OK, let's put it to a vote.

[David Teague]

Wow... :shocked2: Nothing like speaking your mind...

Now I do like many of the newest Indian made flinters.

I do own 2 custom muzzleloaders and my last purchace was a Indian made doglock. :hmm:

The wood is teak, just like all the other Indian made firearms (aka Rosewood), It sparks like the dickens, the metal is now subdued by a bit of hand work and some steel wool and the stock will be refinished soon.

It meets my needs.

I think for the money the newer models are quite nice, many of the problems can be fixed at home with a bit of TLC or... if you want a custom musket that is as PC as it gets, go ahead and spend $2000.

It's really a question of what fits your needs and your pocket book.

Cheers,

DT

 

[scroggwe]

Like David Teague, I also own one of the Indian made doglock muskets. I can tell you for sure, it is by no means junk! Mine has a frizzen that sparks better than any flintlock I own and shoots very well. It shoots first time, every time. I don't like the red finish on the teak stock, but that will be fixed soon on mine. I also think the touch hole is drilled too low, but it doesn't seem to affect the way it shoots. I also dulled my finish down a bit with steel wool. For the money they are great guns! I would love to own a Custom made musket, but absolutely can't justify the cost and wait for one.

I just recently purchased an original M1816 Contract Musket (Asa Waters) for $1,000.00. My dilema was whether to purchase an original (that I will likely never shoot) and have it now or purchase a custom made musket or rifle that I could shoot and wait a year for it. Obviously I chose the original, as I have other muskets that I can shoot. In all honesty, I would probably buy a custom made gun if the wait wasn't so long on them. Oh well, that's my .02 cents worth FWIW.

 

[TN.Frank]

I have a line on an ERA Fowler that a guy has for $725 shipped, which I think would be a good deal as I'd not have to wait the year to 16 months and it's in 12ga. I'm just waiting for pics and to see if he'd be willing to wait until I can save up the money to pay for it. If not then I'll probably go with an Indian made gun because I'm just looking for something to hunt with, not something that's perfectly PC to use in a Reinactment or the like. It is always nice to get something like they used "back in the day" but if it means spending twice as much for something that I'll just throw shot and ball at game with then I'd rather save the money and use it for powder and stuff rather then spend it on a more expensive musket that'll only buy me a bit better wood and the "PC" factor. I'm sure things will work out and I'll for sure post pics of whatever I get. Thanks for the input too, I appreciate having so many knowlegable people to draw info. from.
:hatsoff:

 

[Hammerhead]

Buy them all and sort them out later. Hammerhead

 

[Java Man]

I'd find a way to get the ERA Fowler. I looked at some of the Indian made guns at Kalamazoo a couple weeks ago. They were OK. But if you can get something closer to the real thing for a little more money, then I'd suggest that. If it can be worked out. Its your $, and you are the only one that needs to be happy with whatever you get.

Java Man

 

[TN.Frank]

Just got pics of the ERA Fowler and it's the "Cumberland Fowler" that I've had my eye on for the last couple years. I'm going to try and work out some kind of deal, I'd really like to have it more then just about any other smooth bore that I've seen. I'll keep ya'll updated as to what happens. Talk to ya' later. :v

 

[Java Man]

Borrow some dough from you Mother-in-Law for a short time. :rotf:

 

[hawk]

frank a guy has three guns for sale on the round robin their going cheep.

 

[TN.Frank]

I talked with him and he needs the money PDQ, he's buying a boat off a guy. I'll have to either make payments or save up and send it all at once. I really have hopes for the Cumberland Fowler, it's about the nicest looking smooth bore that I've seen. Ya'll keep your fingers crossed. :v