Original fowler opinions wanted!!

[tallbear]

Below are some photos of an original fowler that I am planning on building.I would like your thoughts on where and when it might have been made.And yes Mike Brooks I espesially want your honest opinion.The fowler appears to be stocked in american walnut as it has very open grain.The barrel has proof marks on it.The barrel has a hook breach with some neat insized carving around the tang.The forstock has been replaced and the lock has been reconverted from percussion.All opinions are welcome!!!!!!!
[url] http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0385.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0387.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0389.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0390.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0391.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0392.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0394.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/IMG_0395.jpg[/url]

Thanks!!!
Mitch

 

[Mike Brooks]

COOL GUN! :thumbsup:
It's an english fowler ca. 1750's or 60's Those are british proofs. can you make out the initials on the middle stamp? If you can we can probably figure out who made it.
Look closely at the incised carving. I'm thinking it may have been wire, and lost it's wire along the way. I don't think I've ever seen an english fowler with incised carving....it's either raised or wire for the english. What guage and barrel length? Length of pull? Is it yours? Can we get castings of the hardware?

 

[Mike Brooks]

In fact it may be as early as somewhere in the 1740's as there is no fillet on the trigger guard bow junction and the decoration at the breech has an early "feel" to it.
The engraving on the t guard bow and the buttplate has a "provincial" feel to it, it may be a Birmingham piece intended for export.

 

[DrTimboone]

I like it! I am making my first fowler now and so have been looking at fowlers everywhere I can. I like the simple, working gun lines. I especially like the triggerguard. I think it is a gun worthy of copying. Thats my opinion. The lines around the tang are diferent than any I have seen unless it is/was wire.

Mike, at first I thought I saw traces of black paint on the sideplate and was going to ask when you built this one..antiques very well!! :bow: :rotf:

Mitch can you get some pictures from the top and also of the ramrod thimbles??

Kewl!!

 

[tallbear]

Thanks for the interest.L.O.P 13 1/2",cal .74,barrel lenth 37" if it was cut off it wasn't much as it still shows some flair.The lock is partially marked PAIS or PATS the rest is lost to corrosion.The intials in the center proof mark appear to be IH or IB,not to sure of the second letter though.Mike the fowler is mine.I think you may be right about the missing wire the carving is stabbed in no relief or v-groove.If you know how to get castings made I would be interested.I havew a set from Reeves Goering that are pretty close.Ive included some more photos for you and the Dr.I only included the entry pipe as the other two appear to have been replaced when the forestock was replaced in front of the entry pipe.Mike check out the new photo of the tang carving I know I've seen this detail before just cant remember where(I think on a powder horn maybe!!)If anyone wants to see any other views let me know.
[url] http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/fowler2/IMG_0408.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/fowler2/IMG_0407.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/fowler2/IMG_0399.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/fowler2/IMG_0402.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n166/jmyates/fowler/fowler2/IMG_0401.jpg[/url]

Mitch

 

[LRB]

Super looking gun!!!!!! I like it, no, I love it. Even a close copy would be nice.

 

[BCarp]

The castings for the Jim Chambers "Penn. Fowler" kit are nearly exactly the same as on your original, especially the sideplate, "husk" style trigger guard, and butt-plate with the final little "tit" on the comb. I own one, so I know! Unfortunately, this pic doesn't show all those features, but they're there:[url] http://www.flintlocks.com/images/RK-6.jpg[/url]

 

[Mike Brooks]

Bad case of gun envy here... :redface: 37" is fairly short for one of these. The guage is somewhat large too. Both of which makes this gun bvery interesting. 38" and longer is the norm, with about 42" to 46" most common. Guage wise, 20 to 14 bore is pretty common for this time period. A 12 isn't unheard of, just not as common. Pretty cool! :thumbsup:
The wire was probably silver originally, the design is pretty typical of the era, you probably saw a similiar design on aniother english fowler.
I can get those parts cast here locally.... :hmm:
By the way, that thing has CLASSIC british archetecture, it don't get any better than that! :bow:

 

[tallbear]

Mike
I measured it futher down the bore where it isn't worn and it measures closer to .62.The archetecture ir why I bought it,Ive been looking for something to copy for a duck hunting gun for myself.I will try to get the butplate and triggerguard off and maybe we could work out something with the hardware.
Mitch

 

[BCarp]

This is the Chambers fowler trigger guard. Pretty close minus the engraving:

 

[Mike Brooks]

Mike
I measured it futher down the bore where it isn't worn and it measures closer to .62.The archetecture ir why I bought it,Ive been looking for something to copy for a duck hunting gun for myself.I will try to get the butplate and triggerguard off and maybe we could work out something with the hardware.
Mitch

A dramitic flare iside of the muzzle isn't unusual in this time period either. How big at the breech?
If you don't mind me keeping a few copies for myself, You just pay for your copies and the postage. I'll PM you.

 

[tallbear]

Mike
The breech is 1 1/4"

Mitch

 

[Wes/Tex]

I think Mike's comment about the "provincial" feeling is especially relevant due to the 'fish' carving on the barrel. Of course, this could have been added sometime during the life of the fowler but such markings are almost always colonial in origin.

Really nice fowler though. Has some very interesting furniture as well. In a word, "cool"!

 

[Mike Brooks]

That "fish" image is fairly common on earlier english fowlers, and always found on the top of the barrel. Usually not found on the highest grades. I'll dig around and see if I can find a few more pictures of it on different guns.

 

Hamilton shows a "Duncan Fowler" from England and is from about the same time period with a fish almost identical to this one.
"Colonial Frontier Guns" by Hamilton.
In fact the Duncan is very similar to this fowler only it has a MUCH LONGER barrel. :shocked2:

 

[hollandbriscoe]

Just a question. Is that a piece of the original wire inlay on the third picture? It's right at the side plate.

jack