brass or iron mounts for a fowler?

[skwerl-eater 1]

I am having an english fowler built and i was wondering what would be more appropriate or common either brass or iron mounts.I would like the the fowler to be representative of an inexpensive gun imported from england before the rev war.This would not be a trade gun but a fowler that a working class person from the east might own. Can anyone offer some help?
thanks,
skwerleater

 

[Tommy Bruce]

I believe most guns from the 18th century were brass mounted. You might look at a type "G" trade gun which was imported for indian trade but bought by a number of whites.

 

[rich pierce]

Brass. Iron was more expensive.

 

[flintriflesmith]

Iron mounts were more expensive than brass because brass could be cast whereas iron had to be forged. The vast majority of English fowlers imported for sale were brass mounted in the period you are talking about.
Gary

 

[akapennypincher]

But IRON look GREAT when Browned with a Matt Finish. :thumbsup:

 

[skwerl-eater 1]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I think I will end up going with the brass mounts on the fowler.
thanks,
skwerleater

 

[ffffg]

If you want to hunt waterfowel iron will be the best hands down.. dave

 

[Mike Brooks]

If you want to hunt waterfowel iron will be the best hands down.. dave

I must agree. But, I sure have seen alot of big bore 18th century brass mounted duck guns!

 

[tg]

So a gun for waterfoul of this period would have iron furnishings? just putting the original question with the last answers,or asking did "they" care about iron vs. brass in a goose gun?

 

[Mike Brooks]

Well, that depends on where the hunting was taking place. Hunting water fowl in the salt marshes in England the brass mounted guns were favored due to the corrosion of the salt water. Same reason sea service muskets were brass mounted and had the barrels painted black.
Hunting waterfowl over fresh water, It probably doesn't make a bit of difference in iron VS brass. I mean, iron's going to rust, but it isn't like it's going to rust away in anyone lifetime.
The question of iron VS brass still boils down to how much money you're going to put into a gun back in the day. Even the rich folks probably hesitated to dump a whole bunch of money into what was essentially a long barreled market gun with a 10 to 5 or 6 bore. I've seen some very nice English big bore Wild fowlers with 6' barrels and nicely engraved mounts. I'll have to take a look and see if any of them were iron mounted at all. :hmm:

 

[ffffg]

Iron is just my preference, and probably not period correct.. If you dont clean your gun or oil it too much it will darken some.. I cover the lock, and brass with my arm and most of the barrel with my arm when ducks are comming in.. My barrel is not rust browned either,... But i jump most of my ducks and they only see the top of my head when they take flight.. So its all relative.. you can carry a 1 foot by 5 foot piece of burlap or camo cloth to cover the gun also.. Hunting is about being smarter than the duck!! And the critters can be outwit, but you still have to hit em... :haha: Heres my foweler, chambers special order 16 guage mark silver or some such.. you can see she is getting a little of the shine off... I just cant resist posting this photo so here goes again.. [url] http://www.geocities.com/funkyjs/ffffg.html[/url] .... You can see that with the tape holding on the rear sight for ball, and the obvious brass and steel, that iron trim is not essential, but i wish I had it.. If I had iron furniture i probably would brown the barrel and lock.. Dave

 

[Capt. Jas.]

How about just letting your brass patina? Rub it down with a dirty cleaning patch every time you clean the gun and there will be no shine. It gets darker too. :grin: