Fowler Question

[QuanLoi]

I've been shooting flintlocks for years and have built a few... and I've always wondered why fowlers generally are missing the rail behind the bow of the trigger guard.  I've scanned what literature I could, and have referenced this site to find an answer.  I've had absolutely no luck answering this question.  Why no rail?

[Mike Brooks]

Easier to grip, very fast.

[QuanLoi]

Then why have a rail on any longrifle at all?

[rich pierce]

This is a mystery.

[Mike Brooks]

Then why have a rail on any longrifle at all?

Cool factor.

[Dan'l 1946]

  I think the answer lies in the different ways that rifles and fowlers are used. Like Mike said, the rail-less grip is quicker to grasp and works better on a birding piece. The rifle works just as well with or without a grip rail but the rail does seem to position the hand better when the rifle uses set triggers--at least for me.
                                                              Dan

[Majorjoel]

It is the simple question that is the hardest to answer. If you go back to Europe where many of our early gunsmiths came from, you will find that is the way they did things.

[QuanLoi]

Thanks for the replies.  Now, I'll stop scratching my head in bewilderment and forget about it.