Author Topic: Fowler or smooth rifle?  (Read 1905 times)

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Fowler or smooth rifle?
« on: November 03, 2017, 04:07:38 PM »
I am a beginning student of antique longrifles, so any and all comments will be appreciated.  I am curious about this piece. 

The following makes me think smooth rifle. The barrel is octagon to round, smoothbored, but it has a flat on the top of the barrel from breech to muzzle.  It has a rear sight.  The front sight is elongated, not a simple bead.  The trigger guard has a spur.

But there is no cheek piece, and other than the spur the trigger guard and the butt plate look fowler.  What do you think?

Thanks,
-Ron









« Last Edit: November 03, 2017, 04:13:46 PM by Ky-Flinter »
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline rich pierce

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Re: Fowler or smooth rifle?
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2017, 05:03:50 PM »
I lean toward fowler on this one. Not all are easily categorized. What caliber smoothbore is it?
Andover, Vermont

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: Fowler or smooth rifle?
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2017, 05:13:38 PM »
Thanks Rich.  The barrel is .57 caliber, 39" long.  The lock is marked T. Ketland & Co.

-Ron
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline Chowmi

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Re: Fowler or smooth rifle?
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2017, 05:40:15 PM »
Looks like it has Cast-on, rather than Cast-off as well.
Interesting

Norm
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Fowler or smooth rifle?
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2017, 05:52:45 PM »
Hard to tell when that rear sight may have been put on there. Generally top sighting flats are found on NE guns and French guns. That's probably where this barrel originated. Most of the mounts look new England , but the stock architecture isn't quite right. I'd call it a fowling gun with a rear sight added. ;)
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