Let's take a look at some references concerning the rifles carried by the trappers and hunters out West. They were rarely more than arm's reach from their rifles.

From W.A. Ferris:
They found a rifle, as well as ourselves, which was
likewise robbed of the lock and mountings. It belonged to one of two men, who disappeared a
day or two previous to the battle, in August last. Both of these rifles were unusually heavy, and
were doubtless left by the Indians for that reason.

The natives far preferred lighter weight fowling pieces. It was much more common for a native to carry a fowling piece than a rifle.
Americans far preferred rifles.

From Gen. Thomas James:
We Americans were all private adventurers,
each on his own hook, and were led into the enterprise by the promises of the company, who
agreed to subsist us to the trapping grounds, we helping to navigate the boats, and on our arrival
there they were to furnish us each with a rifle and sufficient ammunition, six good beaver traps
and also four men of their hired French, to be under our individual commands for a period of
three years.

From Charles Larpenteur:
On hearing of his discharge, and being requested to report in person at St. Louis — which was simply
to get him out of the country — he remarked, “I will not let Mr. Chouteau wait long on me. I shall
start in the morning; all I want for my journey is my rifle, and my dog to carry bedding.”

From Peter Skene Ogden:
On reaching the river he [Portneuf] broke the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) [hammer] of his rifle.

From James O. Pattie:
To a man born and reared under
the circumstances [xi] of his early life — one to whom forests, and long rivers, adventures, and
distant mountains, presented pictures of familiar and birth day scenes — one, who confided in
his rifle, as a sure friend, and who withal, connected dejection and bereavement with his present
desolate residence; little was necessary to tempt him to such an enterprise.

From Osborne Russell:
After trading some Beaver and Sheep Skins from them talking
smoking etc about an hour I mounted my Mule with 6 traps and my rifle and one of my comrades
did the same and we started to hunt Beaver.

Lost Greenhorn, by Alfred Jacob Miller

Once again, very interesting passages...I really enjoy how they wrote.

Here's a nice rack of trade rifles:

Some times their spelling can be "creative," which makes the reading challenging.

Kyle, where is the photo from? Very nice assemblage of trade rifles!
I've always been partial to Leman rifles and J. Henry.

I can't remember if it was the Museum of the Fur Trade, or the Museum of the Mountain Man, let me do some digging.

The trade rifle I am building uses a JJ Henry profile barrel, Very similar to what Deringer used.

Coonlove,

After some digging, that rack of rifles is from Jim Gordon's private museum, near Santa Fe. Its on my list of places I'd love to visit.

Seems I have read that the Blackfeet nation were able to push back other tribes (notably Nez Perce/Shoshone) from the better buffalo grounds because of how well armed they became early in the game from the Canadians. Guns have always faired well vs stone age weapons.

I remember from Jedediah Smith's journals that while under house arrest by the Mexicans in California his men gave shooting demonstrations that astonished the Mexicans. Might have been not only to impress about their marksmanship, but also to give them pause about getting into it with the Americans.

Kyle, you and me both. Museum of the fur trade has been on my radar for 50 years but I've never been. It's a long drive.

The wife and I did a tour two summers ago and hit the Museum of the Fur Trade, Museum of the Mountain Man, the Cody museums and Bent's fort, all in 2 weeks. Lots of driving, but awesome places to visit. And the scenery during the drives was great.
I really want to get back out there and visit again.

I think that one of the (many) reasons the Blackfeet hated the American trappers so much, was that we were trading firearms with their enemies. For so long, the Blackfeet were between the English and the Nez Perce and Shoshone, so they could control the items that made it to them. Much like the Iroquois did in the East.