Early "New England Fowler"

[pushboater]

I'm gathering up parts for a future build, (when I finish my Swivel Breech), and had a couple of questions. I'm looking to build an early New England Fowler similar to #115.MM in George C. Neumann's book, "Battle Weapons of the American Revolution".  This Fowler is attributed to Joseph Chapin who worked near Windsor Connecticut Circa 1750-1760. The Buttstock has obvious French Influence, and I know that it was very common for gunsmiths of the time to reuse parts off of old trade guns and Fusils. My questions pertain to the forstock as most of the photos do not show that portion of the fowlers very clearly. Did most of these early fowlers have plain unadorned forstocks without molding, carving, or nosecaps? I do see molding around the lockplate, triggerguard, and barrel tang, but that's about it. Any insights would be appreciated as this will be my first Fowler build.

Capt. David

[Turtle]

on all the new England fowlers I have built I have cut the forestock back and added a bayonet lug to create a new England fowler/militia musket. I  have done the forestock dilibratly crude on some and did a nice shnable effect on others.Many had that done to them.
                                    Turtle

[Joe S]

Grinslade’s book, Flintlock Fowlers: The First Guns Made in America is the best reference.  Typically, plain forestocks.  Perhaps a simple molding, no muzzle cap, no carving. Carving around the tang is usually well done, but tends to simplistic or naive.  A lot of French stocks have way too much pitch, at least IMHO.

[Mike Brooks]

"Most" French influenced Ne guns I have seen have upper and lower forestock moldings..just what I have "seen".

[pushboater]

I've never personally had any problems with shooting the Tulle style Fusils with the large pitch in the buttstock, but then again, I've never had the need to load them with much more than about 80g of powder. I've heard that they can be cheek slappers if shot with heavier loads.  Beautiful English style Fowlers Mike! Thanks for the link!

David

[conquerordie]

If your copying a specific fowler, add what the original had. If just making one in that style, add what you want or desire. I'm just starting a very similar fowler. The original has a strong French influence just like yours. Has a double moulding line along the top edge of the forearm, so that's what I'm going to add. There is no set in stone rule IMHO.
Greg

[smart dog]

Hi Pushboater,
Below are photos of an early NE fowler that I built recently. The owner wanted a gun that could be used in both F&I war and Rev War events.  I built him a gun inspired by both the Cookson fowler and the Abner Howe gun in the ALR library.  This was my first attempt at a NE gun but as with all my builds, I do a lot of research first. I got a lot of help from ALR folks like Mike, collectors who sent me photos, books, and then I visited a bunch of museums that had NE guns. Anyway, the majority of early NE guns (Rev War period or before) that I examined had no forestock moldings and simple rounded muzzle ends unless fitted for a bayonet.  A few had pretty extensive and finely made moldings and schnabel muzzle ends.     





With regard to cheek slapping, I believe a lot depends on how you shoot a smoothbore with only a front sight.  I do not sight down the plane of the barrel, I sight over it and bring the front sight to the mark much like shooting a bow instinctively.  I can not understand how anyone can shoot a smoothbore by sighting down the barrel, the heat waves must obscure your sight picture after only a few shots.  Anyway, the way I shoot means the comb of the butt stock becomes my rear sight and the high comb of a French-like" stock gently touches my face at the same spot every shot.  The recoil does not bother me because I am not hard against the comb.  On the other hand, if I tried to press in tight to aim down the top of barrel, the recoil would slap my cheek pretty hard with loads above 80 grains or so. 

dave

[pushboater]

Thanks Greg, Dave. I'm not making a bench copy of any particular Fowler, I simply like the looks of the early French inspired fowlers, in particular #115.MM illustrated in Neumann's book. Because I build my guns for myself, I like to make my projects a little more personal and design the guns to reflect my personal tastes while maintaining the architecture of the original piece. For example, I like to design my own side plates, while keeping it in the proper context for the time period, and I also like to change things like the carving design around the barrel tang. These are simply subtle changes to make the piece more personal. IMHO, I personally feel that the Early French Fusils may have been the primary influence for the Lehigh style rifles as the architecture is quite similar to the Early Tulle style Fusils, although slimmer and without the baluster wrist. Of course, that's simply my opinion and no one will ever know. But I've always been drawn to the Lehigh rifles because they reminded me so much of the Early French Tulles. Thanks for the photos Dave! I feel that's very similar to what I'm looking to do. Maybe adding a Little Brass/Silver Wire inlay to the buttstock.



David

[Turtle]

 Smartdogs fowler has a treatment of the stock at the muzzel very similar to the "finished look" cut back stock militia muskets I have built. I tried to post pictures but couldn't figger it out.
                                   Turtle

[pushboater]

I have Tom Grinslade's book on Flintlock Fowlers also and they show quite a few of the Early New England Fowlers with the forstock cut back for use with a bayonet. Not many close ups though of the plane style like Dave posted. I'm more partial to the plain style myself.

