fowling piece /military /civilian

[alex e.]

I need some guidance, I see a lot of original English Officer's fusils.most are styled after military arms of the time,The forend at the Entry pipe  on many has the "swell you see  on Guns such as the Brown Bess.Was this strictly a military feature?Or did it carry over to civilian arms?I see more civilian/New England type arms arms with out the swell.And to confuse it more it looks like some commercial muskets of the time have no swell either.

Alex the confused.........

[James Rogers]

There is no standardized rule on civilian arms. As far as English guns go, some civilian pieces had that feature. I believe you will see more of the "dog knot" on early 18th century civilian guns than you will later. Even Barber was making the swell on some sporting duck arms in the 1750-60 period.

There are plenty here better than me that can answer on the "Nawthun" guns from America.