Author Topic: New fowler kit!  (Read 5156 times)

Offline TDM

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2024, 10:43:10 PM »
Beautiful Fowler Jim. I’ll get one eventually.

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #26 on: May 20, 2024, 12:45:35 AM »
Very nice indeed.  Is the carving done by hand, or machine?

Most of the carving is done by cnc machine, but I do clean up each bit of carving myself to get it to the standard I want.  The chip cuts are added by hand as well.

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #27 on: May 20, 2024, 12:49:00 AM »
@Jim, which diameter for Gau 16 roundball do you recommend? .65 or .64 ?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t have much experience shooting round balls in a smoothbore.  Maybe some others here might provide some guidance.

For roundball shooting a 20 guage would be preferable. 

Offline DillyJamba

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #28 on: May 20, 2024, 02:19:13 PM »
Wondering if the example posted on the website is a 16 or 20 gauge, wanting to go 20 for the roundball shooting as suggested but concerned about how thick the barrel might appear.

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #29 on: May 20, 2024, 04:13:21 PM »
Same outside profile in both gauges. The 20 will be heavier than the 16.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #30 on: May 20, 2024, 06:32:52 PM »
If were mine for both shot and round ball  I would most certainly go with the 16bore.
Better patterns (more shot) and with the larger bore, better accuracy.(potentially)
Daryl

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Offline canadianml1

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #31 on: May 20, 2024, 08:39:30 PM »
The barrel outside profile seems unusual. Is it PC? Thinking I will order one as soon as I finish my Woods Runner.

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #32 on: May 20, 2024, 09:40:11 PM »
Yes, the barrel is proper for where and when the gun would have been produced.  Not really an unusual profile at all.  I just finished up a video talking about this and other details.

Keep in mind if you've only studied modern-made fowlers there will be details that you probably haven't seen much of before. 

The video will take a bit of time to edit, but we'll probably post some examples of similar barrel profiles first.  I have two originals of the same period in hand right now with this form as well as several other good published examples I'll show.

Thanks,
Jim
« Last Edit: May 20, 2024, 11:22:23 PM by Jim Kibler »

Online Martin S.

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #33 on: May 21, 2024, 12:04:17 AM »
It would be helpful if you produced a video talking about loads, wads, over cards, etc.

A representative load for each size would be helpful as well.

Many of us have no experience with muzzleloading shotguns.

Offline FlintFan

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #34 on: May 21, 2024, 01:57:41 AM »
What is the minimum wall thickness on the 16 ga. barrel?

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #35 on: May 21, 2024, 02:50:57 AM »
Between .070” and .075”

Offline J Shingler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #36 on: May 21, 2024, 04:13:49 AM »
Also I have not seen it mentioned or published any place unless I missed it. When I ordered mine I asked about barrel length. Kiblers said it was 44" long.
Thank you
Jeff

Offline FlintFan

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #37 on: May 21, 2024, 02:55:52 PM »
Between .070” and .075”

Thank you

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #38 on: May 21, 2024, 06:01:26 PM »
I have a 12ga and a 20, I was surprised how well the 20 shot a round ball with no load work up. I got the 12 shooing accurately but finding what it liked took a bunch of different sized balls, patching thickness, powder adjustments and a rear sight.

Offline Marcruger

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #39 on: May 22, 2024, 04:01:21 AM »
From my reading that is probably what most coastal dwellers used in the Southern Colonies.  The smoothbores could be imported to coastal towns (Savannah, Charleston, Georgetown, Wilmington, etc.) cheaper than having one built here.  The nature of dense foliage and pocosin made shots short-ranged affairs.  At short range a smoothbore worked as well as a rifle.  Also, the versatility of waterfowl, raccoon, possum, and bird hunting loads combined with a roundball for deer made a fowler a smart choice.  Nice design Jim.   God Bless,   Marc

Offline Marcruger

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #40 on: May 22, 2024, 04:03:50 AM »
I am thinking a fairly straight-grained piece of walnut with really dark stain would look great on this fowler.   

Offline prairieofthedog

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #41 on: May 23, 2024, 06:15:09 AM »
Are jugged barrels going to be available for us Turkey Hunters?

Offline backsplash75

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #42 on: May 24, 2024, 11:31:33 PM »
excited to see these!!!!  8)

Offline Hunterdude

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #43 on: May 25, 2024, 09:54:51 AM »
I would love to see a production kit all carved with relief carving added to what the machine all ready has done, not sure i have the skills to add it to my kit, but would be nice to see how it should look properly done.

Offline Kevin Houlihan

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #44 on: May 25, 2024, 02:24:28 PM »
 Fowlers weren't typically carved beyond what Jim has already done with this kit.
Kevin

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #45 on: May 25, 2024, 04:58:20 PM »
I would love to see a production kit all carved with relief carving added to what the machine all ready has done, not sure i have the skills to add it to my kit, but would be nice to see how it should look properly done.
Engraving is the only thing it's missing.  The English didn't do much relief carving  on fowling guns of this grade.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline smylee grouch

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #46 on: May 25, 2024, 06:19:46 PM »
Forget the Hawken, start on a Manton! 😁

Offline stan57

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #47 on: May 26, 2024, 06:35:40 PM »
Forget the Hawken, start on a Manton! 😁

I was going to say Vincent   ;)

Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #48 on: May 26, 2024, 07:26:23 PM »
I would love to see a production kit all carved with relief carving added to what the machine all ready has done, not sure i have the skills to add it to my kit, but would be nice to see how it should look properly done.
Engraving is the only thing it's missing.  The English didn't do much relief carving  on fowling guns of this grade.

We may be offering some sort of engraving options, but I'm not sure at this point.  Regardless it will be a while.  I agree, that the English style of engraving adds a great deal to the feel of these guns.

Offline JPK

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Re: New fowler kit!
« Reply #49 on: May 26, 2024, 10:16:33 PM »
Forget the Hawken, start on a Manton! 😁
The first word at the top of the page is “American “ let the English get their own rifle builder! A Hawken was planned and should be next.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.