Author Topic: RECENT BRITISH FOWLER BUILD (Read 1983 times)

t.caster · « **on:** April 21, 2023, 09:09:52 PM »

Howdy, it has been a while since I've posted any of my builds. This is one I started first of Jan. and finished in March.
It is my interpretation of a British (Philidelphia, PA) Fowler for someone who hunts wildfowl in Florida. He supplied a quilted/curly Cherry stock blank that was extremely hard heavy and challenging to work. It has a Bobby Hoyt 16 ga. x 42" fowling barrel and an awesome Kibler flintlock and brass furniture including a Chambers fancy sideplate. I did a little carving around the barrel tang.
It has a 13 3/4" pull, 3 1/2" drop and weighed 9.6 lbs.

t.caster · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2023, 09:57:30 PM »

I wasn't sure how well this wood would carve up. So many people say not to try carving on cherry, but I think they just don't have sharp enough tools or experience with figured wood grain.
So, I tried it out on a scrap piece and determined it was do-able.

...before cutting up the actual stock, below.

Justin Urbantas · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2023, 10:05:30 PM »

very classy. It turned out great

Dave Marsh · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2023, 10:10:49 PM »

I have a figured cherry stock on my Woodsrunner that I am having carved soon and then will need a finish. I want it the color of your gun. Could you tell how you finished it? Lye or something else? Thanks.

t.caster · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2023, 10:33:42 PM »

Dave, I used a couple coats of LM Honey Maple and several coats of Nut Brown. He didn't want it so dark it hid the figure. Then it was finished with Laurel Mnt. sealer and finish. After rubbing it back with BLO and rotten stone, I layed on several coats of crimsom (artist oil paint) tinted BLO.

Dave Marsh · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2023, 03:56:14 AM »

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

TDM · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2023, 04:11:32 AM »

I love it. Your wood finish and carvings are very nice.

Daryl · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2023, 06:05:14 AM »

Tom, that's a wonderful gun & a decent birding gauge, too. (16 is getting close to 14)
I don't have a 14 bore (or 16 for that matter) smoothie, I just wish I did.

flatsguide · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2023, 06:07:31 AM »

Very nice work and elegant carving. Sure is a pretty piece of wood.
Cheers Richard

Old Time Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2023, 04:53:51 PM »

Nice build! I really like your take on the traditional "shell" carving ! I have seen similar carving on originals and, always like it. Thanks for posting.

godutch · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2023, 05:35:25 PM »

That is really very nice! Classy, like someone said earlier is a good descriptor.

Dwshotwell · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2023, 02:21:38 PM »

I really like this fowler. Very nice work.

Feltwad · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2023, 02:58:05 PM »

Every man to his own but for a 16 bore flintlock sporting gun {Fowler] too much carving should have stuck to the original design
Feltwad

t.caster · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2023, 05:22:35 PM »

Feltwad, That's OK, several items on this piece were special request from my customer, like that particular carving design and the sideplate that stray from the "British" norm.

Mattox Forge · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 2023, 03:30:48 PM »

Very very nicely done. The piece looks stylistically appropriate for a mid 18th century English fowler. I have observed a number of different variations of the "shell" carving behind the barrel on original pieces of that period, and your rendition is quite nice.

Where did you get the trigger guard, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for sharing photos of your work.

Mike

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2023, 04:41:05 PM »

Tom very nice work.. Sometimes gun builders have to stray from the H.C. because the customers who are paying for the gun require it.

t.caster · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2023, 06:00:13 PM »

Mattox Forge,

Where did you get the trigger guard, if you don't mind me asking?
Mike
[/quote]

That is an Early French Design guard that was modified on both ends. Track of Wolf has them.

Old Traveler, 100% right!

Mattox Forge · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2023, 06:12:56 PM »

Quote from: t.caster on May 08, 2023, 06:00:13 PM

That is an Early French Design guard that was modified on both ends. Track of Wolf has them.

Thanks!

Mike

doulos · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2023, 06:47:32 PM »

Really beautiful

Mattox Forge · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2023, 08:36:36 PM »

Here is a carving from a silver-mounted English pistol made by Clark, ca. 1771.

Mike

bama · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2023, 10:43:43 PM »

Nicely done indeed Tom, thanks for sharing.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #21 on:** May 09, 2023, 03:03:01 AM »

I like the gun a lot, and your workmanship is superlative. I don't think I could have stopped myself from overdoing the engraving too.

Bob Gerard · « **Reply #22 on:** May 09, 2023, 04:14:02 AM »

Some beautiful Early New England furniture was carved of Cherry. Your carving around the barrel tang reminds me of that. Looks really handsome.

alacran · « **Reply #23 on:** May 09, 2023, 02:02:02 PM »

That is a very nice piece of cherry. As others have noted the tang carving is very nice. Beautyful gun.
As far as cherry goes you were quite right to test on a scrap piece. Some cherry just carves better than others.

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Author Topic: RECENT BRITISH FOWLER BUILD (Read 1983 times)