New Black Powder smoothbore Fowler

[rjohns94]

Last hunting season I was very down in the mouth and disappointed with the hunting experience here in Pa. I decided that I probably need to mix it up a bit and make it more interesting. So I searched and located the below pictured Fowler.
Built by Darrel Wilson of Sweet Springs Mo. 16 bore smoothbore flintlock in the style of the Fusil De Chasse Fowlers. Can be used for ball or shot, brass mounted, 44" barrel, stunning flame grain maple. L&R lock.

I have included a link to the pictures, hope it works. I think the flame maple is outstanding. Can throw a .635" - .648" round ball at good enough velocity down its 44" (half octagon, half round) barrel for deer, and a load of shot that can take birds, small game and turkeys. The flintlocks just speak to the ancient in me. I'm thinking it will be fun to get out and make smoke with this one on deer and small game.

http://s222.photobucket.com/user/rjohns ... e%20fowler

[Bill in Oregon]

Very, very nice piece Mike. I am headed down the same path, with a 10-bore "Marshfield" fowler being built by Iowa gunsmith Mike Brooks. Hope to have it for fall.
There's just something about flint, and a fowler or smooth rifle can pretty much do it all in the hunting fields.

[Griff]

Drool ALERT! WOW! Mike, that is gorgeous! What an awesome piece. That certainly looks to be more "art" than "tool"! Love the little touches that make it "different" from a plain gun. I know that craftsmen back then took more time and care to embellish their work, and that fowling piece certainly reflects that type of work.

[rjohns94]

Bill, I agree. My primary deer rifle has been a .54 Virginia Rifle, built by Brad Emig of Cabin Creek Blackpowder Rifles. It has served me very well. I had one of his 20 bore fowlers before and regretted getting rid of it. I'm hoping to get to the range this summer a bunch to dial this one in. Good luck with your 10 bore. hope it arrives in time for you.

[rjohns94]

Thanks Griff, I love the flintlocks and I think Darrel did a really great job on this one.

[cshold]

OOOO YA! That's a nice one

[C. Cash]

That is beautiful Mike....a logical companion for yourlong rifle as well. The turkeys are in trouble.

[2ndovc]

Wow, what a beauty!

Have fun!


jb

[Shasta]

Wow! That is one handsome Fowler!

A Fowler is indeed a very versatile gun, capable of taking birds or mammals. They are very popular at the black powder rendezvous' held around this area, and some of those guys can shoot their smoothbore better than a lot of the rifle shooters.

Enjoy your new Fowler, and let us know how it works out for you.

SHASTA

[jazman]

That is a beauty indeed!

[gamekeeper]

I have got to agree with the other guys, that really is a beautiful Fowler...

[Chuck 100 yd]

OH MY !! Now that is SWEET !!!

[Pitchy]

She`s a beauty.

[Rusty]

WOW! That's not a fowling piece, that's an addiction. That could easily be a one gun do it all piece.

[Blaine]

Stunningly beautiful

[hondo1892]

Rjohns very nice looking fowler. Have you tried the lock out. L&R's are usually a hit and miss on frizzen hardness. Mostly too hard which can be fixed with a trip to the oven.

[rjohns94]

This is my first L&R lock and I have yet to get to the range, that will have to wait till all the extras for shooting come in, and then I am away till the 4th, so probably after that. I thank you for the info and I will keep that in mind.

[Hobie]

That is beautiful. Give me a ring when you decide to get rid of it (as I know you will... ). Seriously, that is beautiful and just the right bore...

[cshold]

That is beautiful. Give me a ring when you decide to get rid of it (as I know you will... ). Seriously, that is beautiful and just the right bore...

Mike call me first, I'm a York Co. brother, live closer than Hobie so no shipping

[Hobie]

That is beautiful. Give me a ring when you decide to get rid of it (as I know you will... ). Seriously, that is beautiful and just the right bore...

Mike call me first, I'm a York Co. brother, live closer than Hobie so no shipping

I can drive up there and see the sights when I pick it up...

[Blaine]

[cshold]

That is beautiful. Give me a ring when you decide to get rid of it (as I know you will... ). Seriously, that is beautiful and just the right bore...

Mike call me first, I'm a York Co. brother, live closer than Hobie so no shipping

I can drive up there and see the sights when I pick it up...

All right Johnny reb Hobie, lets take this to Gettysburg and have it out then...



‘over dinner’

[Hobie]

That is beautiful. Give me a ring when you decide to get rid of it (as I know you will... ). Seriously, that is beautiful and just the right bore...

Mike call me first, I'm a York Co. brother, live closer than Hobie so no shipping

I can drive up there and see the sights when I pick it up...

All right Johnny reb Hobie, lets take this to Gettysburg and have it out then...



‘over dinner’

We both know he's going to sell it, just after he gets all the stuff that goes with it in one place...

[cshold]

Yep it's good to stay on the good side of good guys like Mike

[rjohns94]

I haven't sold my .54 in 12 years. I'm thinking I will be keeping this one. Don't hold your breath guys. I will be ordering a small bore rifle to match and very possibly a SXS flintlock. I'm divesting myself of most of my firearms and completely going a different direction. At least for a while. I'm thinking a 22, a 32 special lever, a sharps, a shotgun and one - four pistols plus my black powder guns. That's it for me.

[Blaine]

I haven't sold my .54 in 12 years. I'm thinking I will be keeping this one. Don't hold your breath guys. I will be ordering a small bore rifle to match and very possibly a SXS flintlock. I'm divesting myself of most of my firearms and completely going a different direction. At least for a while. I'm thinking a 22, a 32 special lever, a sharps, a shotgun and one - four pistols plus my black powder guns. That's it for me.

I was wondering the other day if Shiloh could be armwrestled into turning out a 20ga..... I know...it's almost sacrilegious to think of such a thing....

[Nath]

Yer's tuggin' at me 'art strings a'gen ain't ya Mike!!

Glad for you bro,,,,boy I could switch sometimes,,, a couple of them front n' loaders would do me!

Nath.

[rjohns94]

I see your posts over there on the muzzleloading forum Nath. I know where your heart is, it's on the black (powder) side Blessings

[Twodot]

rjohns,

I must agree, you have a nice one there!

My 24 bore doesn't have a hind sight, makes putting a round ball on target a bit of a challenge.
..

[rjohns94]

Twodot, a rear sight was added to my 20 bore for round ball shooting back about 15 years ago. It takes the smoothbore out of the competitions but I don't much care about those. Strictly hunting and the rear sight helps me keep them on target. When I was looking for a new smoothbore, that was a requirement as well as the 16 gauge and it being a flinter. Do you hunt with your 24 bore?

[Ysabel Kid]

Sweet!

[Ben_Rumson]

That's a real masterpiece you've got there friend!!..
An interesting tidbit came about out recently to me about smoothbores.... I was reading "The Gun And it's Development" by WW Greener (first published in 1897).The tidbit was in the subject of round ball shooting in smooth bore guns,...The smooth bore was preferred in Africa because more velocity could be had than in a rifled gun, whether in a muzzle loader or a breach loader firing fixed ammo ...In smooth bored double guns, using both barrels to make groups(not fired simultaneously , 50yd accuracy of 4 inches with an 8 bore could be had.....

[86er]

Good looking, versatile gun right there!

[gatorcole]

Now that weapon is a thing of beauty as long as you keep your powder dry. Is there much delay when firing it?

[rjohns94]

Lock timing is very fast. You must follow through, holding aim, no flinching. If you do your part, the rifle does its part.