Old smooth bore.

[al56]

Bought this 40 years ago.  Use to shoot it.  It has a hooked breech.  Lock looks like it's been converted.  Any ideas on how old etc.

[Mattox Forge]

Bought this 40 years ago.  Use to shoot it.  It has a hooked breech.  Lock looks like it's been converted.  Any ideas on how old etc.

Looks like it was cut down from a full stock. It appears to have a slight swell. It might be a trade quality English export fowler.

The full stock with swell, lock shape, and the hooked breech and wedges are 1770ish fashions. The non-raised guard with what appears to be a pineapple fineal and scroll grip, are 1780ish fashions. The lower quality guns didn't necessarily follow the latest trends, so I would guess this was made in England as a flintlock between 1795 and 1810. The butt carving, checkering, percussion drum conversion, and stock cut down came later. They may have been done at the same time, or may have been done over time. That's my guess.

Are there any marks on the barrel or lock? How long is the barrel and does it appear to have been cut down?

Mike

[al56]

The barrel  is aprox. 36".  There are no markings that I can find on barrel  or lock.  Looks like the barrel  has been shortened but it's hard to tell.

[Mattox Forge]

It may not have been cut down too much with a 36 inch barrel. It was probably stocked to the muzzle originally like your typical trade fowler. It is an interesting piece.

Mike

[Eric Kettenburg]

I don't think that's British at all.  Definitely looks continental to me, somewhere in the Low Country/French/German triangle so to speak.  Mike Brooks could probably be more specific.

[Mattox Forge]

So it might be older? British trends tended to follow and lag behind Continental ones.

[Mike Brooks]

French ca post 1800, maybe as late as 1810ish, originally a full stock. Possibly along the border of France and Germany. Chris Immel would know at a glance, but he doesn't like us anymore.