Earliest date for this fowler?

[Capt. Jas.]

I am hoping that some of you who are experienced in dating fowlers can help me.
The link below is to a Caywood fowler. It is not my intent for this thread to go into a like/dislike the gunmaker thread. I am only wanting to know the earliest date this fowler could be used for in a correct historic impression.
Any comments on the reason(s) why it would date to a certain period would enlighted and educate those of us who want to learn.
Thanks
[url] http://www.caywoodguns.com/12 gauge fowler May.htm[/url]

 

[Mike Brooks]

1760's-1770's The real problem of course is the stock. English fowlers weren't stocked in curly maple. The ram rods are also HUGE on Caywood guns! 7/16" most original fowlers I've handled had rods that were 1/4" to 5/16" , which is a little light for the way we load today. I make them 5/16" at times but usually go with 3/8" as a compromise. There is no reason on earth to use a 7/16" rod on a fowler. That's why the forestock on that gun looks so deep, and historically these english fowlers were very slim thru the forestock both in width and depth.
Other than those items this gun is an accurate historical representation.
Now let me end this by saying Caywood builds a fine gun, and if the little annal details I pointed out don't bother you than go for it. This is nothing more than an annal critique from an annal gunmaker that is annal about british fowling guns, so keep that in mind when you consider my information. I probably hang on little details more than most people care to..... :redface:
From what I hear from the folks on this board that own Caywood guns, they love them. :thumbsup:

 

[rich pierce]

Fine looking gun. In maple I'd consider it a gun restocked in the colonies. That in itself would make it later than the lines and components would dictate (had to be broken to get restocked).

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Don't know the date or history, but I know what I like, and it is sure a purty thing, love those lines.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I probably hang on little details more than most people care to.....


That's OK Mike, it is the purists such as yourself that keeps yokels like me from straying too far off the mark whenever I attempt to stuff something together.

 

[Okwaho]

I must agree with Mike and Rich here. The gun fits in well,however, with the Fusils de chasse stocked in curly maple and the Fusils fin de chasse{so called Types C and D} with the R E Davis Jaeger locks. The sad part of this is that fully 60-75% of the reenactors I see with these guns have no idea why we are raising the criticisms that we have.That is the hell of it.
Tom Patton :nono: