Howdy everyone, and a fowler buiding project

[Frenchymanny]

Hello everyone,

I had the project of building a fowler kit, actually 2 (one for me, one for my son) and go hunting fowl, turkey and deer.
After review I am thinking of building a Tulle or a fowler from TOW and take advantage of all the gunsmithing they offer.
Am I on a reasonable track?

Merry Christmas and happy new year

Manny

[Dphariss]

http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles03.htm

People need to remember that the trade guns were meant to be sold to potential enemies.
The stocks were often poorly designed, the French ones especially have WAY too much pitch and will concentrate recoil impulse to a far smaller area than the PA Fowler in the above link.
Most of the "gunsmithing, dovetails and such, is done on the Chambers kit.
I would look hard at the Chambers if I wanted a fowler. The TOW English Fowler is a nice stock as well. The trade guns? They are trade guns for the most part. Designed to be made as cheap as possible to elevate the profits.
If you want a fowler, make a FOWLER not a trade gun.
Dan

[rich pierce]

Well, there's a zillion ways to go but few of them as off the shelf as a Track kit.  Their gunsmithing charges can add up and it's not that hard to learn to make dovetails etc.  Most of the "fowlers" offered nowdays have pretty heavy barrels at the muzzle and are not ideal for wingshooting but will do.  Lots of them will be 8 pounds plus, whereas original flintlock birding guns were closer to 7 pounds and many trade guns 6 pounds or less.

Other options are Clay Smith's trade gun kit (light weight, simple, plain, cheap like the originals), Chambers' New England fowler (heavier in smaller gauges because the same profile barrel is used regardless of the bore size) and various trade guns from R.E Davis and other suppliers like North Star West.  I'd endorse Chambers and R.E. Davis as standing behind their products; just don't know about others.  Many think the R.E. Davis French trade guns are pretty faithful to the originals, if that is a factor.  Whatever you choose, I'd ask about the expected finished weight if you want to use it for birding.  If mostly round ball/deer and gong dinging, a heavier barrel is no problem.

[Frenchymanny]

Thank you for the input.
As a first build, I will  use Track and their gunsmithing service, and will go with their English/American fowler in 20 gauge

Is there an experimented builder in the Montreal Area?

Manny

[FALout]

If you haven't done so already, check out the books on building longrifles at Tracks website.  Get one or 2, read through them and then decide if you want Track to do the work for you.  As already stated, paying someone to do some of this work can add up in costs really fast.  Maybe someone from up by you can also advise on problems bringing rifle (parts) into your area.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Ordering and receiving the parts will not be the slightest problem, Manny.  The closest person with building experience that I know of is Peter Alexander, in Ontario, but I can't say if he would be willing to help or not.  I'm on the West coast in Central BC, but I am happy to guide you along on your build via e-mail, if that would work for you, or you can get excellent advice and guidance right here at this site.  But the advice people have offered so far has been good.  You owe it to yourself to save your 'gunsmithing' money by purchasing a couple of 'how to' books and/or videos.  You will enjoy the build much more, gain far more satisfaction from the learning process, and develop confidence and skill while doing it. I began with Buchele and Shumway's book "Recreating the American Longrifle" and I still think it is one of the best.  Over the years, I have bought all of the books that deal with the subject and have gleaned much.  But the single most important teaching tool has been this web site, and the incredibly skilled and benevolent builders who hang out here.  Welcome to our world!!

[Frenchymanny]

Thank you for the offer, I will bother you for sure! Email are very convenient.
I agree on the importance of good books and ideally videos.

Track is telling me no problem mailing flintlock parts to Canada. Yourself, where a re you buying?

Thank you for the warm welcome
Manny

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I have several sources, including TOW, Muzzleloader Builders' Supply, The Rifle Shoppe, Chambers' Flintlocks, and a few others.  No problems, and all but the 3rd in that list give wonderful service.  TRS is just slow, and non-communicative, which is worse than slow.