AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Mike Brooks on December 07, 2013, 01:47:19 AM

Title: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 07, 2013, 01:47:19 AM
Built this a little while ago. Hoyt 20 bore barrel oct. fading to round 51 1/4" long. (4 pieds). English walnut. chambers modified Ketland lock. Butt plate and sideplate are home made. Typical 1740 era French trade gun.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F005_zpsa830ef9a.jpg&hash=d90a61b30f90ba0da54f2710bf89cc76019b1f2e)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F006_zps98fdf9f1.jpg&hash=91cc47acb19b44d3deff7bcca6d4825f9171751c)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F007_zpsdd13871e.jpg&hash=9e3a084a8351c1775bf98b5321616d2668deb429)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F008_zps5db6a0f2.jpg&hash=699f55490f437f486560f5636a77f7550de1fb27)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F009_zpsd8fa668d.jpg&hash=17a68b7b0fc96370c8172c22ae79b4e9a16e06da)
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 07, 2013, 01:50:00 AM
More....
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F010_zps339bfb6b.jpg&hash=31a79a1c6d6cdd8176d742ce1e4dda0f06e690df)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F012_zps5e0cdae9.jpg&hash=7cdee7d4ae03aa75a598f361e8c26c75668cf25d)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F013_zps948b232f.jpg&hash=7794c81e573af3fccfb60c7163417ab83baa2850)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F322%2520french%2520fusil%2520de%2520trait%2F014_zps23685170.jpg&hash=6a815802174b3bf5077ffb166400a8ae8c625168)
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: wattlebuster on December 07, 2013, 01:51:47 AM
Mike I really like your guns.  ;D
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: KLMoors on December 07, 2013, 05:24:34 AM
 Cool stuff!  Run piggy run!
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Keb on December 07, 2013, 06:02:39 PM
Nice. The pics may have a blue tint but I see only green.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 07, 2013, 08:36:44 PM
Yep, blueish. It was so dark here when I took those pictures I had to play around with the brightness and contrast when I edited the photos. That's what you get for light most of the time in Iowa in the winter! ;)
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Ezra on December 17, 2013, 07:14:30 AM
Very nice Mike.   ;D

Ez
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Kopfjaeger on December 17, 2013, 06:31:15 PM
what's the price ?
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Vomitus on December 17, 2013, 11:10:12 PM
   Nice gun Mike, my kinda long! Sweet.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 18, 2013, 01:51:28 AM
what's the price ?
Sold before I made it. I could make you one just like it if you want. ;D
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: TradT on December 20, 2013, 05:34:09 AM
Wow, beautiful gun! You do some really nice work.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: gizamo on December 21, 2013, 01:11:41 AM
Beauty of a gun...

But what am I seeing ahead at the top of the breech? ;D

 (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1351.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp800%2Fgizamo2%2F012_zps38f2038f.jpg&hash=d9a022e1178a28a97bfe554e4666a23c18d05f0d)
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on December 21, 2013, 01:29:14 AM
Sighting groove filed in the breech plug? my original french barrel is that way.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: gizamo on December 21, 2013, 01:36:43 AM
Awesome....

Can you post a pic of the original.  That really is a rare attribute!

Giz
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: iloco on December 27, 2013, 11:05:50 PM
I really like the finish on this Fusil de trait a lot.  Very well done.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Darrin McDonal on January 09, 2014, 05:00:29 AM
Very nice Mike!!! You give them a beautiful warm look & feel.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: SuperCracker on January 21, 2014, 04:30:53 PM
What is the origin of the "folk art" dogs running a pig?  Is that a historical thing or a Brooks thing?

Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: James Rogers on January 21, 2014, 04:56:09 PM
There is a sideplate on a gun  by Mahay of Paris circa 1730. It has two dogs chasing a porker as well.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on January 22, 2014, 01:54:06 AM
What is the origin of the "folk art" dogs running a pig?  Is that a historical thing or a Brooks thing?


Hounds chasing game is quite common 1730's - 40's french guns. Trade gun scenes can be quite crude and high level guns are very nicely done. I have always found the pig charming so I tend to do that one over stags or foxes.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Canute Rex on January 22, 2014, 06:35:06 PM
I know I've asked this before elsewhere, but I haven't gotten an answer that satisfies me yet.

I notice that you left very little flat surface surrounding the lock. I like that look, but I have seen wide variations in how much builders leave there. In some cases the lock seems to be an island in an ocean of flat wood. In others there is more flat below and less above, or vice versa, or front to back. In some cases the outline of the flat mimics the lock shape and in others there seems to be only the vaguest relation.

Is there a best practice, or does it vary by style and era? Is it just personal taste? Is there a relation between the area around the lock and the area around the sideplate?

Thanks for sharing the pics.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on January 22, 2014, 08:59:55 PM
To my eye, Mike has really nailed the look of an original fowler.  Studying original flintlock guns or images of them, you will soon get a feeling for the lock panel treatment of which you refer.  This is perhaps even more obvious in European arms.
We as 'replicators' interpret what we see, and try to apply that information to the guns we make.  I think many times, builders like the look of a contemporary piece, and emulate that, rather than going straight back to the source.  This is perhaps why lock panels can be tastefully narrow and discreet, as in Mike's fine piece, or wide and pronounced.  Even loud!  One thing that we builders have difficulty with, is being brave enough to cut away the extra wood, wherever it is on the stock...the barre/ramrod web, the forearm, the cheek piece, the wrist, or the lock panel.  On original pieces, I have not kept a ratio of narrow vs wide panels, but it is my impression that we should be shooting for the narrow look.

Nice gun Mike.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: B Shipman on January 24, 2014, 07:46:35 AM
Very cool gun as usual. That butt stock looks awfully neat though.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on January 24, 2014, 04:22:30 PM
Thanks for the comments guys. Got another one of these to do soon.
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Tony N on January 24, 2014, 06:14:48 PM
That is a beautiful piece of wood, and a beautiful gun!!

~Tony
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Wes/Tex on February 01, 2014, 01:23:45 PM
Excellent job, Mike. I thoroughly love the long, sleek lines of the French design styles. Congratulations!
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: captpete on May 16, 2014, 05:59:30 PM
Speaking of interpretations, what is the differences between the rifle you've built and say the C/fin version of the French Fusil?
BTW, I really admire your work!
Best Regards
-- Peter
Title: Re: French fusil de trait
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 17, 2014, 04:15:36 PM
Speaking of interpretations, what is the differences between the rifle you've built and say the C/fin version of the French Fusil?
BTW, I really admire your work!
Best Regards
-- Peter
The difference between a de trait and a fin is basically a quality thing. The fin will have a bridal on the tumbler, better barrel and the decoration will be more skill full and better executed. There will also be a over all  higher degree of fit and finish.