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Author Topic: Fowler sights  (Read 4805 times)

arthur

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Fowler sights
« on: February 18, 2018, 06:12:19 AM »
Rear sight on a fowler is it common
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2018, 06:32:35 AM »
No.
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Offline conquerordie

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2018, 02:15:29 PM »
Historically not the most common like Rich said. But you do find originals that sometimes had them. What are you going to use the gun for ? That will help you decide.
Greg
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2018, 05:57:24 PM »
Not a stickler for HC stuff but knowing I needed a rear sight to make sure I am on target when that gobbler comes in and things get crazy, I made a sight out of angle iron and put it on my fowler build. My fowler shoots round balls pretty well, I don't shoot it enough to get proficient with the front sight alone, the rear sight helps.

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Offline Daryl

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2018, 06:03:55 PM »
Smooth rifles (smoothbores with rear sights) were ordered fairly often by 'Stores out West', it seems - according to my reference info.

Pretty sure rear sights are not allowed in smoothbore round ball events. I don't know if anyone has tried pushing to see if that is a rule.  It seems to run against the 'flavour' of that type of shoot.
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Daryl

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Offline iloco

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2018, 06:05:11 PM »
I have a Mike Brooks Fowler that he added a sight to it before I got the gun.  I like the Fowler with the sight.
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iloco

Offline t.caster

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2018, 06:30:05 PM »
I use a rear sight on mine for hunting deer, but nobody around here lets me use it in smoothbore competition. It's the rules, of course. So I take it out and slide a flat brass piece into the dovetail.
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Tom C.

n stephenson

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2018, 07:37:02 PM »
Quote from: Eric Krewson on February 18, 2018, 05:57:24 PM
Not a stickler for HC stuff but knowing I needed a rear sight to make sure I am on target when that gobbler comes in and things get crazy, I made a sight out of angle iron and put it on my fowler build. My fowler shoots round balls pretty well, I don't shoot it enough to get proficient with the front sight alone, the rear sight helps.


   Eric, That is a nice looking sight!  I too , have used angle iron for sights . I try to keep a few pieces around for that. Nate
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Offline Clark Badgett

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2018, 07:58:59 PM »
It seems most smoothbores were made without rear sights, excluding smooth rifles of course. That being said, I have seen a few originals that seem to have been alter with an added rear sight at some time in their working lives. Even a couple of NW trade guns had them added, and if someone took the time to have one added to those then there was a need perceived by some.
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Offline wattlebuster

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2018, 09:03:26 PM »
Only thing I use a smoothbore for is turkey hunting an I really like a rear sight for that. Dont know how common they were but i bet they were more common than most think. If I wing shot for fowl I doubt I would want a back sight
« Last Edit: February 18, 2018, 09:04:24 PM by wattlebuster »
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Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2018, 09:45:21 PM »
I built an 16 bore Fowler and made a rear sight for it similar to a sight that James Rogers showed me. If I remember correctly he said several like it had been dug by relic hunters. It seemed to help me for wing shooting.

Clay Smith carries them most of the time, I bought one but have yet to use it.
Dennis
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Offline Keb

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2018, 10:17:42 PM »
Quote from: Daryl on February 18, 2018, 06:03:55 PM
...Pretty sure rear sights are not allowed in smoothbore round ball events. I don't know if anyone has tried pushing to see if that is a rule.  It seems to run against the 'flavour' of that type of shoot.
Smoothbores and trade guns are 2 different animals according to the NMLRA rules. The last I knew it was OK to use a rear sight in a smoothbore match but not a trade gun match.
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Hemo

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2018, 11:17:01 PM »
Rear sights on fowlers are certainly very rare but not unheard of. Here is an original English export fowler from around 1790-1810 with an original rear sight (or at least an old one--it might have been added during the gun's working life):



While technically not a rear sight, many fowlers having a hooked breech had a hump just behind the barrel with a rounded recess and notch to facilitate aim.







I don't know if the latter solution would violate any smoothbore competition rules. Probably a local decision?

I also have an old 20 gauge fowler I made years ago which has the slot of the tang screw parallel to the bore and protruding slightly above the tang. (Not a hooked breech.) I have used this effectively as a rear sight.

Gregg
« Last Edit: February 18, 2018, 11:31:02 PM by Hemo »
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Offline hanshi

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2018, 02:21:05 AM »
I agree with wattle on this.  Rear sights on smoothbores - trade guns appear to be an obvious exception - were more common than many think.  While only a fairly small percentage had them, from what I've gleaned, they were certainly not a "once-in-a-blue-moon" thing.

My "fowler" has one and so does an almost identical one owned by a hunting buddy.  I never compete or do wing shooting; just deer and shot for turkey.  The rear sight is perfect for those needs.  I don't even shoot small game with shot; I use a rifle. 

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Offline little joe

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Re: Fowler sights
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2018, 04:42:13 AM »
NMLRA rules Smoothbore front sight allowed, rear sight nothing above the rear plain of the barrel. Smooth rifle, Fowler or Rifle lines, rear sight allowed and set triggers allowed. If you put a rear sight on you shoot with the latter.
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