Tip Curtis Fowler??

[Southarkrob]

I am wanting a 20 ga fowler or trade gun pretty bad. I found Tip Curtis's name on here last nite and called him up...he has to be one of the nicest guys I have talked to about guns lately. I am trying my best to scrape my pennies together to get one of his guns. How do his guns compare to the other builders? I was going to order the Pedersoli Trade gun from Dixie (due to the amount of money I have saved)... but after talking to him..I dont know. Are his guns HC? I really appreciate you guys...Robbie

 

[hawkeye2]

A great person and top quality work. By one of his assembled guns in the white and finish it yourself. You can save some $$ that way or put the money you would have saved to an upraded piece of wood. I bought my wife one of his unfinished rifles and she has it almost finished. There isn't much work to be done to one, some sanding, clean up some of the hardware and polish, brown or whatever the steel and you are done.

 

[Southarkrob]

Thanks Hawk... I was wondering how hard it would be to finish one...I am not very handy when it comes to wood working and would hate to ruin a gun I paid this much for. Is it just sanding or do you have to shape any of the stock??? Thanks Robbie

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I am wanting a 20 ga fowler or trade gun pretty bad. I found Tip Curtis's name on here last nite and called him up...he has to be one of the nicest guys I have talked to about guns lately. I am trying my best to scrape my pennies together to get one of his guns. How do his guns compare to the other builders? I was going to order the Pedersoli Trade gun from Dixie (due to the amount of money I have saved)... but after talking to him..I dont know. Are his guns HC? I really appreciate you guys...Robbie

I have seen his in the white guns at events. Some look a little better done than others and is probably due to varying individuals he has contracted to put them together but they all for the most part appear to be a good deal for the money.

As far as PC goes, do your own research. Dont rely on a gun seller to tell you what is correct. Most times you will be disappointed as you learn more.
Some of the parts I have seen used on some of those in the white guns (fowling pieces in particular)are not appropriate for certain time frames, styles etc.

I would not get the Ped. trade gun.

As far as comparing the in the white guns to other builders, I would have to ask "what builders"? Are we comparing them to guys who have built a few guns or really good, well named builders? I can bet you would be more pleased with the Carlonia trade gun Mike Brooks has on his website for sale now, which is finished by a pro, historically correct and ready to go for just a little more money. The difference in price is nothing compared to the difference in value, especially down the road.

The in the white guns are put together in a workman like manner with off the rack parts at an affordable price.

I would be more inclined to get something really good from the get go, even if I had to put down a down payment to hold it til I came up with the balance. The Brooks gun, if still available is a wonderful piece to have and has the correct rear sight for the Carolina gun. There is another trade gun for sale now on the CLA site.

 

[KJGROHS]

Hey don't worry none, Tip's a stand up guy, I've known him for just about as long as ive been in the hobbie almost 40 years, built some from his in the white to just buying rough blanks, to just pre-carved, every time they get finished someone else wants it more than me, so they get sold sounds like your first purchase and prices are great, you won't go wrong, and they are hc/ pc

 

[BigDeutscher]

does any one know a guesstament on current prices of tip fowlers in the white?
Starting at around....?
Top dollar in the white?
Deutsch

 

[Southarkrob]

$1195 plus shipping...for a in the white..all you have to do is stain the stock and metal.

 

[gonzomann]

I have done business with Tip Curtis on several occasions, and would never hesitate to do business with him again. Tip is a real stand up fellow. :thumbsup:

 

[BigDeutscher]

Just got off the phone with Tip
Sounds like a TV show....
He will be at Dixons ,end of July
He will have around 100 guns or more
Very nice Guy
I wanted to order one but Heck.... he doesn't have a web site or catalog
I dont want to spend 1250 bucks ,un-seen
Does anyone have one of his guns
Can some one post some pics?
He mentioned a new gun he is building
sanentien? sp?
46" french trade gun .62 cal
I would like to see it but I might just have to cool my jets till Dixons

Deutsch

 

[Southarkrob]

I would not have any qualms about ordering a gun site unseen from Tip.. he is a heckuva guy,

 

[higene]

I just got a Jackie Brown fowler. Great guns and good prices.

Hope you got your gun.

If not, check these out!
http://historicaltrekking.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=5f4ba64425c1cb893aafd67cb6bdce58

Higene

 

[mtcurman]

I would not have any qualms about ordering a gun site unseen from Tip.. he is a heckuva guy,

+1. He's a class act.

 

[gizamo]

BigDeutscher

Just got off the phone with Tip
Sounds like a TV show....
He will be at Dixons ,end of July
He will have around 100 guns or more
Very nice Guy
I wanted to order one but Heck.... he doesn't have a web site or catalog
I dont want to spend 1250 bucks ,un-seen
Does anyone have one of his guns
Can some one post some pics ?



Fusil de Chasse, Tulle..... in a .54 Smoothbore.... 28 gauge...

 

[paulvallandigham]

Tip is at Friendship for the Spring and Fall shoots, and attends many of the larger rendezvous. I have shopped his Trailer many times over the years, at Friendship, and his stock just gets better and better. You won't be disappointed with any gun you buy "in the white" from him. If you don't like it when you get it, just ship it back, and call him to tell him what wasn't to your liking. He will work with you, or send you your money back- your choice. :thumbsup:

 

[tg]

". Are his guns HC? I really appreciate you guys..."

They probably could be if one pushes the issue a French Fusil "Tulle' for exampled would have a flat sideplate.non-browned barrel and no nobs on the frizzen, a 2" section of 16 flats before a sinhgle ring, you pretty much have to do your own research with most builders and tell them what you want to get any degree of histotical accuracy, typiocaly builders who move a lot of guns are the last source of information on PC/HC to go by.

 

[gizamo]

I am of mixed.feelings on this. I would agree with my good friend, tg ...about the flattened sideplate. But if you reference "For Trade and Treaty" by Ryan Gale, the gun Pavfille A Tvlle is pretty dead on at pages 17 thru 20.. Obviously a percussion conversion with forestock issues, but the basic architecture remains.

Giz

Edited to note:

The gun discussed is in the private collection of David and Carole Ripplinger...and dates to 1729-1734.

The Ripplingers own TOTW.

 

[tg]

The locks and barrels are the big issues with the "Tulles" made by nearly all builders today, you have to make one or find a builder with Alexes
knowlegde to get a good one from the historical accuracy standpoint the architecture varies quite a bit on originals, amd most of todaysrifles are lacking the most basic moulding lines that would have been on nearly any gun made in the past, all is a measure to keep the cost within reason and is understandable, this is whay one needed to do their homework particularly the more guns a given supplier makes in a year as a rule, I have seen some ridiculis writeups about their guns from several of the makers in this class, complete garbage for the most part, they are seling guns not teaching gun history a point to well remember.Then again their product is sufficient for the needs of most.

 

[gizamo]

You ever make it up here to the Northernmost and Easternmost lands... Let me know....

Be fun to walk into your camp some night...and Herald introductions.

Giz....

Isaac Pease to my friends.....

 

[KJGROHS]

Tips a great guy

As for french guns or anything French they are the pits

 

[Stumpkiller]

As for french guns or anything French they are the pits

Easy on the troll. If it weren't for the French our flintlocks might still look like this English doglock.

The French refined the sear and tumbler to what it became in the 1740's.