Turtle, I've found the easiest way to post photos is to upload the photo to Photobucket. After you upload it you can then simply copy and paste the IMG link into your post. Just preview the post to see if it copied the image or not before you post it.

David

[Mike Brooks]

Although really nifty, you just don't see wire work like that on buttstocks of NE fowling guns.

[Mike Brooks]

A quick thumb through of Grinslade's book shows the following guns ID'd as New England fowling guns show upper and/or lower foestock mouldings on #'s 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 40, 45, 52, 53, 54. Seems a common feature, at least in this sampling of NE fowling guns.
 This shows influence from French trade guns which commonly had upper and lower forestock mouldings as well.

[smart dog]

Hi David,
This is kind of fun, is it not?  I really like your choice of MM#115.  That is a very nice gun.  I believe it has an upper forestock molding and probably a lower one as well, as Mike described.  On the next page is MM#116, a gun that I looked at carefully because I was also inspired by the work of the Pomeroy family.  I should have mentioned that gun as one of my inspirations.  It does not have any forward moldings.  Personally, I like the molding lines.  They really can slim the appearance of the stock.  I love your wire design but I agree with Mike that it is not similar to any historical work I have seen on NE guns.  I think it will look beautiful on your gun but it is not likely historically correct.  Having said that, with a few exceptions, none of the wire work I've seen on NE guns appeals to me, even the really finely executed stuff.  Yankees are known for inventiveness, resourcefulness, and intelligence in the face of problems and adversity, but I don't think artistic talent was a strong suit.

dave

dave

[Turtle]

my ancesters were puritans who settled in Connecticut. One who fought in the f+i war, I have documentation on that he supplied his own firelock, but they supplied a bayonet. he lost the bayonet and they charged him for it! I built all my NE fowlers finished not cut back, and then cut some back fancy and some hasty to look like an after modification.--lots of fun.
                                                   Turtle

[pushboater]

Mike, thanks for bringing those particular guns in Grinslade's book to my attention. I just received these two books last week and haven't had a chance to really read them thoroughly and closely inspect all the photographs in detail under magnification, (my eyes aren't what they use to be!).  I do like the forstock moldings, and like Dave, feel they help in giving the piece a slimmer appearance. And you're right Dave, this is a lot of fun, and quite educational!

As for the wire work on the Buttstock Mike, this may just end up being another one of my fantasy builds like my Bucks County Inspired Swivel Breech. No Known examples of Bucks County Swivel Breech rifles, (other than the Wm. Antes piece), are known to exist, but that's not to say that one was never or could never have been built. Grinslade himself, in his intro to chapter 9, states, "There are some Fowlers that do not conform to any common set of characteristics yet are fine and distinctive guns in their own right."  This piece just may end up being one of those, "Unique Fowlers", perhaps commissioned by a wealthy Landowner who had his own ideas as to what he wanted in the way of decoration on the piece. Thanks for everyone's input! Lots of things to think about!

David

[pushboater]

As a side note Smart Dog, take a close look at #115.MM and see if I'm just looking at it wrong. It sure looks like there's some sort of Nosecap on it. Horn maybe? Or am I just looking at it wrong or seeing a shadow?

David

[smart dog]

Hi David,
I looked at mm#115 with a magnifying glass and I don't think it has a nose cap. The end curves upward toward the barrel in a way that would be hard to do with a metal cap.  I can see why you might think it had one but I believe it is just the color of the wood giving the illusion.

dave

[Mike Brooks]

Mike, thanks for bringing those particular guns in Grinslade's book to my attention. I just received these two books last week and haven't had a chance to really read them thoroughly and closely inspect all the photographs in detail under magnification, (my eyes aren't what they use to be!).  I do like the forstock moldings, and like Dave, feel they help in giving the piece a slimmer appearance. And you're right Dave, this is a lot of fun, and quite educational!

As for the wire work on the Buttstock Mike, this may just end up being another one of my fantasy builds like my Bucks County Inspired Swivel Breech. No Known examples of Bucks County Swivel Breech rifles, (other than the Wm. Antes piece), are known to exist, but that's not to say that one was never or could never have been built. Grinslade himself, in his intro to chapter 9, states, "There are some Fowlers that do not conform to any common set of characteristics yet are fine and distinctive guns in their own right."  This piece just may end up being one of those, "Unique Fowlers", perhaps commissioned by a wealthy Landowner who had his own ideas as to what he wanted in the way of decoration on the piece. Thanks for everyone's input! Lots of things to think about!

David

Another book you might consider is "The French Trade Gun In North America" by Kevin Gladysz. I think you'll find it very helpfull. Chock full of pictures and tons of info. I think it's available through TOTW at a very reasonable price. One of my favorite books.

[pushboater]

Thank you Mike! I'll order that book on French Trade Guns. As the Fowler I'd like to build has a lot of French influence it'll probably be very helpful. Thanks again!

David