. The three-stage barrel has a simple bead front sight, "wedding bands" at the transition points, "LONDON" and the famous "sitting fox" emblem on top at the breech, and a pair of English proofs on the upper left flat. A ramrod is not included.