Mowrey kits

[outlan22]

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/VPWyds6
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/jx02jsJ

Have this kit inbound for next set of days off, just wondering if anyone has seen those kits kicking around or did I find a gem?
Mowrey gun works inc. Of a Allen & Thurber in brass.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Haven't seen one for many years...think "gem" would qualify! :thumbsup:

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Gem? How about 'priceless'?

Wow, what a find! I had an early s/n Plains Rifle built by Bill and had exchanged letters with him (before he sold the business), but I have NEVER, ever seen one of his kits! Didn't even know he sold kits.

Please take copious pictures and post them in the gun building forum!

You better go buy a lottery ticket ...

 

[tenngun]

My very first ml rifle, it is a gem :thumbsup:

 

[nhmoose]

Score!!!!!! :hatsoff:

 

[MSW]

OK - it's official ... now where did they put the 'i'm jealous' emoji?

fantastic find!!

please take many pictures of the build :grin:

 

[Zonie]

I've always liked the Mowrey rifles.

They were a recreation of the Allen & Wheelock and the Allen & Thurber side-hammer rifles made in the 1840-1860 time period.

Over the years, I've read these Mowrey rifles came with slow twist and fast twist barrels so I suggest that you find out which type of rifling your gun has before you shoot it.

They also have weak mainsprings and mainspring stirrups which are prone to breaking.

If it were mine, I would temper both of these items in a pot of molten lead (at about 700°F) to be sure the parts were not brittle.

Even if the spring and stirrup was properly tempered, doing it again will not harm the parts.

I've heard that finding a replacement spring can be a problem.

 

[outlan22]

Been searching the net and it sounds like Deer Creek was the last suppliers and up to a few years ago according to post dates still have a few leftovers of parts and springs.

 

[tenngun]

That was my first as I said, I was 17, and also my first field modification. It only set off the cap half the time when I shot it. So I made a wooden wedge and tapped it under the foot of the spring. Never misfired again and I never broke the spring.

 

[F.G. Ford]

That was my first as I said, I was 17, and also my first field modification. It only set off the cap half the time when I shot it. So I made a wooden wedge and tapped it under the foot of the spring. Never misfired again and I never broke the spring.

GREAT IDEA!

 

[bob308]

I like and have underhammers shoot them a lot. but I have always wanted a mowery. I have worked on a few.

 

[outlan22]

Finally got home to check it out.
Barrel is 45 cal in a 1 in 60 twist ( was hoping for either a 36cal or a 54cal barrel )
Serial number 7731
Paper work saying that it was made in Texas, and the news paper that was wrapped around the brass forestock is dated Dec 1977.
Even had an extra main spring in the parts bag.

 

[Wes/Tex]

M.L. Mowrey started makeing these at his home in the late 60's....Mowrey Gun Works started them in 1994 and was located in Olney, Texas, with production facility in Saginaw, Texas, then to Iowa Park, Texas, till they moved to Waldron, Indiana in 2001 I believe. Believe they actually stopped production there in 2006 but would have to double check that before putting money on either date for sure. The most common were the 31" barreled rifles and 23" barreled carbines. There were thin butt plates and thick ones; wooden fore ends and brass; steel or brass frames, etc. There was a Mowrey Hawk with was high grade curly maple stock and fore end and even a traditional style Hawken rifle in .45, .50 and .54 for a while. There was even a 32" barreled 12 gauge shotgun for a few years. Most distressing to me was the .58 caliber carbines Mike Powasnick of Trail Guns Armory ordered with walnut stocks and the State Seal of Texas inlet in the butt stock...mine was stolen and I still haunt gun shows!

Yours is the wide butt plate in brass with brass frame and fore end which was the most typical offered. The wooden fore ends could be ordered and it was a toss up. The heavier butt plate was intended to put more weight aft and make the balance better...a lot of us older guys are jealous! :thumbsup:

Brass and brass http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/product_images/a/671/R13045d__35418.jpg

Mowrey Hawk https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-conte...431_01_mowrey_gun_works_ethan_allen_s_640.jpg

Bicentennial version https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-conte...204_01_allen_thurber_replica_by_mowre_640.jpg

 

[Wes/Tex]

Here's a 1975 Mowrey Arms guns ad from Interarms that was in a period gun magazine.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mFQAAOSwqVBZZa-U/s-l1600.jpg

 

[F.G. Ford]

I have had four Mowrey rifles in the past years, sadly I have traded them away.
A good move at the time, I thought.
Thinking back, bad idea.
A Mowrey iron framed .45 cal. ( kit gun it was ) was probably one of the finer guns I could have hung in my gun locker.
The wood was extra extra curly maple which showed very well against the chocolate brown steel.
That was looker and a shooter. I sold it!
What was I thinking????
Outlan, you have a fine looking rifle waiting to be completed. Finish it, enjoy it...........then sell it to me :haha:
That rifle will be a beauty!!
Fred

 

[awc]

I have a .50

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hello Wash Buster,
What model of Mowrey do you have? Inquiring minds want to know!! They are all beautiful, in varying ways.
Fred

 

[awc]

 

[Wes/Tex]

Looks like the Hawk with figured maple butt stock and fore end and thick butt plate. That butt design was worked out to bring the center of balance farther back.

Trail Guns Armory had 100 special Texas carbines made very early. Mine was stolen but they were .58 caliber woods hunting designs. Love to catch the clown who took mine. :cursing:
https://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2197185904/8714747/0626d29b40a5aee9635e969d4001b08e.jpg
https://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2197185904/8714747/b22c7a5315663f14c02d221ee1ff3f1f.jpg
https://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2197185904/8714747/e60b8b1a40287cfb2eef263eeadce9fe.jpg
https://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2197185904/8714747/6e975017a857e5171228d3e3be86ed13.jpg

 

[awc]

My rifle is numbered 2114,1776 Bicentenial model 2114 of 5000.