i have built/put together 11 of Jims guns, they are all nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'm not much of a kit gun guy. But watching every step Jim has to do. To bring this Fowler into production is amazing to me.
Must admit the Fowler is going to be a very nice gun for a lot of people indeed...
It’s an import grade fowler, not a fine fowler. A step up from a trade gun.Very nice! I see he is going more towards a fine fowler vs a trade gun.
I believe I saw him write somewhere that the Hawkin will be percussion. Here or ALR I can't recall.A 16 or 20? I'd get the 16 because I've no interest in shooting round ball. Got a Colonial for that. Rear sight? I don't think so. Jim is a stickler dir being authentic, which means the Hawken will not be light and handy. I'd say everything from the distance across the flats to the overall weight to the calibers offered will be like an original Hawken, so a flintlock might not be an option.
The same lock as on the Colonial and Woodsrunner would be appropriate as they are early English style flintlocks.I wonder if the lock will be different from the other kits
To my knowledge there is only one or two distant pictures of a British fowling piece in that Grinslade book. Most all are American made pieces. Jim's gun will be a representation of a typical British export trade gun ( made in England for export to America) as I understand it.Well I own two Colonials (.54 & .58 cal.) and a .54 cal. Woodsrunner. Now I'm saving for a Kibler Fowler, probably in 16 g and either walnut or cherry.
The carving and furniture look great, however I was looking for the "flying dragon" sideplate on the Richard Wilson of London Fowler in the book Of Sorts for Provincials since Jim mentioned it as a reference. I do like the other brass furniture.
Oh well , I might be able to modify the sideplate, if not there are several examples of similar British fowlers in Flintlock Fowlers The First Guns Made in America by Tom Grinslade.
That was on the big early (1700) waterfowling gun. Our kit will not have one.Gonna be a beautiful gun! Nice to see the barrel wall isn't all thick and chunky. It should balance well.
Also noted on that original, a REAR SIGHT.
Yes, a good description!It’s an import grade fowler, not a fine fowler. A step up from a trade gun.
All his gun kits are great but if I had the money I'd get a Rob Miller Trade Gun in 24 gauge .For decades I have wanted a smoothbore to shoot in matches and maybe hunt with from time to time. Last July I finally broke down and ordered from DGW the Pedersoli M1777 musket. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet. I still plan to order Jim's fowler when it comes out, probably in walnut since I guess most of the old ones were stocked that way. I would love to try building it myself, but I have absolutely no skill in that area. I'll probably have to have it sent to someone to build for me. I would probably go 20 guage since it seems most people I have seen in competition use that. I don't know historically which guage would be most accurate.
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