early 1700 smoothbores

[Capt. Jas.]

I have been studying the work of Dolep and something along the lines of his production would be my choice for a c. 1700 piece. Something by Hutchinson for the 1720s

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Your rendition of the American stocked Cookson is beautiful

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Are there hard copies in print of this article? I would really like to add this to my reference library.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Capt.
Some years ago, I sent Jim some info from an article written in 1929 by Howard Chapin and Charles Cook concerning the New England Cookson gun. According to Chapin and Cook (and Blackmore "Gunmakers of London") there was an older I. Cookson in London who made a repeating gun dated 1686. The Boston Cookson died in 1762. I doubt a 13 year old John Cookson made a repeating flintlock gun. Perhaps the older Cookson was his father? Another interesting bit is that the American Cookson fowler was converted to percussion and then reconverted to flint. Regardless, it is a nice gun. The India-made version does not do it justice.

dave

 

[Artificer]

Are there hard copies in print of this article? I would really like to add this to my reference library.

The article on Colonial Hunting Guns was one of I think about a half dozen that George C. Neumann wrote for the NRA's American Rifleman magazine, before George passed in 2014. I imagine if you contacted the NRA, they may have it in print or may be able to photo copy it.

BTW, you may be interested to see a single barrel Flintlock Fowler made in 1685 for James Stuart””King James II of England, in the following link. You may be surprised as I was that it looks like it should have been made quite a bit later:
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/5/23/looking-back-at-shotgun-history/

Gus

 

[dave_person]

Hi Gus,
The editors made a mistake with the photos. The close up photo of the lock shows the correct gun. The upper photo is of a much later piece. You can see that the photos don't match up.

dave

 

[Artificer]

Thanks Dave,

Having a hard time with my much too bright monitor. Glad you caught that.

Gus

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Hi Capt.
Some years ago, I sent Jim some info from an article written in 1929 by Howard Chapin and Charles Cook concerning the New England Cookson gun. According to Chapin and Cook (and Blackmore "Gunmakers of London") there was an older I. Cookson in London who made a repeating gun dated 1686. The Boston Cookson died in 1762. I doubt a 13 year old John Cookson made a repeating flintlock gun. Perhaps the older Cookson was his father? Another interesting bit is that the American Cookson fowler was converted to percussion and then reconverted to flint. Regardless, it is a nice gun. The India-made version does not do it justice.

dave

I have always thought the Boston fellow was possibly a son or nephew as well.

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Thank you for the reply, sorry for the delayed response. I looked at the article and that late 1600's king James fowler looks to be in quite good shape . Your previous point on its appearance was well made.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

I recommend Grinslade's book also