French Fusil

[tg]

I cannot recall who, but some one was interested in a French smoothbore some time back, there looks like a nice one in the classifieds at a good price, a Centermark I believe.

 

[mrbortlein]

It is a nice one, I'm looking for a fusil, but interested in a Walnut stock and iron furniture. But that one does look good.
mrbortlein

 

[wdz]

mrbortlein,

Are you looking for a specific fusil? I have a Kit Ravenshear French Marine that I am bringing to the CLA show next week in Lexington.

Dave Z

 

[schnapser]

Nice,I wouldn't mind seeing a pic or two of the french marine musket myself. I saw the centermark offering and would consider it but kind of hoping to get one with a little longer barrel.

Chris

 

[mrbortlein]

Kingsman06,
I'm not too picky, but
Walnut Stock
Iron Furniture
44" barrel
.62 cal
Either a kit in the white, or one that need to be reworked.
Fusil de Chase prefered, much like the one offered by TOTW
As for now, I'm saving my Lincoln cents for a kit. But also driving my wife crazy looking at anything that says "For Sale". Thanks for asking,
mrbortlein[url] http://www.trackofthewolf.com...289&PARTNUM=KIT-TULLE-FUSIL-DE-CHASSE-44[/url]

 

[Halftail]

Good lookin kit!I'm no gun builder but I'd like to try a kit like that someday.

 

[MikeC]

Here is a nice kit and from what i understand about as PC as it gets.

Tulle Kit

 

[schnapser]

The davis fusil is a very nice kit but have heard that it is not a good kit for a first time builder which is what I am. Chris

 

[MikeC]

The davis fusil is a very nice kit but have heard that it is not a good kit for a first time builder which is what I am. Chris

What have you heard? Looks to be about as difficult as any other kit available. They say it's 95% inlet for all the difficult parts and from the picture the stock seems to be fully shaped.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Here is a nice kit and from what i understand about as PC as it gets.

Tulle Kit

That's a Fusil Fin, not a Tulle. Tulle is the place where they were made. The correct term is Fusil De Chasse. Re Davis Fusil Fin is on the low end of "Fin"as far as French Fusil Fins go. There were many different grades, the furniture on this one has engraving that wasn't considered high quality back in the day.
having blathered on about Fusils :yakyak: I'd like to say if I were in the market for a french fowler, it would be the Davis gun for me.

 

[mrbortlein]

MikeC
I do think that the Davis kit is a nice one, but I see that $725 price and think to my self, what does that NOT include. I would need more information about the break down of the cost and if what I want would cost more. Things like how much work does the barrel need: Breech plug installed, tennons installed, sights (if any wanted) installed. If that price is for the Walnut of Maple stock. Most places charge at least $60 to upgrade to Walnut. I'm of the addage; if it seems to be too good to be true, then it usually is too good to be true. Thanks for letting me know about the Davis kit.
mrbortlein

 

[mrbortlein]

Mr. Brooks,
I'd also be interested in a Caywood kit, but the longest barrels I saw listed were 41.5"; I'd rather have the 44".
mrbortlein

 

[Okwaho]

Background: The SO CALLED TYPES C and D Fusils are simply Fusils fin de chasse.The Types C and D kits using a Jaeger style lock by R.E.Davis are incorrect in the use of this lock.This kit can be used pretty well with a precarved stock WITHOUT a precut lock mortice and the use of another French style lock although some sanitizing should be done on the externals depending on the lock used.

Having said this,I believe the French "Fine Fusil"kit {Not the Type D} is the best Fusil fin de chasse kit being offered today.I am becoming more and more convinced that many of the Fine and Very Fine Fusils seen in the Montreal Merchants' Records as well as the archealogical material presented by T.M.Hamilton reflect their manufacture in Liege{now Belgium}and by various other French manufacturers such as Saint Maubege,Charleville, a variety of other makers but almost certainly not to any great degree by Tulle.This is a working hypothesis upon which I have been working for several years.

I have two French/Liegeois fine Fusils and one of them is is one of two guns owned by a collector and is very close to the R E Davis Fine Fusil kit. Fitz and I compared the later of the two guns{Ca.1725-1735} with the Davis Fine Fusil kit at Toulousse some time back and they are very close although my old gun has much more ornamentation. Another friend is currently building one of the Fine Fusil kits but adding carving basd on my old gun.I would strongly recommend the Fine Fusil kit be made with walnut and brass mounts.I believe the gun with its 48" barrel should have three rammer pipes rather than two. I don't know whether the kit has a thumb piece but I personally prefer brass and in the French style.As to the lock, the kit comes with the mortice cut for the R E Davis "French Fusil Flintlock" and also shown by TOW as the "Tulle Arsenal Fusil de chasse" lock by R E Davis.This lock needs sanitizing and TG on this board did one recently and has discussed it on this board. He might be persuaded to repeat his discussion.

This is a great kit BUT it is NOT a plain Fusil de chasse. It was a Bourgeoise or Chief's gun and was a cut above the plain Fusil de chasse.I hope this helps and I will be happy to talk about this kit further.
Tom Patton

 

[Mike Brooks]

Mr. Brooks,
I'd also be interested in a Caywood kit, but the longest barrels I saw listed were 41.5"; I'd rather have the 44".
mrbortlein

I never mentioned anything about Caywood.

 

[wdz]

I understand about the saving cents. I got myself gun poor without realizing it (but it was fun). My wife finally gave up and realized I was crazy! You should go to the CLA show in Lexington next weekend. Lots to see.

The Ravenshear is iron mounted on European walnut about 60 inches OAL, a 44 ¾ inch barrel, with a 13 ½ inch LOP. The barrel mikes at .661. It is fun to shoot but I don't use it anymore so it hangs on the wall.

Here are a couple of pictures.

DZ

 

[tg]

Kit was a great source of info on these guns and has written at least one article on how to clean up the current offerings to bring them more in line with the originals

 

[tg]

The Caywood locks are rather small as well and they are into the C/D thing which is somewhat decieving, they would be my last choice of a "correct" French gun, the barrel should be 1 1/16 of larger at the breech as well.

 

[bwkelly]

I just bought the R.E. Davis kit. Walnut and maple are the same price. The plug is installed. Sights and tennons are not. I'd give you more info, but it's at my address in the states and I am currently working overseas, so I won't be able to see it in person for at least another four months

 

[Okwaho]

If you bought the "Fine Fusil" kit you made a good choice.Get it in walnut,ask for three rammer thimbles instead of two with an extra barrel lug do you can have three thimbles and get a brass French style thumbpiece. If TG doesn't post what he did to sanitize the lock I'll be happy to do so.
Enjoy
Tom Patton

 

[bwkelly]

That's the one I got. I ordered it in walnut with brass trim. I will ask for the extra lug and thimble when I get home. As far as lock sanitization goes, it's just grinding the projection off of the cock and the bumps off of the back of the frizzen, right? Despite my building inexperience, I want to make this thing look as authentic as possible when I'm finally able to begin.