Author Topic: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos  (Read 3824 times)

Offline BillPac

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Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« on: January 30, 2011, 07:39:31 PM »
Here are some photos from the first day of class.  Jim Kibler brought 3 original fowlers of the type we are making.  What a privilege it is to be able to handle these guns during the making of ours.
Pete draw filing

View of the breech end note half round half octogon

Ian demonstrating how to use his bedding tool

Jim describing an original

Jim helping Claude with breech inlet

Ian talking about barrel inlet
« Last Edit: January 31, 2011, 06:10:59 PM by BillP »

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2011, 09:42:37 PM »
Thanks for the photos Bill.   It seems everyone in the class had a productive and enjoyable day.  Students spent most of the day, preparing their barrels and final fitting them in a pre-inlet stock. 

Bill has included one photo of a partially completed barrel breech profile.  The final barrel shapes are being based on two original mid eighteenth century British fowling pieces.  From a modern perspective these forms may seem a bit odd, but after studying them, it becomes clear that there were reasons for much of this.  The exposed breech flats are roughly octagon, transitioning to full round in something around 7-8 inches.  The 45 degree flats are much wider than the top or side flats.  The 45 degree flats also have a slight crown or radius to them.   One dominant feature is the fact that the entire bottom of the barrel is rounded out.  When examining the bottom breech area, it became clear that there is significantly less material present on the bottom breech area relative to the bore than on the top surface.  This provides addtitional clearance for the front lock bolt and will likely help with any possible mainspring barrel clearnace issues.  There are several other interesting features about the barrel form, but are difficult to discuss without additional photos.

The point of all this rambling is this.  Without original pieces to study, I believe it is near impossible to capture all the details present on pieces such as these.  Many of our modern ideas and assumtions just don't apply.  Along these lines, there is more of a challenge of producing barrels of this shape with modern machinery.  Hand work is required to produce these irregular shapes.

As the class progresses, attempts will be made to capture the many other nuances present on the original pieces available for study.  This project will likely be a challenge, but I'm guessing there will be a substantial pay off as well.

Offline James Rogers

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2011, 10:50:14 PM »
Bill, Thanks for the photos!!!!

Jim, Keep on preachin!!!!!

Rasch Chronicles

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2011, 11:12:37 PM »
Thank you very much!

I like it that you are including shots of the students actually working. I took special note of not only the workbench and tools, but of the accesories and body postures. Good to observe for my build and shop!

Looking forward to see a lot more! Maybe I'll get to attend next year...

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
Hunting Late Season Whitetails!

Offline okieboy

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2011, 01:53:35 AM »
 It is one thing to know that Jim is fairly young, but to see these youthful photos of someone so talented takes one back; and anyone so willing to share their guns and skills is an example for us all. Certainly makes me wish sometimes that I was geographically closer to where the action is. Certainly makes me grateful for my internet connection.
 
Okieboy

Offline bama

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2011, 03:18:33 AM »
Jim is certainly talented and a very nice guy that does not mind sharing his knowledge. For those that have thought in the past that this trade or sport is going to be lost on future generations, these young fellow are going a long way to erase those fears.

Thanks the their efforts.
Jim Parker

"An Honest Man is worth his weight in Gold"

Offline Ian Pratt

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Re: Log Cabin Fowler Class Photos
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2011, 03:41:37 AM »
Hey Bill, nice job, Thanks!

  I'll agree with Jim that we got off to a really good start yesterday, everybody seemed to do careful work and all the guys left with the same number of fingers they had showed up with.
 Speaking of tools / accessories, One thing that Jim and I insist on is that the guys get used to working with an adjustable light source - the type pictured here in Bill's photos work well for this. Many don't realize the value of a properly adjusted light until they try it. Slanting light across file work, stock contours, relief carving etc. can reveal all kinds of imperfections in the work that may otherwise go unnoticed.
  As Jim indicated in his post, there are a lot of nuances in these guns that make them the incredible objects that they are, and not too many of these details can be compromised without having a negative effect on the final form. Fortunately, we seem to have another group of brave and adventurous souls who don't mind risking it all in the name of good architecture...