Copying an Original Fowler – First Build

[Jay Oliver]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to the forum, but have looking and learning for a while.  I got into Flintlocks 5 years or so ago with Pedersolli Blue Ridge in .54.  I bought a completed 16 gauge flintlock fowler about a month ago from TOTW and now I am definitely hooked!  I have always wanted to build a fowler and have been considering a Chambers kit, and will get one someday.

However, I had a chance to buy an original fowler this past week(and did), that while probably shootable I just don’t want to risk it with something that is in fairly nice condition.  So that lead me here…I want to copy it as close as I can(within reason) and shoot the one I make.  The original gun is stocked in cherry, is a 28 gauge smoothbore with a 48 Ύ” barrel and OAL of 63 ½”.  Pictures below…

In my quick research, I noticed that a few companies make 48” barrels.  I was thinking using the Ύ shorter barrel, than adding Ύ inches to the stock to increase length of pull, which is currently just under 13”.  I also saw a few stock duplicators that could even inlet the stock for the barrel and ram rod(which would help me as a first time builder). The Chamber Golden Age Lock looks very close to the lock on the original fowler.

While this would be my first gun build I would classify myself as pretty resourceful and patient.  I would like to start getting all my supplies/components so I am ready to build next winter.  While not a kit I’ll have the original to look at study and copy for the new build.  I think it would be a fun project and it’s motivating me to finally build a gun.

My guess is step 1 would be to find the barrel? 

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Jay

[Daryl]

Finding a 50" barrel might be difficult. Just a guess on the length - maybe 54"?

Looks pretty neat, though.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Jay, I linked your photos so they automatically come up.  I have a slow DSL connection (and I suspect a lot of other forum members also have slow connections) and when posters just include links to photobucket, it takes so long to open each photo that I usually just ignore those posts.  All you have to do to get the link correct is click on the "direct" link in photobucket, which copies it, and paste that between the image posting brackets on the ALR site.





dave

[ScottH]

Charlie B at FCI Barrels can make a 48" barrel for you

[rich pierce]

Great gun!

[Dave Marsh]

+1 on a great gun. 

Dave

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It's a great gun in remarkable condition, and certainly worthy of replication.  I got John Getz to make me a 50" .50 cal smooth barrel a few years ago, turned octagonal to round...nice barrel for one of my pet furture projects.  It too is going into a cherry stock inlet nicely for me by Mark Weider from Jack's Mountain Stocks in Pennsylvania.

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks Dave for posting the pictures directly.  I was thinking about a Charlie Burton barrel though I am not sure what style.  I would like t in a 28 gauge and 48" long.  The original gun doss not have a wedding band transition from octagon to round.  In fact the top is flat(5/16" or so) from the breach all the way until about 4 inches from the muzzle. 

My goal is to get close to the original, I don't think I need/want the barrel duplicated by a custom barrel maker.  Or do I?  I would like the guns to be in the same caliber, 28 gauge, and the same overall length.  I would also like to use cherry wood like the original.

Thanks, Jay

[conquerordie]

 Very nice fowler. Sighting planes are usually found almost the full length on New England fowlers like the one you describe. I might be wrong, and I hope I am for your sake, but I've never seen a barrel maker that can have a round profile barrel with the flat sighting plan on it. You might have to add that yourself. Keep us updated. That will make a great project to reproduce.
Greg

[Tim Crosby]

 Dave, Thanks for getting the Pix up.

  Tim C.

[SingleMalt]

I think it's a fine looking fowler and I'm looking forward to seeing your take on it.

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks you for the replies.  All of the positive responsive have me really excited about this project. 

I appreciate the references for both the stock and barrel.  The original gun does have a sighting plane(I had forgotten the terminology, but that is what the seller called it).  The barrel just seems to taper from octagon to round(no real traansitioon point), with the sighting plane on top.

This being my first build and I may not worry about the barrel being exactly the same(though still a 28 gauge and 48" long).  Or save that for when I have a more experience.  Everything else will be as close as I can make it.

Would you go with something like the Burton Trade barrel?  I noticed that was listed as not being flared.  Any other places?  I looked for Getz barrels but couldn't find too many models/styles, just reference to working directly with the company.

Thanks again for the encouragement.  I'll order the barrel as soon as I figure out which one to get.

Jay

 

[Eric Kettenburg]

The sighting planes were chiseled/filed into the barrels.  I'm not aware of any of the barrel makers that will do that for you.  It's not hard, just very, very tedious.

That is a NICE piece.  I like it a lot.

[mountain~plains]

Jiminy Crickets! That will reach a right smart ways out to the flock!

[Mike Brooks]

First, great gun. Second, do you have any more pictures, third, PM me and I'll get you going on this.

[Jay Oliver]

I'll post some better pictures this afternoon.  Mike I have been on you website looking and admiring your work many times.  I would appreciate any advice you have to me started. Between actually shooting a Fowler at sporting clays this past month and getting an original last week I am ready get serious and build my first gun.

I'll follow up with pictures and Mike I'll send you note this afternoon.

Thank you!

Jay

[alex e.]

Larry Horrigan in Michigan made me such a barrel for a French fusil(51.25") with the octagon section filed/slightly fluted. But it was not cheap. If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

[Keb]

I have a few barrels by Larry Horrigan.

48 1/2" x .58 cal.

50" x .50 cal.

53" x .54 cal.

I sent him the barrel blanks with the bores finished. All machined octagon to round with various length of tapered octagon. And yes, it took a while and wasn't cheap.
The .58 cal is the only one in wood. The rest are future projects.

[Jay Oliver]

Here are some more pictures.  You can this had a rear sight at some point. 

[Jay Oliver]

Some close ups around the lock and backplate(not sure if that is what it is called...), some wood damage, but not too bad

[Jay Oliver]

I have a good friend who has some big cherry trees that were knocked down on his farm last year by Hurricane Matthew.  What should I look for to see if I could possibly us this wood for the stock?  If was able to have some boards/blanks milled I could send them to someone to have the general pattern cut and do the barrel inletting right?  This may get my friend to build one too...

I appreciate the help!  I know these are some basic questions and I need to get a few books and also look around the web.  The blanks I found online looked like they were usually 2 inches thick. 

Thank you,

Jay

[Eric Kettenburg]

Huh?  Siler lock?   

[Mike Brooks]

Huh?  Siler lock?   

Yep, looks like one of Bud Siler's real early ones..... I didn't notice until I saw the fly. Anyway, That sure is a nice gun.

I looked through all the barrels I have on hand, but nothing suitable. BTW, That blown down cherry is going to be 4 or 5 years from being ready to stock a gun out of. If you can get the trigger guard off with out buggering everything up I can get one cast from it. I'd make the buttplate from sheet.

I'm guessing that barrel breech is about 1 1/16" to 1 1/8"?

[Jay Oliver]

Mike PM Sent.

The more I think about it a direct copy probably doesn't makes sense.  What I think a really want for this project is an interpretation with relatively available components that is the same gauge, dimensions and stock shape, which probably makes sense for my first build. 

Mike Your question about the barrel measurement by the breach.  i think you were asking about the barrel width by the breach plug, if so its 7/8"

Thanks again,
Jay

[Longknife]

Jay, Do you have this book? IT has a lot of info and pics of New England Fowlers.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/278/1/BOOK-FF-S