Building for my own pleasure and at a leisurely pace, I start thinking about my next rifle a year or two in advance. Inspiration doesn’t come to me in a flash. Rather, it’s a series of mini-flashes as I research the next project.
In the past, inspiration has come from a specific rifle or several rifles by a specific gun maker. I haven’t tried to build a copy but rather emulate various characteristics I found pleasing to the eye. Researching the rifles and the gun maker through books, originals and contemporary rifles helped bring the rifle I’m imagining into focus as I incorporated various attributes and discarded others.
However, inspiration for my upcoming project has been different. I wanted to build a Kentucky fowler that a Dauphin gun maker might have built. However, I’ve not found any photos or references to fowlers built by this maker, though I’m sure he did. Thus, I’ve had to imagine a fowler that might have come from his shop, likely requested by a client. In essence, knowing his rifles and building characteristics, what might this fowler have looked like? It’s been a fun exercise and valuable (inspiring?) learning process. I’m anxious to start making wood chips this spring.
