Author Topic: making an early fowler buttplate (Read 2010 times)

Cory Joe Stewart · « **on:** August 17, 2018, 05:10:24 PM »

This was a first for me. I am building an early fowler for a friend of mine and needed to make the buttplate. I made it from a piece of 1/8" this sheet brass. It was a little too heavy to anneal with my torch so I used charcoal for that. I left the stock heavy to I could safely use it as the form. Lots of beating and banging and it turned out pretty well. I still have some clean up to do.

Cory Joe Stewart

KC · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2018, 07:50:32 PM »

That is one big butt. Very interesting, is it based on an original? How early of time period would this be?
K.C.

deepcreekdale · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2018, 08:46:16 PM »

I love it when gunbuilders go outside the box to come up with something interesting and unusual. Then, come up with a solution so they can make it. Club butt fowlers are beautiful in their own way and you have definitely solved the problem of the buttplate. I appreciate your sharing.

conquerordie · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2018, 10:19:19 PM »

Looks kinda like that fowler Todd Bitler made, a Dutch gun if I remember.

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2018, 01:16:35 AM »

Thanks everyone. Yes it is Dutch. It is inspired by an original in Early American Flintlocks. Bitler did a version of it as well. The book puts it at early 1700s. 1710 to be exact.

Cory Joe Stewart

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2018, 01:26:11 AM »

One thing that is interesting is that everyone who has seen image comments on how big it is. I made the buttplate on the same width and height of an early Bess. I think it is somthing about the architecture exaggerates the look. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2018, 08:56:51 PM »

It wouldn't hurt to handle some originals before you jump into architecture like that.

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2018, 11:07:56 PM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on August 19, 2018, 08:56:51 PM

It wouldn't hurt to handle some originals before you jump into architecture like that.

I have only handled a couple of original fowler's. And only one was even close to this architecture. Are you seeing something that I need to notice?

Cory

bob in the woods · « **Reply #8 on:** August 19, 2018, 11:43:55 PM »

Cory, do you have " Flintlock Fowlers" by Tom Grinslade, or " Colonial Frontier Guns" by T.M. Hamilton ? If not, take a good look at them. Perhaps you can get them from your local library. Lots to see and extremely good stuff if you are into early smoothbores.

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2018, 11:47:56 PM »

Yes I have those.

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