My latest build. .62 French fusil

[Justin Urbantas]

Wanted to share a few pics of my latest build. I am still learning, and can always use hints and suggestions from more experienced builders. This is the 7th gun I have built.

[Okefinokee Outlaw]

Love the finish(and the rifle).  What did you use?

[gunmaker]

Lucky # 7 !!!!  very nice.

[wattlebuster]

Very nice. I like it

[Mike Brooks]

Use walnut.

[Justin Urbantas]

Thanks guys. I used Track's aquafortis, and finished it with Tru oil. I didn't like the Tru oil much, so I steel wooled it off and used a tallow and beeswax mix on the wood.  I think you're right Mike. Walnut and steel look great together.

[conquerordie]

I'd say thin down the lock panels. Your relief carving looks very clean. I'm still learning to do both of these myself. Each gun get a a little better. Keep it up

[One Shot]

Justin, looks very good. What are the specs? Are you going to keep it for a shooter?

Tex

[Justin Urbantas]

conquerordie when you say thin down the panels, you mean make them smaller all around the lock?
Thanks one shot.  she has a 42" 20 gauge barrel, and a L&R early flint  lock I believe (can't remember). This one is already sold.

[bob in the woods]

Take a look at Mike Brook's site and study some lock panel examples; or Chamber's fowling guns on their site.
Slimming down the panels will really make a difference .

[conquerordie]

Yup, just like Bob in the woods said. I'll be posting a few pictures soon of a fowler I just finished. I would remove wood, put it down for a day, then go back to it. It felt weird to keep removing wood, but going slowly, I ended up with a much better balanced and looking fowler. I'm just like you, learning and looking to the other builders here for guidance.

[thimble rig]

Ithink hes right need to slim the lock panels down some.Walnut would be better. Ilike the gun like very nice.Im a new builder  too.Im always leraniing Keep up the good work.

[Joe S.]

very nice,like the color of the wood,looks great next to your metal finish

[JCurtiss]

I think you did an excellent job!

In my mind, the heaviness around the lock is commensurate with the rifle being a big honking smooth bore.  What's more, the rear stock and rounded butt plate seem to go well with a bit more material around the lock.

Small caliber rifles with delicate looking stocks and slim butt plates with sharp angles should have less material around the lock than what you have here, but not so for big-bore fowlers. 

That's my perception anyway.  I'm sure all the old timers on this forum are writhing in their chairs as they read my post!

Jason

[Joe S.]

I'm sure all the old timers on this forum are writhing in their chairs as they read my post!

Jason

writhing more about the old timer remark

[Mike Brooks]

I think you did an excellent job!

In my mind, the heaviness around the lock is commensurate with the rifle being a big honking smooth bore.  What's more, the rear stock and rounded butt plate seem to go well with a bit more material around the lock.

Small caliber rifles with delicate looking stocks and slim butt plates with sharp angles should have less material around the lock than what you have here, but not so for big-bore fowlers. 

That's my perception anyway.  I'm sure all the old timers on this forum are writhing in their chairs as they read my post!

Jason

Original french trade guns were anything but "Big and honkin' smooth bores" Study originals.

[JCurtiss]

 Original french trade guns were anything but "Big and honkin' smooth bores" Study originals.

Well, from the bad guy's perspective, looking at the wrong end of a 20 gauge smooth bore sure looks "big and honkin" compared to, say, a 40 caliber rifled bore.

There is ~ 2.4 times more area in a 20 gauge bore (0.62" dia.) compared to a 40 caliber bore (0.40" dia.) and that's "big and honkin" in my mind.

[Bob Roller]

 Original french trade guns were anything but "Big and honkin' smooth bores" Study originals.

Well, from the bad guy's perspective, looking at the wrong end of a 20 gauge smooth bore sure looks "big and honkin" compared to, say, a 40 caliber rifled bore.

There is ~ 2.4 times more area in a 20 gauge bore (0.62" dia.) compared to a 40 caliber bore (0.40" dia.) and that's "big and honkin" in my mind.

It's also the bore diameter of the .600 Nitro Express.Ask any elephant for specifications.

Bob Roller

[bob in the woods]

I have built a number of Chamber's fowling gun kits. The first thing I noticed, when looking at originals , and confirmed when speaking with Barbie Chambers is the "refined" look of these guns. They aren't muskets.

[Joe S.]

Too funny starting to remind me of the old thread what would you rather be shot with a 55.6 or 7.62,always had a laugh at those on the Neanderthal modern sites.Guess we could do it over with round ball or mini ball to keep it site correct,just funnin

[Tim Crosby]

 Looks as though the Lock plate is inlet a little to deep, may be the PIC. Trimming a 1/16-1/8 off each side will help Slim things up.

   Tim C.

[Mike Brooks]

 Original french trade guns were anything but "Big and honkin' smooth bores" Study originals.

Well, from the bad guy's perspective, looking at the wrong end of a 20 gauge smooth bore sure looks "big and honkin" compared to, say, a 40 caliber rifled bore.

There is ~ 2.4 times more area in a 20 gauge bore (0.62" dia.) compared to a 40 caliber bore (0.40" dia.) and that's "big and honkin" in my mind.

Just trying to educate. You'd think I'd eventually learn nobody wants to really  know what "real" 18th century trade guns were/are like and just shut up.  It's great you did the math on bore size, very helpful. Please forget what I said and continue to blunder on in the dark.

[Joe S.]

Mike,I'm always looking at yours and others comments for what these things are supposed to look like please don't be offended and carry on.While not building a trade gun I might in the future and remember these threads and will look at them again to get an education, thanks

[Mike Brooks]

It's like beating yourself in the head with a club. It only feels good when you stop.

[James Rogers]

This is a SIX BORE duck gun from the 1740s England . Not a French trade gun but nonetheless a real "big honker", if you will. : )
Note the lock panels.



also, here is a link to the Contemporary Makers Blog showing a bess lock panel
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc_7lUKakXQ/Vj0epoxsD0I/AAAAAAABkXE/QcUsaQ819pw/s1600/17283.jpg
 Sorry my examples are English. Just what I can put to quick access.