Here are a few more details and pictures as requested, This is a hefty, big butted fowler, but surprisingly light and easy to handle. It's 2 1/4 inches across the widest part of the butt and the barrel is 43 1/2 inches long. I've shown this fowler to Tom Grinslade and he feels that it comes out of the same shop (maybe Connecticut?) as the other two in his book. He said that mine was the third one known, but since I last talked to him, I've seen a 4th one that is spectacular. It's untouched and has the exact same carving on the stock as mine, but more so. Mine shows some misuse, and when I obtained it, it was shattered at the front of the lock and forearm. It also has some charring from burning to the forearm in a couple of places (what an interesting story that could make if you knew that story). The forearm molding is nicely done and a little unusual. Tom also suggests that the barrel is the original length, and the gun has had obvious militia usage based on the bayonet lug. If you look closely at the unusual nosecap, you can see that it was made to support the bayonet when in place. As you can tell, I like this gun!
By the way, the sideplate is an old period replacement, the original would have been engraved with silver wings on it. Rich, I'm not sure what the gauge is, but it has a large bore. Joel, I know this would look better put back to flint, but I'm holding off on that, don't want to make any hasty decisions!
Frank
