Russ T Frizzen said:
I have a fowler very similar to the one Track sells. It is a lovely, light thing with great balance and is a good fowling piece and handles ball well. too. It weighs about seven pounds. The English gun should have a walnut or maybe cherry stock--maple isn't really right.
The "French" guns are way too thick in the forestock and the butt stock is all wrong too. The lock resembles nothing ever found on a French trade fusil and looks awkward as a result. A bit of research will show you that the French fusils were slim and light guns not pudgy and heavy. You might consider one of Mike Brook's "Carolina" guns. One of these would make a fine companion and offers historical accuracy as well.
Russ you are entirely correct here but allow me to add a few thoughts.
In the 17th and part of the 18th century the French used the term "Fusil"[pronounced Fuzee} to denote any flintlock longarm as opposed to "Mousquet" for matchlocks.This term eventually fell into disfavor being displaced by the term Musket, but the English adopted it to denote light weight or scaled down muskets.The term evolved into another term for English Fowling pieces and the later Fowlers.It is easier to define these guns so I will use the terms musket and guns except for the Fusils de chasse and when historically necessary.
18th century French guns prior to 1761 used in America can be divided into two basic groups;guns manufactured by Tulle under contract to the King through his Ministry de la Marine and trade guns {"Fusils de trait"}.The Tulle guns were manufactured from 1691 to 1741 and are classified by contract dates. These guns were further divided into the marine military muskets,{common and grenadier muskets} hunting muskets{the famous Fusils de chasse}and buccaneer muskets issued for a variety of uses.
Fusils de chasse were not PER SE trade guns although many were given to Indians.They were slim, graceful,lightweight yet sturdy guns which were highly prized by whites, Indians,and British alike In addition Fusils de chasse were made by other manufacturers such as St. Etienne and various private makers.The are easily identified by their roman nose comb called pied de vache.They were predominately iron mounted although some fancier Tulle guns were gift or presentation guns to selected Indian chiefs and are referred as Fusils fin{fine guns}de chasse.
Tulle military guns issued to the Companies Franche {incorrectly referred to by some reenactors as "French marines"}. They generally fall into two arms,the common musket and the grenadier musket They are basically identical except that grenadier has a middle barrel band and sling swivels and there is a slight difference in barrel length.
Fusils de trait began to make their appearance in the late 17th century and were made by a variety of makers including St.Etienne and the shops in Liege.Some were iron mounted and many so mounted were made by St. Etienne.The majority were brass mounted and had straight combs and slim graceful architecture rather than the pied de vache style.Hamilton believed that there two types based on differences in the mounts and called them Types C and D. I do not quarrel with him here but almost no one makes a "Type C or D with what I associate with correct architecture of the early 18th century. See Torsten Lenk, Plates 86-88,90,91 The problem is that the Type C and D kits and precarves today seem to be based soley on archaeologically recovered materials rather than complete guns.R E Davis offers two kits, the Type D and the fine fusil kit These are very similar but the flat faced Jaeger styled lock in the D kit is ,in my opinion incorrect.The only kit that I can recommend is the fine fusil kit although without the Jaeger style lock the D kit would probably be OK.
The French guns led the way in the 18th century and their influence is seen in New England fowlers and Kentucky rifles especially from Bucks County and the Lehigh Valley.
I'm sorry for the length but when I get going it's hard to stop.
As always I welcome reponsible opposing comment.
Tom Patton
Heaven is a Tulle Fusil de chasse.
:thumbsup: :v :bow:
