Kibler Fowler

[akroguy]

Curious on what caliber it's going be offered in. Resisting the urge buy woods runner to Hopefully get a fowler

Oh just quit it with that already....GET BOTH.

There. You're welcome.

 

[James Kibler]

Thanks everybody. Yes, we're making good progress on the kit. We had several original export grade fowlers in hand to base this off of, so it's extremely authentic and close to the real deal. I like this aspect. Although there are a number of English fowling piece kits on the market, all of them miss the mark in this regard. At least in my opinion. Often you have to deal with thick, and heavy barrels, bulky forestocks etc. A well shaped English fowling piece is a thing of beauty and a joy to hold and shoot. The aesthetics and refinement in these guns is pretty fantastic.

 

[Cubreac]

Self portrait after reading @James Kibler post.

 

[IanH]

Thanks everybody. Yes, we're making good progress on the kit. We had several original export grade fowlers in hand to base this off of, so it's extremely authentic and close to the real deal. I like this aspect. Although there are a number of English fowling piece kits on the market, all of them miss the mark in this regard. At least in my opinion. Often you have to deal with thick, and heavy barrels, bulky forestocks etc. A well shaped English fowling piece is a thing of beauty and a joy to hold and shoot. The aesthetics and refinement in these guns is pretty fantastic.

Some of us will want to know cast, toe angle, drop at heel, and LOP when it come pre-order time.

How much extra to put the lock on the other side?

 

[Garbear34]

Oh just quit it with that already....GET BOTH.

There. You're welcome.

I can only afford one if I'm lucky.

 

[TDM]

My order will be for the 20 ga in Walnut.

 

[James Kibler]

I don't intend to shoot a round ball out of the 16 guage.

I'd feel better if everyone had this approach. These aren't made for shooting a ball, but I have to conceed that some are likely to do it. This realization is what adversely affects barrel wall thickness.

 

[sportster73hp]

Mr. Kibler , will you be posting pictures of the fowler here or your web site after the presentation at the drawing? I won’t be able to attend.

Thanks

 

[Kmcmichael]

A light weight Fowler with a disclaimer about not shooting round balls in 28 gauge probably come in at about 5 pounds or less, would it sell?

 

[IanH]

410 grain patched round ball, or 440 to 490 (or more) grains of shot plus cards, wads, buffer, etc. .......and we make barrels unnecessarily thick for possible round ball use WHY?

I asked this very question recently and got four pages of replies, none of which could come up with a single safety-related reason why a barrel that's strong enough for a full load of shot isn't strong enough for shooting round balls. The point about RB accuracy potentially being poor with a lightweight fowling piece barrel due to relative lack of tube rigidity along the front part of its length was brought up, and that makes sense to me, but even if so it doesn't pose a safety issue. Fusil de Trait (spelling?) guns are reported to have extremely thin barrels out past the "chamber" area and were probably loaded with more round balls in more configurations than are imaginable and the 18th century barrel metal wasn't reputed to fail often. I just don't get it.

 

[Kmcmichael]

Sounds like a test that someone should or has done.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Thin at the muzzle is fine, there is no pressure out there, it's all at the breech. If you look st antique fowling guns they were often quite big at the breech. 1 1/4" wasn't unusual. They tapered rapidly in the fist 9 or 9 inches and were much lighter for the rest of the length.
Today's barrel makers make heavy walled barrels out of ignorance more than worry about liability. When I have requested fowling barrels made to antique specs they were made for me without hesitation.

 

[deerstalkert]

Rice made the Dolep barrel that was so light it needed an anchor to keep it from floating.
seriously though if the forward section out past the wedding band was any thinner you would cut your self on the muzzle. used it on a fowler and though i haven't weighed it i would guess 5.5 to 6 lbs total weight. and i left way too much thickness in the wrist.

 

[James Kibler]

I don't think there is any question that thin walled original barrels were more prone to failure than thicker full octagon counterparts. I recall seeing one in the Gusler collection that had a replacement forward barrel section forge welded on! I'd also wager there was a much greater tolerance for barrels failing. Especially in cheaper trade guns.

As far as ball vs shot, it's hard to know what customers may do, but I'd guess that there might be a tendency to put a heavier powder charge when shooting a ball in order to get somewhat decent ballistics with such a heavy ball.

As far as modern production goes, I don't think the hesitation for thin barrels is just out of ignorance. The difficulty of making a barrel increases as the barrels become thinner. Also, variations in bore relative to the O.D. (run-out) becomes much more significant as wall thickness decreases.

Jim

 

[Docgp]

Oh, like everything else, I'm sure I'm gonna do one of each!!!

Doc

 

[akroguy]

Oh, like everything else, I'm sure I'm gonna do one of each!!!

Doc

That's the spirit, man! One is none.....two is one....and so on.

 

[oreclan]

I for one am anxious to hear/ see this latest offering from Kibler's shop!

 

[sportster73hp]

What wood options will there be? His usual? Is walnut the traditional wood of choice ? Will it be available pre carved??
I just wanna know!

 

[edrutecki]

Patience Grasshopper.
All will be revealed in time!

 

[tnek13]

Want one!