Centermark Contact ???

[Razz]

I'v e decided to jump in and build a Tulle and friends around here say Centermark is the place to deal with. (Less than an hour away) I like what I am seeing in their guns and I have been trying to get in touch with anyone at Centermark with no luck at all. Does anyone know a good way to make contact other than call at 2:00 AM. Been calling 716-679-0276. He does not seem to have an answering machine either. I'm beginning to wonder if I should look elsewhere????
Thanks

 

[Le Grand]

This is just a guess but I'll bet he was away to Dixon's. Keep trying. Le Grand

 

[Gemoke]

He`s a grape farmer, he just might be out in the vineyard

 

Centermark's a fine gun, I have one, but a much nicer, and more corret one is offered by RE Davis, and you can get it with walnut stock, and 44" barrel. The center mark just has a few things that make it less than PC. I plan on de farbing min over the winter, just have a few projects ahead of it.

Bill

Hiroshima's Mayors last words--Boy that's an awfully bright sunrise!

 

[antoine2]

"The center mark just has a few things that make it less than PC. I plan on de farbing min over the winter, just have a few projects ahead of it."

And those things would be?

 

[Razz]

Bill
Yes, please enlighten us. I'm beginning to think I should look elsewhere and would like to have a gun that is close to being historically accurate. I'm not interested in a PC debate, to each his own as they say. I'd just like it to replicate what was around for my own personal satisfaction.

Are there any other suggested suppliers of kits anyone can suggest? Other than a TC Hawken many many years ago, this will be my first build. I'm pretty handy, make my own bows, arrows, knives and gear; figure it is time for a gun.Want the barrel chennel, lock and trigger mortices cut in and can do final fitting etc.
Thanks all.
Razz

 

[Trapper]

I've built two kits for Track of the Wolf and a Jim Chambers kit. All of the guns turned out real nice. Both of these companies have just what you are looking for so contact them and have a great time building.If you run into any problems building your first kit I'm sure you'll get all the help you need right here on the forum!!!
Trapper

 

Here's the link to the Davis kit Fusil Fin The flaws with the Touchmark are small but stand out when you see a correct version. First off a Tulle should have a 44" or longer Barrel. Second the side plate has that curly-que was found only on some of the high end fine guns. The wood on the Centermarks is Maple, and the Tulle's were walnut stocked. The fore end needs more much wood removed, they were barely 1/16" thick. Don't know about their kits but the metal work is supposed to be in the white, and not browned. And lastly the lock needs some file work to make it more correct. As reference I would suggest "The Fusil de Tulle in New France 1691-1741" by Russel Bouchard, published by Museum Restoration Service, and "Colonial Frontier Guns" by T.M. Hamilton. Can't change the stock or barrel length on mine, but I can remove the brown, and restain the stock very dark, after wood removal. If you were to get the Davis kit, I would stick with the Walnut stock, and the fin has a different sideplate than the chasse. Also the fin would generally have brass furniture while the chasse would be iron. Hey, welcome to the forum, Tonish, sure would be nice to know a little about you in your profile, and where yer from, being as we're pretty friendly folk here.
As a post script, both Henry, and TG, and a couple others have more knowledge in this area, I only reinacted, and researched French Militia in Detroit for 10 or so years, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Bill

If it ain't broke, go ahead, what's the worse that can happen-Murphy

 

[tg]

The Davis kit is the best for a fusil Fin with a staright buttstock, if you want a plain fusil with the cows foot stock the TOW kit is probably the closest thing out there with some minor modifications, you want a 44" barrel on the latter gun, walnut stock on either some minor cosmetic lock work will be required, get Bouchards and Hamiltons book as they are good guidelines for building these guns, the last thing to do is accept the makers historical writeup on this type of gun with few exceptions.You can find some detailed posts on this topic in the archives with some imput from some very knowledgable folks on this forum.

 

[antoine2]

Bill,
I live in central Oklahoma and have been venturing back in time into the French colonial era from the "mountain man" era for a few years now. I have a centermark left handed fowler and was sincerely curious about what you thought wasn't pc - thus my question. I knew the barrel was a few inches short and that the finish on the stock wasn't right and that the front sight is questionable. My gun metal had been browned but a bit of use and cleaning with tow is bringing that back closer to shiny and handling the gun with black powder hands is certainly darkening the stock in places.
J'apprends ici mon ami.
Tonish

 

[Razz]

Thanks TG, I'll look over the one at TOW. I do want the plainer version and will get the books you recommended.

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Davis was at the Gunmakers fair last weekend and you can get the french trade gun kit with a 48" barrel now which would be even more correct than the 44" barrel. I believe the 48" was made by Ed Rayle.

 

[tg]

"Davis was at the Gunmakers fair last weekend and you can get the french trade gun kit with a 48" barrel now which would be even more correct than the 44" barrel'

This would be a good thing unless you were copying one of the guns from Bouchard ( or another source) that specs' a barrel of around 44" most barrels need the short 16 flat section added (if present on the model) also with any of these kits you can use the style of buttplate and tg sometimes to narrow the date on the gun, I do not know what furniture centermark uses, TOW's stuff is circa 1730 if I recall correctly I think this is what most suppliers use.

 

[fatboy]

I belive this is his buisy time of the year vineyard wise. Also would like to add if you want a walnut stock I think he will help you out I wouldnt see why anyhow i've seen some walnut stocked smoothys of his and as far as metal fin if you get the parts from him to build your self you can make fit your needs .