10 bore N.E. Fowling / Militia gun

[bob in the woods]

I just finished my new 10 bore  N.E fowling gun which is loosely designed around # 40 in Grinslade's book.
Cut back stock, along with a lug for a front sight allows for a bayonet. The bayonet from my B.Bess fits perfectly.  #40 has a flat faced lock, so I used Chambers' Early Ketland , all externals fire blued
Everything is polished and as new at the moment, but woods use along with time spent in the bottom of a canoe will rectify that quickly.

[smylee grouch]

Wow, I like it. A 10 bore with that sticker on the end would be imposing for sure. What is the overall length with the bayonet on?

[bob in the woods]

I'll have to measure it. The barrel is 46 inches and the bayonet is the standard Brown bess model with 17 in blade.  I'm thinking this is my new bear hunting gun 
This is much more efficient and imposing than the plug bayonet on the other fowler

[Daryl]

I have a plug bayonet, too, but not the 1847 Bess to go with it.

[alacran]

10 bore is heap big medicine for bear. After all there is no substitute for cubic inches.

[smylee grouch]

I agree, 10 bore is big medicine. A guy could shoot bear at " point blank " range with the bayonet fixed. 

[ScottH]

SWEET!

So you are saying this is a "canoe" gun........

[bob in the woods]

SWEET!

So you are saying this is a "canoe" gun........

Yes !   

[RichG]

long canoe?

[Curtis]

Fine looking bear gun there Bob!  I like it, and the bayonet also.  Be careful charging them there bars' with that bayonet!

Curtis

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Nice work Bob.  The 10 bore is a fine hunting arm.  The Bess that Daryl pictured above was my go to smoothie for many years and I shot it well, with loose shot and patched round ball.

[Craig Wilcox]

Bob, that is super nice, and very special.  I feel kind of sorry for the bears out in your neck of the woods.

I do have a 10-bore.  It is a double, from 1850 England, and I am making a new stock for it.  Guess I will be able to shoot two bears at a time.

Let us know what type load is going to be most accurate for it.

[bob in the woods]

Since the distances are rather short re shots at game here, I switched to a 10 bore as my main gun for deer , bear and moose hunting years ago.  Deer out to 50 yards, moose out to 100 yards are well within the capabilities of this gun.  I have both a .735 and .715 mold, so will see what this one likes best. 

[Daryl]

IIRC, Taylor's 10 bore Bess liked a .735" Lyman and my .740" Tanner moulds, with about a .030" patch.
I shot a 50yard offhand group with that gun that was under 3"- I was rather amazed at my good luck
in that group.

[old george]

Lost me for a moment, I thought what the heck just stick the darn ole bear  

george