New to the forum-want to build a fowler.

[obsidian]

Greetings!
I have been "infected" with black powder in my blood(no known cure?)for about 8 years.  Early on I shot in-line and only became enlightened a year ago when I got a flintlock, a Lyman Great Plains on gunbroker.  Not a bad way to enter the ranks, but since I am learning what all else is out there of higher quality and craftsmanship.
After making powder horns and other accessories in the man cave I feel ready to try to tackle a fowler.   
I have been obsessing with studying you guys discussions re. gun building for weeks, soaking up all the technical info I can find.  There is a wealth of experience and talent here and I am humbled!  Mostly joined the forum so I can search topics as I want and also to ask an occasional question.
When you guys think back to your first build, did any of you get TOTW Plan Drawings that scale everything for you?
I fell in love with chambers PA fowler and plan to get most everything from him but want to work down my own stock.  I have a couple of real nice slabs of walnut from my front yard cut 10 years ago.  I understand Jim's round faced English lock is larger than TOTW's lock so the stock would need to be proportioned a bit larger in that area. 
My hats off to you all for a lot of guns I have drooled over and better technical information that you can find anywhere on the net!  Sorry to be so long winded.

obsidian

[Dave B]

Obsidian, Welcome to the forum. Its a great place to get feed back and  questions answered. I started my journey by taking of all things a High school night class in rifle building in 1977.  We used the small booklet   The modern Kentucky rifle by R.H. McCrory as our text. It took me three years to actually get the project done.  As far as kits go You cant go wrong with Chambers products. You have to be careful once you go smooth bore it can be a slippery slope.

[BrushCountryAg03]

Second down from top:  New England Colonial Fowler/Militia Musket

http://www.flintlocks.com/rifles04.htm

Just my .02 worth but this would be a good one to start with...I've been looking at this kit for quite a while and will eventually buy it and build it in 10 ga.

[elk killer]

where are you from?

[Gene Carrell]

Chambers'  PA Fowler is an  excellent  choice for a  first  build.  If  you want to  use  your  'front  yard'  wood,  you can  have  Jim do a precarve  for  you  using  that  slab. Call  Jim.

[obsidian]

Thanks for the ideas-I'm in the corn fields of east central Illinois.  Took a buddy I hunt and fish with to Noblesville, IN last weekend to the 30th antique arms show.  I've influenced him and he bought a nice 20ga trade gun(TOTW) there to compliment his starter BP, a 50 cal T.C. He is also admittedly infected with the old stuff.  We did Friendship last year and have it on the schedule again.  When I held Jim's fowler at his booth there it was love at first feel. 
I'll look into the Modern Ky. Rifle by McCrory.  At Noblesville I came away with a gem-Recreating the American Longrifle by Buchele, Shumway, Alexander.  Heard about that book on this forum and have been pouring over it while emailing Jim and looking at the TOTW Plan Drawing.  I sure feel a strong attraction to the fowler since in my neck of the woods it is a legit full season hunting partner-gotta be 20ga here to hunt turkey.  Will go for squirrel with it too until I build a .32 or .36
I do like the look of the N.E. fowler and may very well get bit by the bug for a big bore down the road.
Good thought to look into having Jim precarve the wood.....I don't know...  I love working with wood but know it is a stretch to not have a stock to copy laying in front of me......thanks again for all your ideas and support.  Better go pay some bills as I have an engine to put in a Civic.
obsidian

[rich pierce]

A kit gun is a good choice for a first build but they present their own challenges that need to be understood.  There's more learning involved in building from a blank, and a greater chance for major mess ups.  The main thing is to start and recognize that you can do your best now, and do better next time.

[gunmaker]

We all had to start somewhere.  I'm left handed, in early 70's no LH guns were on market, But LH parts were available in catalogs.  I started by building 4 kit guns. 2 rifles & 2 pistols, just to see if I could do it. I had an old Navy arms long rifle to look at as well. They all came out more or less O.K.  So I ordered parts from a co. and made up my first long rifle in 1978.  I still shoot her,  I restocked her 10 yr. ago with a really nice blank of tiger maple.  Good luck....Tom 

[David Rase]

obsidian,
I am posting this link to a fowler precarved by Brad Emig and started by Chris Laubach.  You would not go wrong picking up this deal if it is close to what you are looking for.  If I did not already have a couple of stock blanks and barrels I woul d of jumped on this deal.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=25458.0
Dave

[Danny H.]

Welcome obsidian. I'm a newby too. I picked up a nice walnut blank at that same show in Noblesville last weekend. I've been asking alot of the same questions. I bought a Lehigh (Stophil long) component kit from Dave Keck last year. Real nice. I've been told he can carve from your blank as well. By no means am I trying to steer you away from Mr. Chambers. His work is wonderful. Its just another option.