My latest build. .62 French fusil

[Justin Urbantas]

I can see where there is some meat to trim. Tim, would you have the lock plate flush with the wood, or just above it?

[JCurtiss]

It's like beating yourself in the head with a club. It only feels good when you stop.

I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I believe no one is arguing over what a period-correct French Fusil should look like.  Instead these old guns are an art form and a facade that is appealing to one person may not be so to another. For instance I think larger lock panels’ pair well with a BIG smoothbore barrel. But that is merely my interpretation and as others have pointed out, my interpretation does not match the reality of how these guns were actually constructed, which is certainly constructive criticism.

[bob in the woods]

" I am still learning and can always use helpful hints and criticism "     Really ?   If folks just want to build what they think looks good, thats perfectly fine, but if you list a build as a " French fusil "  , and ask for hints etc , don't be surprised if you get the straight goods re the build.  Call it a contemporary piece, based on your own vision of what looks good....no problem. 

[Mike Brooks]

It's like beating yourself in the head with a club. It only feels good when you stop.

I don’t mean to belabor the point, but I believe no one is arguing over what a period-correct French Fusil should look like.  Instead these old guns are an art form and a facade that is appealing to one person may not be so to another. For instance I think larger lock panels’ pair well with a BIG smoothbore barrel. But that is merely my interpretation and as others have pointed out, my interpretation does not match the reality of how these guns were actually constructed, which is certainly constructive criticism.

Oh boy, here I go again..... That is not a BIG barrel. I would be surprised if it is larger than 1 1/16" at the breech. The barrels I use on my french trade guns measures  1 1/4" at the breech, copied directly off an original french trade gun barrel I own. You just have to let go of modern ideas when studying old guns.
Here are some examples of a couple FTD I built using my 1 1/4" barrel. Nothing "BIG" about these guns. They weigh just over 7lbs. with a 53 1/4" barrel.

[Mike Brooks]

More?



There was nothing BIG about 18th century trade type guns.

[alex e.]

I'll offer some constructive comments. As stated,walnut is a preferred wood for a French gun,better yet European walnut is the most proper.
The trigger guard should be inlet.  It will make the wrist area look thinner,which should be no larger than 1.5" on a FDC.
I would slim down the lock panels also . The carving is not proper for a FDC,Its too elongated on the beaver tails and shouldn't flow into the TG.  There should also be a beaver tail at the tang also.
The gun also lacks the 'pied de voche' which makes it uniquely French. in particular, the transition from the comb into the wrist. You have to see and handle a few originals to better understand this.
On the O/R barrel transition, the flats should be filed to 16 flats, and how that was done depended on who the arms maker was.
There are so many nuances to French arms, even a simple fusil de chasse has its own. I do not mean to demean anyone, but offer constructive criticism. Get ''the French Trade Gun in North America' its worth every penny if you're interested in French arms
Ramrod pipes of sheet metal seem to be the norm.
As to weight. If I use my St. Etienne barrel pattern cut to 44". I can get one in at 7 lbs.

[im

[alex e.]

A St. Etienne fusil de chasse. Rifle shoppe parts, my barrel pattern from an original St. E. Fusil de chases ca.. 1740's

[Tim Crosby]

I can see where there is some meat to trim. Tim, would you have the lock plate flush with the wood, or just above it?

Above maybe half the thickness of the plate. Take a look at the second PIC in the 2nd set of PIX Mike posted.

  Tim C.

[Justin Urbantas]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I was building it based on pictures of other contemporary built ones, and one I bought a few years back. I should have looked at originals from the start. There are so many minute details to figure out.

[Mike Brooks]

Yep, have to be careful with your sources. Lots of vendors selling stuff that looks good if you don't use good research.

[alex e.]

Yep, have to be careful with your sources. Lots of vendors selling stuff that looks good if you don't use good research.

Ain't that the truth!

[smallpatch]

Mike,

I spent the last weekend with my two 14 yr old grandsons.  They know EVERTHING!

It's amazing how much I've forgotten in the last 51 years.
It seems grandfathers, long time gun builders, and Iowa chicken farmers just don't know about them fancy smoothies.

[Flint62Smoothie]

The gun also lacks the 'pied de voche' which makes it uniquely French. in particular, the transition from the comb into the wrist.

Now I'm confused ...  , as while there may certainly be errors in Rusel Bouchard's book, The Fusil de Tulle in New France, 1691-1741, he quite clearly illustrates, writes about and shows pictures of actual Tulle fusils from the Parks Canada and Simon Gilbert collections, where the early 1700s models (specifically the 1729 model shown) do not have the pronounced cows's foot ('pied de vache') profile.

[oldtravler61]

   Was told along time ago. If you think you taken off enough wood. Whittle some more. Just sayin. But if the buyer's happy that's all that matters till the next one.   Mike

[rich pierce]

I think you're right Mike. Walnut and steel look great together.

I don't want to speak for Mike, but the reason to use walnut is that is what these fusils were stocked in.  It's not a choice to use maple unless one does not care to emulate originals.  English walnut would be correct but American black walnut can be used well enough. 

I think companies like Track who offer options on their kits that were never present on originals, should at least say so. 

[Mike Brooks]

The gun also lacks the 'pied de voche' which makes it uniquely French. in particular, the transition from the comb into the wrist.

Now I'm confused ...  , as while there may certainly be errors in Rusel Bouchard's book, The Fusil de Tulle in New France, 1691-1741, he quite clearly illustrates, writes about and shows pictures of actual Tulle fusils from the Parks Canada and Simon Gilbert collections, where the early 1700s models (specifically the 1729 model shown) do not have the pronounced cows's foot ('pied de vache') profile.

I'm not sure exactly which gun you are referring to, but the one on  the cover is actually a New England made gun. I believe it is illustrated in one other place in the book also.

[oldtravler61]

   Rich I agree with you. It would be nice for new builders if they could buy more accurate parts. Which means the correct lock,trigger gaurd an r.r. thimbles. If they don't make there own. Sometimes you can study, study. Yet miss the fine points that make it correct. Without handling or seeing originals. You don't grasp the overall architecture of the gun. Wished more books would show the top an bottom view along with the side pictures. Just my opinion.   Mike

[AsMs]

Rich Pierce,

Thanks again for re posting Lucky’s pics the other day.  Any chance you could resurrect the photos that Mike and Alex posted. Would love to be able to see the points that they are referring to. Some of the posts on French Fusils lately on the forum have peaked my interest to learn more.

Thanks in advance

AsMs

[rich pierce]

I think I restored all the ones that could be restored.

[AsMs]

Thanks again

You are fast

AsMs