Mowrey??

[750k2]

Anyone have any lit on these??
Manuals or kit instructions laying around.
Anything or links would be appreciated.
Thank you

[Acer Saccharum]

I think Dixie may have sold these. A blast from the past. Maybe in Boy's Life mag, if I'm not showing my age....

[whetrock]

(I guess I'm not as old as you, Acer.) Curiousity is killing me. What is (a) "Mowery?" 

[Dan'l 1946]

The first Mowreys were made in Olney, Texas. They are brass or iron framed percussion rifles in the style of New England pieces--especially Vermont made rifles. There's one on Gunbroker in the blackpowder section if you would like to see what they look like. Make sure you spell it correctly--Mowrey--and it should come up.
                                                                      Dan

[Kermit]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=363698300

[Maalsral]

The was a small company in either Indiana or Ohio that was making and selling these rifles back in the mid to late 80's.

[T.C.Albert]

I remember the name from the mid 70s...and dare I say it, not in a really good way.
tca

[Hungry Horse]

 Mowrey's had good barrels, and incredibly simple locks, that functioned well. They were a copy of the Allen&Thurber late percussion box lock rifle. They made a couple of models, one in a plains rifle caliber, and a smaller version in Squirrel cablers. They all had curly maple stocks. The steel action is preferable, since the steel tumbler would wear the brass action, and require bushing to cure binding, over time. They also made a Hawken, but I've never seen one.
 I owned a Mowrey in .45 Cal., years ago. It was one of their squirrel models. It shot very well, and for a single trigger, had a smooth trigger pull.

                       Hungry Horse

[Pete G.]

In an era of Spanish imports and Italian Hawkens, they were a high quality piece. Keep in mind that that was the period where the T/C Hawken was the top of the line.

[750k2]

I guess I spelled it wrong - anyway I've come into a rifle and 12ga.
The rifle is a unfinished kit and will attempt to finish off.
The shotgun is finished and has been used - it'll be my first go round
with a smooth bore. I think these will be fun.
I was looking hard at one back in I think 86 at Ted Cashs place but
moms water broke and we had to go to the hospital - true story.
Went into labor with our first in a muzzleloading shop

[alyce-james]

750k2; Sir, in the mid 1970's I used a .50 caliber  all brass  Mowrey, 15 inch forearm of "V" shaped brass under a well blued barrel, at the Iowa State Muzzleloader Championships ".  At the 100 yard target the nipple blew from the brass action area, I had cross threaded the nipple cleaning the gun from earlier shooting, and struck me in the forehead. Lots of blood from that one. Continued shooting that day at the pistol range with my trusty  10 Ring inline pistol. Also Texas made gun. Mine was a 1973 made gun.  Two (2) after thoughts; 1) My rifle was a Texas made gun and 2) had an outstanding American walnut stock. AJ. 

[deano]

Anyone still making them or have they simply faded away?

[hawknknife]

I had a dealership on these when they came out.  Every one I sold was returned as the mainspring was so weak, wouldn't pop a cap.  Seems as I remember was a strange coil spring.  The things came with a brass"V" shaped forearm. wood was more costly.  I lost $ on the initial shipment.

[750k2]

I've seen mostly wood forearms - all maple.
One model I came across had the brass forearm - called it a bench model I think.
Really simple lock design - no coil springs though.
1 V spring and 1 big C spring and stirup.

[doug.brayman]

I have a couple friends that have 3 between them. All are really nice rifles (for a percusion) and are very accurate.

[Hungry Horse]

Hawknife;

  You remember wrong. The spring in these rifles was  a flat spring, that curved over the tumbler, and was connected to the rear of the tumbler, with a link. Some were weak, but they responded pretty well to retempering.
 The plains rifle version of this gun had the brass forearm, and walnut buttock. The squirrel version had curly maple but, and forearm.

                    Hungry Horse

[Dogshirt]

I heard Deer Creek was making these a while back. You might see if they have any instructions. I don't have their contact info to hand right now, they have a phone but no website. Perhaps someone else has the #.

[hawknknife]

Hungry Horse, You are correct about the springs, this was around 1973 and they were a hunk of junk.  I remember the screws holding the brass forearm on as I remember were brass...anyway, they would strip right out.

[Captchee]

 if i recall correctly there were 2 companies that made them . the spelling was alittle different
Mowrey and Mowery  if I recall .
 The earlier rifles were very good . But the later made ones were not .
 I had an early Mowery  in 45 cal with a brass frame  stock was  very nice and heavily figured   .
 sold it  some years ago but i think i still may have some photos  around
 Earlier rifles were available in both brass or iron frames with the iron frame being on larger bores
As  another poster mentioned , its an old Allen  design .
Dic at Pecatonica river still sells  or at least did sell  an Iron frame

[Pete G.]

Thanks Captchee.
That explains why some remember them as quality and others remember them as junk. I was becoming confused.

[Dphariss]

The was a small company in either Indiana or Ohio that was making and selling these rifles back in the mid to late 80's.

They wanted to make them in the worst way I guess and by the one I have they succeeded. Looked like it was rifled with a rusty horseshoe rasp. The Texas versions were better. I was replacing the barrel in any event but it would have been nice if it were worth more than scrap price. The mainspring leaves a lot to be desired and I need to replace it. But it serves its purpose as a test piece, as soon as I make a new mainspring.
Dan

[jwiant]

I have one on my wall.  Bought it for $100 8 years ago.  Its a .36 and shoots rather well.

[750k2]

Just opened the box up - everything is there except barrel pins and trigger guard screw.
Best part is the guy was wrong and it is a 36 not 50cal.
Now I'm really pumped.
If anyone has pics on how the forearm is shaped at the reciever joint I would be thankful.
Only way this would've been better is if it was a iron framed 40