Has anyone seen an example of an original English Fowler from the 1700s to early 1800s with a rear sight? Would really like to install one but want to remain period correct. If so please include pictures or a source of same.
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Rear sight
- Thread starter Cutfingers
- Start date
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I don't have any books to speak of that cover English fowlers but there are some American fowlers shown in Neumanns Battle Weapons of the American Rev. that have rear sights, one is dated circa 1710 and is said to be like the English guns of the time, I thought a thread here some time back had a fowler with a rear sight but I don't recall if it was English, the rear sight is common on French smooth guns in Lenks book.
I can't speak as to the original English fowler but a friend did a little survey of trade guns in the Museum of the Fur Trade. He found that about half of the many trade guns there did have some sort of rear sight, often nothing more than a chisel cut to raise a burr on the top flat.
My thanks to the two of you who replied to my inquiry. I now have a place to begin my research.
Many Klatch
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The NMLRA rules for smoothbore was made when Curly Gostomski and some of the others got together back in the 70's and decided to start building unrifled guns for use. They looked at the guns they could find and decided that since none of the ones that they saw had rear sights then that was the rule that they would use.
In the intervening 20 or 30 years we have come to understand that there were lots of smoothbores with rear sights, but the smoothbore rules haven't changed. Now we have the newer classification of smoothrifle. Which is a gun that looks like a "kentucky" rifle but has a rear sight.
I have seen rear sights on smoothbored military guns as well.
I guess the answers are:
1) Most original fowlers didn't have rear sights, but there were probably some with them since the guns were all hand made.
2) Many original "Kentucky" rifles weren't rifled, they were smoothbores.
3) If you shoot in competition, most clubs will follow the NMLRA rules and not allow a smoothbore to have a rear sight above the plane of the barrel.
4) If you have a rear sight on your smoothbore you can still compete in the rifle matches.
I was in a match yesterday shooting against three others. They were shooting rifles, one was a caplock and the other two were flinters. I was shooting a .60 smoothbore with no rear sight above the plane of the barrel. The targets were all clangers at 25 yards, the smallest clanger was the size of the bottom of a beer can. I hit all 7 gongs, and two of the rifles missed one a piece. Rear sights are for sissies. :blah: :rotf:
Many Klatch
In the intervening 20 or 30 years we have come to understand that there were lots of smoothbores with rear sights, but the smoothbore rules haven't changed. Now we have the newer classification of smoothrifle. Which is a gun that looks like a "kentucky" rifle but has a rear sight.
I have seen rear sights on smoothbored military guns as well.
I guess the answers are:
1) Most original fowlers didn't have rear sights, but there were probably some with them since the guns were all hand made.
2) Many original "Kentucky" rifles weren't rifled, they were smoothbores.
3) If you shoot in competition, most clubs will follow the NMLRA rules and not allow a smoothbore to have a rear sight above the plane of the barrel.
4) If you have a rear sight on your smoothbore you can still compete in the rifle matches.
I was in a match yesterday shooting against three others. They were shooting rifles, one was a caplock and the other two were flinters. I was shooting a .60 smoothbore with no rear sight above the plane of the barrel. The targets were all clangers at 25 yards, the smallest clanger was the size of the bottom of a beer can. I hit all 7 gongs, and two of the rifles missed one a piece. Rear sights are for sissies. :blah: :rotf:
Many Klatch
Thanks, you answered my next question; NMLRA matches. I too, have done quite well against rifles, but am always trying to improve my edge, but staying "period correct". I'll leave the sight off.
TurkeyGobbler
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I would agree the safe bet would be don't add one
Capt. Jas.
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In my limited views, I have seen way more French and German fowling pieces with some type of rear sights than English.
Creates more trouble than it helps in a fowling piece. Of course most these days don't seem to use the piece for much more than single projectiles, in which a rear sight will help.
Creates more trouble than it helps in a fowling piece. Of course most these days don't seem to use the piece for much more than single projectiles, in which a rear sight will help.
