Did French-Canadian Voyageurs Carry Firearms?

Not long ago I read a magazine article in “Field and Stream” by David E. Petzel. 

His article was titled, “Were the Voyageurs the Toughest Outdoorsmen of All?” and his tag line stated, “These French-Canadian fur freighters didn’t go heeled, but they were as rugged as outdoorsmen get.”

He goes on to ask and answer the question: “What keeps them from the fame accorded to soldiers, mountain men, gunfighters, and other hard cases, is that they never got to kill anyone.” 

“This was not their fault. French Canadians had a taste of war in the 18th century, and killed a reasonable number of British and Native Americans, but their hearts were never really in it. How do you make a movie or write a novel about people who simply worked brutally hard and never packed a gun? You don’t.”

Wait a minute, he wrote, “never packed a gun.”

That set me to thinking… New France had been under continuous attack from the Iroquois for most of the 17th century.

La Prairie (my ancestor’s village) census records showed almost every home had at least one “fusil” (French: a light flintlock musket), and like most parishes, La Prairie had a well organized militia.

Now, there are no old voyageurs around to consult with, so it’s hard to refute David’s statement, but here are my thoughts on the matter…

• Remember there were two categories of voyageurs:

The "Montreal men" who paddled from Montreal to Grand Portage for the annual rendezvous and back to Montreal. 

They almost always had access to trade goods that included guns, powder, shot and ball, and they surely would have used them to defend themselves in an attack.

The "North men" voyageurs who wintered in the interior and brought down furs to Grand Portage to meet the summer brigades coming from Montreal. 

These gents spent long periods of time in the wilderness and were required to build their own shelter and feed themselves by hunting and gathering food.

The few fur trade era journals written and preserved offer plenty of information about North men hunting and being involved in skirmishes with not only Natives, but also rival traders.

So, while I disagree with David’s statement, they “never packed a gun;” I will admit "Montreal men" (especially young voyageurs) were less likely to pack iron.

However, when it comes to ”North men" I believe they almost all went “heeled.” In fact, there are records of voyageur contracts that specifically provide for the provision of firearms and accoutrements by the trade company.

So — yes — voyageurs did carry firearms.

Smoothbore Muskets

Muskets played a vital roll in the settlement of North America and were the most common firearm available during the fur trade era. 

The smoothbore musket was an extremely versatile, efficient firearm used to take every type of game or fowl.

Muskets came in a variety of forms, including The northwest trade gun, French fusil, and fowling pieces (or shotguns). 

They were made as both flintlock or percussion weapons. Muskets were commonly referred to as “shotguns” when being loaded them with shot and as “smoothbores” when loaded with a single round ball.

When a shooter is loading his musket he has the flexibility to load for a specific purpose. 

He can choose to shoot ball or pellets. 

As a shotgun the pellet size, the amount of shot in ounces, and the amount of powder loaded can be changed to match the game or the shooting situation.

Charleville musket 1766

The French Fusil was the musket most likely used by early voyageurs

French fusils were light weight fowling guns with 34 to 45 inch long part octagon barrels (usually in 28 gauge) that were available as early as 1680. 

The standard version was called a “fusil de chase” (fitted with plain iron furniture) when it was built in the town of Tulle. 

The same guns, when built in Charleville or Saint Etienne were called “Trade Guns”. 

An upgraded version with brass furniture was called a “fusil fin” (fine gun). The fusil fin was intended as a gift gun for important Indian Chiefs. 

The fusil fin was preferred as a personal gun by many traders and hunters who wanted something a little fancier than a plain trade gun.

Canoe guns (more myth than reality) were cut down, short barreled, muskets used in canoes (maybe), but more probably when buffalo hunting from horseback.

Incidentally, a short barrel Coach Gun is just about the best protection to carry on wilderness canoe trips today.