A fowler by any other name....

[colmoultrie]

Why give Spence more projects that will take him away from generously posting free information from which some of us (I guess I make at least 11) benefit so much? :grin:

Spence, thank you for the wealth of information.

I'm also interested in these guns with 4 or 5 foot barrels mentioned. My guess is that those might be fowling pieces, where the smaller, lighter guns might be "birding pieces," used for smaller prey like grouse, etc. Note, however, the word "guess." :hmm:

 

[asbrown]

:applause: I guess I'll make it a cool dozen then. Keep em comin Spence. :bow:

 

[George]

I'm also interested in these guns with 4 or 5 foot barrels mentioned. My guess is that those might be fowling pieces, where the smaller, lighter guns might be "birding pieces," used for smaller prey like grouse, etc.

Yes, you do find mention of some long barrels, not all, but some remarkable ones. Imagine what this one from 1939 looked like:

"THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE
October 5, 1739
About Six Months since, a long Gun , about 6 or 7 Feet in the Barrel, was brought by a young Gentleman of Glocester County, to me, the Subscriber, in Williamsburg, to be new Stock'd and Lock'd; and as I have some Reason to believe, that the Person who brought it is dead, and am desirous the right Owner should have it, I therefore give this Notice, that the Person who has a Right to it, may know where it is, and that he may have it, on proving his Property, and paying the Charges, to me, James Geddy."

Waterfowl guns tended to be heavily built and long, so this may have been one of those.

Barrel length in the old days is a fascinating subject, and my impression is that it was much more variable than we think.

Spence

 

[GreyWhiskers]

I'm glad I saw this thread. I'll be the bakers dozen. 13. VERY INTERESTING information here. :thumbsup: GW

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Yup Spence, you have it upon the old nomenclature issue.

Many terms are no longer in use, tickler for trigger, hammer for frizzen, cock for hammer etc. why; because the language has evolved, “Yea verily brother” is seldom heard today. :grin:

The Type C, D or G trade guns are modern nomenclature used to categorize early archeological examples, why; simply to provide some convenient grouping for those early examples.

Terms and expressions come and go. It has been a long while since I have heard the expression “Daddy-O” or heard someone referred to a pistol as a “shoot’en iron”.

"Canoe gun" makes me cringe but it too has become common lexicon.

Fortunately there are those who keep track of such things, which makes reading the old documents a bit easier for the rest of us. :thumbsup:

 

[duke21]

Wow am i glad i read this posting. Anytime i see something posted by spence i jump at the chance to read as i know i am going to learn something. My interest leans more toward the rifles, but i think that is because that is predominately what i have( love the small game calibers), but find my interest in smoothbore and fowler to be increasing daily. I thank spencefor feeding my daily need for information about the old ways. I may not post much here as i have a very time consuming profession and 3 lil kids at home, not to mention a " honey-do" list that gets longer by the day, but i try to make a daily visit to the forum to absorb all the information i can.
Spence, thank you for answering another question that i hadnt found time or the resources to answer myself. I sometimes find myself at odds with internet websites, but must admit that there is an unknown wealth of information on a forum as this that just wont be found jn the local library or off the magazine rack. I also thank the keepers of this forum for providing such a vessel that we all can us as we sail the river of life. Many thanks spence and to this awesome forum.

P.s. spence please do add onto your website. It is like a small history book in and of intself. I am so envious of you in many ways. You have been blessed, and i have been blessed to find this forum. In god i still trust!!!!

 

[bud in pa]

Spence I want to add my thank you to the growing list. After my computer crashed yours was one of the first sites that I added. I especially enjoyed the VM Starr article. Irecently bougt a can of 1F to try in the 20 ga. I just finished this week. After reading your site I realized that I would be best served by a smooth bore, as beyond 50 yds. here in the Pocono Mts. you would be lucky to identify any thing. Thanks Bud in PA :thumbsup:

 

[Palmetto Ed]

Make that 9 :hatsoff:

 

[Lonegun1894]

Spence,
THANK YOU AGIN!!! So swan shot was about .266"? No wonder I have found #4 buck out of my Lee mould to be so useful in both my .54 smoothrifle and my 13ga SxS. It just happens to be .240" and that is very close, even if not exactly correct. I knew it was bigger than birdshot, and smaller than buck, but always heard #4 buck being called just that, "buck"-shot in addition to the usual 00 and 000, but that is good to know. Thanks again.

 

[Alden]

Swan Shot I've typically thought of as .15 thru about .25 cal.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Swan Shot I've typically thought of as .15 thru about .25 cal.

What are you basing your size range on?

 

[Palmetto Ed]

What is the size of mustard shot?

 

[George]

What is the size of mustard shot?

I have no info on the actual size in inches. It is usually given as the smallest in a list of shot sizes. Since the real mustard seed is used as the example of anything really tiny, I would assume that is also true of mustard seed shot.

Spence

 

[Stumpkiller]

I think #11 is what is used in pistol snake loads and #12 is used in .22 LR "Mo-skeet-O" loads. I have heard that referred to as "mustard seed." I've also heard it called "dust".

But I'm not sure - that is from memory.