FYI, some good points to consider there from FC!
Jackie Brown could make you one in the white, if not finished, for that budget. In AUG 2020 he quoted me $950 + $35 shipping for a 48" barreled 62-caliber club butt fowler, unifinished in the white. PM me if you want his email. Be 'aware' his prices could have gone up. We can help you finish one if you get one ...
A few things - There are many undenyably better to
great to fantastic builders out there; meaning what they'll sell you is historically correct with perfect architecture, fancy wood, premium barrels, styling, carvings, etc., ... but at a
much higher build price, etc.
I would not say that Jackie's guns or ability is
'rough' ... rather, what you will get from him, as a
good builder, is a perfectly suitable flintlock made from really good to better parts, likely he same parts others use. Personally I find his arms a much better value proposition than say buying an $800+ Pedersoli or some other 'unknown' arm and hoping that the flint works reliably. All of the locks from Jackie I've received have worked perfectly from the 'git go'.
I have 2 flint smoothies from Jackie now and once had a 3rd. One is a 60" barreled 75-caliber with fancy tiger stripes of club butt design that is to die for! Accurate as all get out too, but it tends to break the gong or other metal targets when I shoot it at woodswalk events (100+ grain loads in paper cartridges), so I switch over to the 62-cal.
I'd strongly urge you towards his 62-cal club butt of 44" to 48" barrel ... with the fully tapered round barrel. They look cool (not many carry Club Butts), of early design (late 1600s) so could be used at any event really. Plus they
are very light, easy to the shoulder, easy to handle even with the length, and can be used for game, whether it be deer or birds or targets. The one shown below was cherry stocked, but antiqued, of 48"barrel.
