Next New England fowler: the gonne is donne

[Tim Crosby]

 That's going to be one fine gun, I really like the simplicity, only what you need. First I've ever seen nails used like that. Necessity, the mother of invention.

  Tim 

[k gahagan]

That Fowling gun is by far one of my favorites. I made one many years ago for a friend of mine in California. Years later he wanted me to make him a copy of another fancier guns and I told him only if he would sell me back this Fowler. He agreed and I was able to get it back and still have it. Love the way that trigger guard works and have used that feature on many other copies. This original gun is available to inspect and measure at Colonial Williamsburg..
I was surprised they offered this service but you can make an appointment and go fondle it in person, great experience!

[rich pierce]

That Fowling gun is by far one of my favorites. I made one many years ago for a friend of mine in California. Years later he wanted me to make him a copy of another fancier guns and I told him only if he would sell me back this Fowler. He agreed and I was able to get it back and still have it. Love the way that trigger guard works and have used that feature on many other copies. This original gun is available to inspect and measure at Colonial Williamsburg..
I was surprised they offered this service but you can make an appointment and go fondle it in person, great experience!

That would be great , to handle the original. Did you include the barrel bands? Customer wants them. I’ve not decided whether to pin them or just fold them over.  I’d like to include the reasons first the bands - a breakthrough behind the ramrod entry hole and split fore-end at the muzzle - but not sure the customer wants to go that far.

[Telgan]

That turned out great Rich - Nice Job

[k gahagan]

Rich, I did include the bands, I even made it crooked like the original. They were on the orginal for exactly the reasons you mentioned. I carved in a faux cracck at the entry hole to look like the original and did remove some wood at the muzzle. I'll see if I can get some pictures together for you.

[k gahagan]

Rich here are so pictures of the one I made awhile back. I know I had some of the original as well and if I can find them I'll post them as well. One some detail I didn't pick up on till well into the build was the last ramrod pipe at the muzzle seemed to be made from some recycled brass object like a tobacco box or something it has a design on it. It's the only one like that.

[rich pierce]

Ken, I can post the pix if you PM me and I’ll give you my cell phone and email address

[k gahagan]

Trying to post pictures of this gun I did awhile back.
[url=https://ibb.co/d0fYHC3R]







photo share web

[rich pierce]

Excellent! Same lock, I think, as I’m using. Thanks for the pictures!

[smart dog]

Hi,
Ken that is a great gun!!  I think Rich is on the same path.  It ought to be really cool.

dave

[Robert Wolfe]

That's a great gun Ken - you know I love it!

[Robert Wolfe]

Rich - here is my version. I used a different but similarly large lock. I had some struggles because I used a barrel with a fairly small breech. This resulted in too little room for the giant mainspring. Even after reducing a bit of the mainspring I had to scrape the ramrod channel to move it away from the lock to make some room. Can't wait to see some progress on your version.

[rich pierce]

Cool, Robert. My customer wants less drop - hard to keep the same feel but I’ll try.

[Robert Wolfe]

That drop is pretty dramatic but it actually comes up to the shoulder very nicely. But, I understand the customer needs a say!

[Zarkoon]

What a great looking lock ! Looking forward to the end product !

[rich pierce]

What a great looking lock ! Looking forward to the end product !

I agree it’s got style! Too bad I’ll have to grunge it up a bit.

[Daryl]

I just love those deep rich colours in the butt stocks boys.

[TF Black]

Ha!  I just found this thread and was thinking to myself, “Gee I have to tell Rich that Ken Gahagan had his copy of this same gun at Fort Fred and they should compare notes…” and by page 2, voila!

Looking forward to seeing how this one develops, Rich-it’s a very cool gun…

Jay

[rich pierce]

Jay, it’s a fun build so far! I’m hoping to have it finished by Kempton but don’t tell the client! 

We’ve got a busy summer so there’s no telling. Barrel underlugs are on and pinned in the stock now and the underside profile has s rough sawn in. Lock inlet is next.

[rich pierce]

The gonne is donne.
I had to make some accommodations to suit the client. “No repairs or brass bands. No obvious aging. Make it like it’s 5 years since it came out of the shop. Correct the drop to fit.” So, less funky than I’d have done it.

This is my first build with a huge, somewhat primitive lock and it presented some challenges. I had to thin the bolster then trim the frizzen edge. The bolster was .450 thick!!!! The lock, as cast, is no Manton, shall we say. It was very well assembled but I had to add a shim to the tumbler at the full cock notch, because they notch was so deep that the trigger would have to move 3/8” to release the sear. The very long lock had a sear much further from the center of the pan than any I’ve seen before. This necessitates some architectural adjustments in the wrist and buttstock. My next big early gonne will be easier based on what I learned here. Critique is welcome.
 



















young williams animal shelter

[silky]

Very cool, Rich! If you could do it again, with more leeway to build it “your way,” would you use a different/smaller lock?

[rich pierce]

Very cool, Rich! If you could do it again, with more leeway to build it “your way,” would you use a different/smaller lock?

Tom, I think the lock adds a lot and says “composite gun” loudly, so I’d keep it or a similar sized very early lock. It makes the architecture pleasingly funky. I do wish I could have simulated damage and repairs and aged it, and added more drop at the heel. But I get it - a fella’s got to be able to shoot it.

[whetrock]

Really cool, Rich.
Can you tell us about this screw and what we are seeing?

[silky]

For sure, Rich — you nailed it! Does anyone know where that original gun came from? I don’t recall it being mentioned in the book, but I don’t have it in front of me at the moment.

[rich pierce]

Really cool, Rich.
Can you tell us about this screw and what we are seeing?

The castings as delivered were quite rough. The lock assembler used a machine screw there to stabilize the pan, as well as a rivet at the other end of the separate pan to affix it to the bolster.