Early Germanic fowling piece at CLA

[rich pierce]

I forget the name of the Southern gentleman who let me photo this early Germanic fowling piece.  There has been some discussion that it is of a type which was likely ancestral to the famouse Brass Barreled Rifle.  That is, the architecture, particularly of the cheekpiece and buttstock, seem to be a style that was carried on, in a pared down, sleeker style, in the later Brass Barreled Rifle.  Of interest to me it has a Spanish style barrel and is now a halfstock.  There are no evidences of dovetails on the underside of the barrel indicating it was previously a fullstock, but it could have had bands.  I apologize that I did not get a full length view.  I'd be interested in your thoughts on this gun, period and place of its manufacture, details about it's architecture, particularly the breech/tang/wrist top line transtion, and the cheekpiece.

[Eric Kettenburg]

At first glance, looks like it was always a halfstock, which is certainly not out of the ordinary.

[Michael]

Possibility it may be a German made trade gun. Not necessarly made for the indian trade?? Just a thought.

[Acer Saccharum]

Most likely built as a halfstock. Very common for fowlers. Wedding band just ahead of nosecap on bbl goes all the way around. Thanks for posting these pix.

[rich pierce]

Looking closely at the entry thimble there is a piece of wood, possibly rosewood or possibly a restoration, in front of the thimble and behind the horn nosecap .

Any thoughts on timeframe?  1740-1760; based on the lock as not being any earlier than that?

[heinz]

I believe that is Jim Kibler's Claude Niquet fowler previously discussed at http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=19770.15
Jim is certanly a well mannered gentleman but he will be somewhat amused to be described as "southern"
Note that, if it is that piece, it is currently listed in the ALR classifieds.

[James Rogers]

Jim had it for sale and maybe it's new owner is "southron"
It's a Liege made piece with what Jim assumed was a faked Spanish barrel of the period.
Neat piece.

[rich pierce]

I hesitated and lost on the deal.  Lesson learned.  I certainly was even more impressed with the mass of the piece when I saw it in person.

[Stophel]

Nice gun.  I have no doubt it was always half stocked.  Standard procedure with German smoothbores.

And I say "German" with the caveat that the gun could easily be Belgian or Flemish.  I have been surprised to see how many "German" guns there are out there that have turned out to be Flemish.  In fact, this particular gun has that sort of look about it.