Fowler style?

[Tennessee]

I’m thinking about picking up a fowler, or a kit, what style do y’all suggest? I’m wanting something that would be found in North Carolina during the mid 1700’s most likely a 20 gauge but I’m open to larger gauges, I intend to use it for turkey, maybe goose, and hogs (within bow range)
I’ll most likely be getting a Chamber’s kit but open to other similar prices kits

 

[Magungo1066]

I mean a "Carolina gun" would certainly fit the bill! Other than that I will let the experts chime in. @rich pierce

 

[Tennessee]

I mean a "Carolina gun" would certainly fit the bill! Other than that I will let the experts chime in. @rich pierce

I have taken a liking to the Carolina guns, but I’m looking for suggestions before I decide on one

 

[Magungo1066]

There really isn't a lot that "we" know of about Southern smoothbores. I would also think that a British style fowler (British style NOT British made) would be appropriate but again I will wait for the more expert members to chime in

 

[tenngun]

I don’t know of any direct copies like there are for some rifles and military guns. Track offers english and colonial styles but they’re generic. Not to say non typical or not good. I think Chambers is also generic.
track offers several styles of trade gun, you can dress these to be individually yours.
Sitting fox also had some generic styles including Dutch/French club butts or oar butt guns popular before 1700 but still to be seen by the 1750s

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Present offerings for kits should lead you to the Chambers English fowling piece/officers fuzee as an option. Clay Smith also has a 1740 English trade gun kit that would be another option. Jim Kibler will soon need coming out with a smooth gun and that will probably be the ultimate option based on what he has revealed if you can wait.

 

[Magungo1066]

Caps. Jus nailed it. The Kibler kit is probably seriously worth waiting for

 

[rich pierce]

Not sure we know what the Kibler smoothbore kit will be based on. I’ve heard rumors but nothing definitive.
Few smoothbores were being made in the Carolinas in the 1700s. That leaves you with choices among imported guns, based on your social class and income. Bottom of the barrel was the Carolina gun. Cheapest gun available with the poorest wood, lock, and furniture. It would be stocked in beech or low grade European walnut. Next up would be a lower grade English fowler like the Wilson fowler pages 53-56 in Of Sorts for Provincials. It has a cast guard and buttplate, but otherwise is much like a type G or Carolina gun. A person of wealth and taste would often have a proper English flowing piece. Anyone who had to serve in the militia might possibly have a commercial musket similar to a Brown Bess but these might be provided by the militia and not be privately owned.
So far as I know, no local smoothbores were being stocked up in American hardwoods. Guns currently offered and sold as “English” or “French fusils” stocked in maple or cherry confuse the heck out of me.

 

[Magungo1066]

I’m thinking about picking up a fowler, or a kit, what style do y’all suggest? I’m wanting something that would be found in North Carolina during the mid 1700’s most likely a 20 gauge but I’m open to larger gauges, I intend to use it for turkey, maybe goose, and hogs (within bow range)
I’ll most likely be getting a Chamber’s kit but open to other similar prices kits

If you would like to see some pictures from "Of Sorts For Provincials" like Rich recommended, I could provide them via email or phone...my copy of the book came today lol

 

[tenngun]

Not sure we know what the Kibler smoothbore kit will be based on. I’ve heard rumors but nothing definitive.
Few smoothbores were being made in the Carolinas in the 1700s. That leaves you with choices among imported guns, based on your social class and income. Bottom of the barrel was the Carolina gun. Cheapest gun available with the poorest wood, lock, and furniture. It would be stocked in beech or low grade European walnut. Next up would be a lower grade English fowler like the Wilson fowler pages 53-56 in Of Sorts for Provincials. It has a cast guard and buttplate, but otherwise is much like a type G or Carolina gun. A person of wealth and taste would often have a proper English flowing piece. Anyone who had to serve in the militia might possibly have a commercial musket similar to a Brown Bess but these might be provided by the militia and not be privately owned.
So far as I know, no local smoothbores were being stocked up in American hardwoods. Guns currently offered and sold as “English” or “French fusils” stocked in maple or cherry confuse the heck out of me.

The only caveat I would add was by 1800 the ‘five civilized tribes’ had ‘gun makes’ who were using old parts to make guns.
a fellow who broke a gunstock may get one made using local wood
This is a price list including restocking in Europe with walnut
Some American made on maple, cherry seems more popular today then in the past.

 

[Tennessee]

I should add I’m not a reenactor so I guess it really doesn’t matter what the province is. Most of my ancestors were in the North and south Carolina militia during the AWI, some relocated from Connecticut to the Pee Dee river area in North Carolina.

 

[rich pierce]

There are plenty of American fowling pieces that can rightly be stocked in various American hardwoods.
New England fowlers mostly cherry, some maple, walnut rarely. Hudson Valley fowlers in curly maple, sometimes cherry. British style fowlers made along the coast from Connecticut to New Jersey stocked in curly maple but NOT considered British fowlers. Just similar architecture. Pennsylvania fowling pieces stocked in curly maple or sometimes walnut. So anyone wanting a maple stock or cherry stock has plenty of choices other than what is supposed to be an English trade gun (Carolina or type G, NW trade gun) or a French trade gun. Just my point of view. I wince when I see a Wilson style trade gun or Fusil de chasse stocked in curly maple.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
There were many English fowlers imported through Charleston. These guns were not just for wealthy customers and often cheaper in price than local manufacture. A range of quality was imported and I am not referring to cheap trade guns but good quality fowling guns. If you are looking for a good shooting smoothbore that is appropriate for the place and time, you cannot beat an English fowler.

dave

 

[Feltwad]

In the States they class the smaller bores has fowlers here in the UK they are known has sporting guns fowlers are the large bores of 10 and larger .
Feltwad