Turning a Caywood English fowler into a British officer's fusil

[smart dog]

Hi folks,
This was a different sort of project for me.  The captain of the recreated 40th regiment light infantry asked if I could turn his fowler into a British officer's fusil.  There is a mistaken notion that any English fowler with a cut back stock and martial themed engraving had to be an officer's fusil.  Confusing things further, there was a short lived fashion in sporting guns for short 7-9" bayonets concealed in the butt.  These were likely used for the same purpose as hunting swords, to kill wounded game and not carried by officers to war.  I imagine if an officer showed up in line with a gun mounting one of these short little bayonets, the first sergeant would immediately start making lewd comments about what the length of a man's bayonet implies.  The fowler in question was 12 gauge and made by Caywood, and it was pretty good gun. I realized I could make a decent fusil from it that would be entirely plausible historically.  Here are photos of a Caywood 12 gauge English fowler from their website.
     




The gun uses a 7/16" diameter ramrod and the web of wood between the barrel and ramrod hole is 1/4".  The result is a forearm and forestock that look bloated and out of proportion with the rest of the gun.  We stripped off the old permalyn-like finish and I removed the pipes and deepened the ramrod groove with a Dremel and 3/8" round ball router bit. That is not a job for the faint at heart. Then we plugged the ramrod hole and drilled a 3/8" hole.  I bought 3/8" diameter cast steel pipes and installed them. Then we could file off much of the bottom of the forearm right up to the trigger guard.  That slimmed it all nicely.  The Caywood lock is an older one made by Mike Rowe and it is superb.  It is the equal of any of the best similar styled locks made today.  The cast steel hardware is some of the best I ever seen and the cast in engraving is impressive.  We reshaped the stock a bit, mounted a sling swivel lugs on the trigger guard and barrel, cut back the stock and mounted a sheet brass nose band.  The barrel had a flared muzzle so I twiddled it away to a straight taper on my belt sander. Then fitted a front site and mounted a bayonet, which I made. All of the hardware was browned so we had to clean that all off and polish things up bright.  The breech of the barrel is welded closed with the barrel tang so I could not remove the breech and install a standing breech and barrel keys.  I had to leave it as it was.  I cut a military style handrail crease in the butt stock.  I stained the maple stock to look a bit more "walnutty" and finished it with Sutherland Welles polymerized tung oil. I also engraved "HIRST" on the lock and "Jno HIRST   TOWER HILL" on the barrel.  He was a major setter upper for British ordnance and made a few officer fusils.  His work bridges both the French and Indian and Rev Wars. It came out pretty well so enjoy the photos.

 




























dave

[The Pathfinder]

Every time I see and read one of your posts, I learn a lot more about the firearms of the past. Always interesting, always informative, and always impressive. Thanks for all you do to share your knowledge and expertise. Keep up the good work, Dave

[Ky-Flinter]

Every time I see and read one of your posts, I learn a lot more about the firearms of the past. Always interesting, always informative, and always impressive. Thanks for all you do to share your knowledge and expertise. Keep up the good work, Dave

All above goes for me too.  Thanks Dave.

Ron

[Mattox Forge]

The original set up used a 7/16 ramrod? Wow. I thought I read that wrong. Anyhow, the result is very nice.

Mike

[2 shots]

 very nice indeed.