AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: QuanLoi on March 19, 2016, 12:36:34 AM

Title: Fowler Question
Post by: QuanLoi on March 19, 2016, 12:36:34 AM

I've been shooting flintlocks for years and have built a few... and I've always wondered why fowlers generally are missing the rail behind the bow of the trigger guard.  I've scanned what literature I could, and have referenced this site to find an answer.  I've had absolutely no luck answering this question.  Why no rail?

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 19, 2016, 12:38:28 AM

Easier to grip, very fast.

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: QuanLoi on March 19, 2016, 03:24:11 AM

Then why have a rail on any longrifle at all?

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: rich pierce on March 19, 2016, 03:58:57 AM

This is a mystery.

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: Mike Brooks on March 19, 2016, 03:33:35 PM

Quote from: QuanLoi on March 19, 2016, 03:24:11 AM

Then why have a rail on any longrifle at all?

Cool factor.

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: Dan'l 1946 on March 19, 2016, 06:01:26 PM

  I think the answer lies in the different ways that rifles and fowlers are used. Like Mike said, the rail-less grip is quicker to grasp and works better on a birding piece. The rifle works just as well with or without a grip rail but the rail does seem to position the hand better when the rifle uses set triggers--at least for me.
                                                              Dan

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: Majorjoel on March 19, 2016, 10:05:40 PM

It is the simple question that is the hardest to answer. If you go back to Europe where many of our early gunsmiths came from, you will find that is the way they did things.

Title: Re: Fowler Question
Post by: QuanLoi on March 20, 2016, 09:06:14 PM

Thanks for the replies.  Now, I'll stop scratching my head in bewilderment and forget about it.