Original Moravian Fowler questions

[Jim Filipski]

These Questions go out to the folks here that have a good knowledge of Moravian Fowlers;
Are all the original Moravian Fowler built in the form of Smooth Rifles or did they also build the more traditional style fowlers with the rounded wrist tapering to the butt, such as seen in English Fowlers?

Did they ever use a more traditional fowler butt plate or only the Rifle style?
In their Carving or Engravings were there ever found any type of Grotesques?

I have a large library of 16th to 18th Century Gun books...but I never got one that was exclusively Moravian guns!
I do plan on getting the KRA book soon...Now that I'm back in my workshop!
Life , Work and New interest have taken up my time for the last 12 years.... But since I have much future builds on the table, figured I would make the best on my retirement years....making sure they are get finished.
Thanks,
Jim

[VP]

Jim,

You should consider getting the CD called "Moravian Made Rifles" along with the book from the Kentucky Rifle Foundation. The CD has a nice fowler pictured in it along with nineteen other rifles. You can purchase their products from their online store.

www.kentuckyriflefoundation.org/store

VP

[Eric Kettenburg]

Jim - I'll second Van's recommendation for either of Bob Lienemann's books as well as the Moravian CD from the KRF.  Soectacular photography.

Also keep in mind that anything being called a 'Moravian' fowler - if you are talking about Northampton Co. Moravians - is largely speculative.  The old RCA piece with the scabbed-on pieces of wood, a smooth rifle, is unsigned and the attribution of it to William Antes is a stretch of fantastic proportions.  The smooth rifle that Rich H. (RIP) used to own is also unsigned and might be Moravian made, or may have been made by someone else in the region.  Really no way to tell.  About the only thing on that one that might tilt toward Moravian manufacture is the toeplate and buttplate being notched together, seen on Oerter rifles which of course are signed as well as the lion/lamb, attributed.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I am finishing one up myself and it is very similar in style to the Edward Marshall rifle. None of the ones I have looked at have the traditional English fowler architecture.






Cory Joe Stewart

[Craig Wilcox]

Corey Joe, knowing your artistic abilities and talent, I am really expecting a full display of both on that nice new firearm.

Sharpen up your gravers and carving chisels/gouges.

[blienemann]

Hi Jim, and thanks for your interest in Moravian made fowlers. The annual inventories of the Christian’s Spring gunshop were written down by the men in the shop, and listed rifles, smooth rifles, fowlers, several fowlers with bayonets, pistols and components.

All the long guns signed by Oerter, Albrecht and other Moravian gunstockers are either rifles or smooth rifles. We are aware thus far of one typical fowler that is attributed to the Bethlehem or Christian’s Spring gunshops, plus several “hybrid fowlers” that include a fowler profile, maybe a fowler trigger guard and pointed rear entry pipe, but may have a square toe, cheekpiece and carving like a rifle..

The advice from VP and Eric is sound as always, and many of these inventories are shown in the books. Moravian Gun Making of the American Revolution is out of print, but the photos of firearms in that book are on a KRF CD, including one hybrid fowler, and many rifles, smooth rifles and pistols. Moravian Gunmaking II includes the one classic fowler attributed to these shops, another hybrid fowler with interesting patchbox and carving, many signed rifles and smooth rifles and a pair of pistols.

Here are a few low res photos of the arms mentioned. Hope you enjoy your journey, and share what you learn and apply at your bench. Bob

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Corey Joe, knowing your artistic abilities and talent, I am really expecting a full display of both on that nice new firearm.

Sharpen up your gravers and carving chisels/gouges.

I appreciate it!

[Eric Kettenburg]

Bob - was hoping you'd sound off.  Pictures #3 and #4 are Rich's old piece that has always been extremely fascinating to me.  He used to bring it up here periodically for 'show and tell;' it's amazingly delicate and light despite the large lockplate. 

I have always been somewhat hesitate to attribute it as a 'Moravian' piece because it's different enough in decoration and design - relative to Oerter's signed work, and the associated work that we typically view as 'Moravian' - to cause me to wonder whether it may have been made by someone else in the area.  I'm not saying I have a particular maker or attribution in mind, because I don't.  I simply find it to be a downright wonderful, and at the same time, mysterious piece.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on it.