Newton Knight, hero of “Free State of Jones” was mighty handy with a shotgun he named “Sal.”
Newton Knight was a shotgun man. Like many a Frontier Partisan, he had an affectionate name for his long-gun. He called her “Sal.”
The smoothbore has a venerable history on the frontier. The ability to load everything from buck-and-ball to bird shot made them versatile, and versatility is a prized characteristic of any piece of equipment for a frontiersman. Daniel Boone carried a smoothbore fowling piece at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782, and trade muskets were ubiquitous during the Fur Trade.
The shotgun in the configuration we think of was pretty much a product of the Industrial Revolution and the percussion cap. It became practical to manufacture a double-barrelled gun and the percussion lock was compact enough to make it handy. “Free State of Jones” protagonist Newton Knight’s shotgun was his meat-in-the-pot gun, and would have been a fearsome close-range weapon, loaded with buck-and-ball. Not a few Civil War soldiers — particularly Southern cavalry — favored shotguns.
The Pedersoli muzzle-loading reproduction reviewed in Shooting Times is a beauty. “Sal” was a plainer gal — but she delivered where it counted.
The English lines of the Pedersoli are unmistakable.
For tactical purposes, the Civil War-era front-stuffer gave way to the breechloading double-barrelled shogun we think of when we picture stagecoach “shotgun riders.” At the turn of the 20th Century, the pump-action shotgun came on the scene and was used for up-close-and-personal work in both World Wars. Nowadays, there seems to be some question as to whether the tactical or home-defense shotgun is still relevant, the question being whether it’s been overtaken by low-recoil, high capacity ARs and handguns.
Dunno about that. You can get a Remington 870 for a couple hundred bucks (used) and stoke it with buckshot and/or No. 4 and NOBODY would consider you under-gunned. Newton Knight would surely approve.
“This here’s a shotgun. Ask the guy on the other end of it if it’s ‘relevant.'”
Thom Eley says
Hadn’t heard of this before but very interesting. I’ve always used a break-action or a pump gun for shooting. However, I do have a new tactical Benelli semi-auto, and it is pretty sweet!
john roberts says
I’m with Newt. I’ve kept a shotgun handy in the house my whole adult life along with a good store of birdshot, buckshot and slug. My current house gun is a Mossberg Model 88 Maverick, 8-shot. It’s a little long with the extended mag but handy enough. I also have a Model 97 clone. I used to have an original 97 but sold it when I needed cash. Likewise with my old Mossberg 500, which was 5-shot but it was the perfect length for me and had the tang-mounted safety, which is the ideal position.
But right now I really want a Stevens 520, preferably the original model with the double-hump top, though the later design with the flat top would be acceptable. These and the Stevens 620 had the best takedown design ever. I’m combing the used gunstores for one now. Can’t beat a good pump gun.
Pat_h says
Indeed, if you read period comments, and see some period illustrations, of Confederate cavalry during the Civil War, it’s pretty clear that shotguns were a popular weapon with them.
It makes sense. Prior to the widespread use of repeating arms the shotgun wasn’t too dissimilar from the musketoon that dragoons carried, even in to the Civil War. About the same size, and also a smoothbore, the shotgun had the advantage of having two barrels as a rule.
Denny says
Just so everyone knows, this is an obvious marketing ploy. The shotgun in the movie was a Remington. Im pretty sure they where all American made originals! They had the pistol grip stock, which at the time was the tell tale sign it was American made. US citizens preferred this over the English straight grip. There is also a shotgun in the movie that is straight stocked but with a pistol gripped trigger guard extended towards the stock. If anyone knows the model of these guns please share your information. These shotguns feature english style hammers that are more appealing than the later Remington 1880 shotgun hammers which are lower and swirled. You find these on early shell models. There seems to be more info on the net about 1880 and later models. The ones Newt uses are pre 1862 i believe thats the date in the movie.
History is very important, especially to us muzzleloader lovers, so it should be shared accurately. The Pedersoli is a nice gun but unfortunatly they are always made with some crappy extra,(a patchbox, on a shotgun???) and too overpriced.