Author Topic: English Fowler.....  (Read 12587 times)

Offline cmac

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #25 on: October 30, 2016, 04:09:40 PM »
Amazing work! Can you post a picture of the buttplate?

Offline jerrywh

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #26 on: October 31, 2016, 01:03:25 AM »
 That is a real nice job on the wire work Ed. 
Nobody is always correct, Not even me.

Offline Mikeh

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #27 on: October 31, 2016, 01:24:45 AM »
Ed, i have to agree with  all that has already been said. Beautiful piece. I have a fine bird dog, now if i could only have a fowler like that to go along with him. Am going to buy a lottery ticket. Keep up your masterful work!  Mikeh
Mikeh

Offline Ed Wenger

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #28 on: October 31, 2016, 01:42:58 AM »
Thanks again, everyone, greatly appreciated...

cmac..., here's a photo of the butt piece:


Again, thanks, and happy to answer any questions.



               Ed
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Offline J. Talbert

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #29 on: October 31, 2016, 04:56:28 AM »
Superb!

Gorgeous, but restrained.

Love it,
Jeff
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Offline Keithbatt

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #30 on: October 31, 2016, 05:38:29 AM »
Not that it means much from someone so inexperienced, but this is spectacular. Thank for sharing.


Keith

Offline B Shipman

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #31 on: October 31, 2016, 06:07:25 AM »
Wow. The carving is right on. The Wire is charming.  Love the hummingbird.  It may be the photo but the line between the comb and the wrist  should be sharp and not rounded at all. This is a small thing. Really impressive.

pushboater

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #32 on: October 31, 2016, 07:07:47 PM »
OUTSTANDING !!!! Do you know what the final weight came in at? I'm looking to build a New England Fowler in the future and was interested in the barrel weight also. Great job Ed!

Capt. David

Offline Ed Wenger

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #33 on: October 31, 2016, 08:47:31 PM »
David...  I haven't weighed it, but it's light, I would guess in the 6-7 lb. range.  A lot of that is due to the barrel, which is not as robust as other smooth bore, fowler type barrels.



             Ed
Ed Wenger

ClaudeH

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #34 on: November 02, 2016, 06:12:08 AM »
I see something I have to ask about.  In the wire inlays on the left side of the buttstock, southwest of the hummingbird's tail, the main tendril turns into a rectangular box and back into a tendril.

What is the significance of that detail?

Offline Curtis

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #35 on: November 02, 2016, 07:59:39 AM »

Thanks, Curtis!  You can stop by anytime to pick it up, just don't forget your check book, lol....


Alrighty, Ed, I'll be there in a couple of days with the wife's checkbook!  A couple of other questions for you....

Is that trigger one you made?  Have you further contemplated making and perhaps selling those sideplate castings?

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Long John

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #36 on: November 02, 2016, 04:39:28 PM »
Ed,

Absolutely super work!  That gun is simply awesome!

I have a question for you on your wire work.  At the ends of many of the tendrils you have a 'dot".  I assume that is either a little nail or pin driven into the wood.  Which is it?  Do you make them from wire?  If so, what material and gauge?  How long are they?  Do you pre-drill holes or just hammer them in?  OK.  That's more than one question but I got on a roll.

I hope you bring that with you to the Fair next summer!  Or maybe Lewisburg?

Best Regards,

John Cholin

Offline Ed Wenger

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #37 on: November 02, 2016, 06:54:56 PM »
The rectangular box is an English stylistic thing.  It's probably hard to see in the photo, but the box is "pierced" by the wire.  This is a method used by English (and others) to break up one element into another.

Curtis....  I did make the trigger.  I don't have any plans on producing the side plates.  I do plan on floating the idea to someone who might be amenable to that endeavor.  I just don't have the time, resources, or inclination to undertake it.  I'd also like to make some other patterns.....

John...  Thank you.  The "dots" are round silver wire.  The larger ones are 18ga, the smaller ones are 20ga.  The wire is worked to a point, then a couple nicks are made with a straight chisel to act as anchors, low on the shaft.  They are then cut to length, about 3/16" or so.  The stock is stabbed with a thin awl to create the hole for the wire.  The wire is placed in the hole, gently tapped until it's just proud of the wood surface, then the wood is wetted to swell the wood around the wire, and anchor it in place.  The wire is then filed flush to the wood (after it's dry) with a fine file.  Hope that all makes sense.....   If I still have it by Lewisburg or Dixon's, I'll gladly bring it, but sincerely hope it's found a new home by then 😬...


         Ed
« Last Edit: November 02, 2016, 07:01:26 PM by Ed Wenger »
Ed Wenger

Offline runastav

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #38 on: November 02, 2016, 08:07:45 PM »
Very nice gun!
Runar

Offline acorn20

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #39 on: November 03, 2016, 03:55:02 AM »
Had the opportunity to view this fowler in Front Royal last Friday and it handles superbly.  Great execution all the way round, Ed.
Dan Akers

Offline Seth Isaacson

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #40 on: November 03, 2016, 04:26:55 PM »
Your detail work is gorgeous. I am regularly amazed at the skills of the artisans here. I can scarcely draw a solid stick figure, so those highly detailed birds are astounding to me.  ;D You've created a beautiful work of art.
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Offline Marcruger

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #41 on: November 03, 2016, 05:31:40 PM »
I got to see this work of functional art yesterday. It balances wonderfully and is much lighter than one would guess. The pictures don't do the details justice. Everywhere you look there are delightful details that contribute to the whole. The wire inlay is incredibly thin, and the layout really works. Someone is going to be really happy owning this one! Best wishes, Marc PS, love the tang carving.

Offline Daryl

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #42 on: November 04, 2016, 02:11:55 AM »
WOW - this thread - what a treat for Taylor when he gets home from moose hunting.
Daryl

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Offline Marcruger

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #43 on: November 04, 2016, 03:28:02 AM »
Two things I forgot to mention. 

I really like the way that Ed left the top of the breech/tang square and raised with a trough sight versus the round barrel.  It naturally attracts the eye. 

I also am enjoying the engraving work with the recessed stippled panels such as the butt-plate and the lock plate. It certainly catches your eye in person. 

It's hard to know where to look next......

Best wishes,   Marc

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #44 on: November 05, 2016, 06:40:57 PM »
What an exciting fowling piece!  Great work Ed.  Folks have already expressed the appreciation we have for your work and I am happy to jump aboard.
What impresses me is the lovely wire inlay work on the underside of the lower forestock.  Working silver ribbon around a convex shape like that is simply hair pulling, and Ed pulled it off beautifully.
All very artfully successful and tasty!!
D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline bama

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Re: English Fowler.....
« Reply #45 on: November 05, 2016, 10:06:12 PM »
Two in one week, thats about more beautiful work than my heart can take. Fabulous work Ed.
Jim Parker

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