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The Percussion Duck Gun

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Feltwad

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Most guns in the Victorian period for shooting water fowl such has ducks and other waders were 10 bore single and double barrelled and were know has duck guns.
These guns with a standard load of 3.1/2 drms of black powder known has 1Fg and 2Fg which was a coarse to medium black powder was used on the inland waters such has the marshes , river banks and flooded water meadows known has inngs.

The 10 bore S/B were built in percussion and flintlock which had a barrel up too 40 inches long .Some of the flintlock guns which were converted to percussion using the drum and nipple principle had a barrel of 40inch plus and known has long fowlers . Later the D/B guns in percussion were built with barrels of 30 to 36 inch barrels and were Damascus twist, where the early original and flintlock conversion were mostly iron barrels
These people who pursued water fowl on these marshes were a hardy breed and were known has wildfowlers ,a name that is still used today. Then it was a way of life and a living not only to put meat on the table but surplus was sold a market.
The 10 bore gun in that period was the most used for ducks and small waders .But for geese and large fowl such has whoopee swans the big bore guns from 8 to 4 were mostly used on the fore shore, but that is another thread.
Feltwad
 
You're on the money Feltwad.

Did you ever read any of Alan Savoury's books?
Fisherman -Fowler is pure magic!
When I think of this book, I can always see Frank Southgate's painting of the old Fowler. :)

Yes also, Bumpers and such are the next step up.
I look forward to photos of your duck guns.

Richard.
 
Feltwad said:
Most guns in the Victorian period for shooting water fowl such has ducks and other waders were 10 bore single and double barrelled and were know has duck guns.
These guns with a standard load of 3.1/2 drms of black powder known has 1Fg and 2Fg which was a coarse to medium black powder was used on the inland waters such has the marshes , river banks and flooded water meadows known has inngs.

The 10 bore S/B were built in percussion and flintlock which had a barrel up too 40 inches long .Some of the flintlock guns which were converted to percussion using the drum and nipple principle had a barrel of 40inch plus and known has long fowlers . Later the D/B guns in percussion were built with barrels of 30 to 36 inch barrels and were Damascus twist, where the early original and flintlock conversion were mostly iron barrels
These people who pursued water fowl on these marshes were a hardy breed and were known has wildfowlers ,a name that is still used today. Then it was a way of life and a living not only to put meat on the table but surplus was sold a market.
The 10 bore gun in that period was the most used for ducks and small waders .But for geese and large fowl such has whoopee swans the big bore guns from 8 to 4 were mostly used on the fore shore, but that is another thread.
Feltwad
Images to follow .
Feltwad
Images Enclosed
A Stand Of 10 BORE S/B And D/B Duck Guns
 
A Stand Of 10 Bore Duck Guns

A F/L conversion By Rowntree

A Percussion Duck Gun Davison Newcastle


Feltwad
 
Richard I have read that book but my favourite is Snowden Slieghts .Other favourites are The Wildfowler by H.C.Polkard. Hawkers Diaries, Eye In The Wind by Peter Scott
Enclosed is a image of a D/B 10 bore duck gun which you may be familiar with the maker
Feltwad
A D/B percussion by Williamson Stockton
 
Perhaps this barely applies but there is a book called the Outlaw Gunner. It is about the early days of market hunting for ducks. It covers the 10 gauge muzzleloader shotguns, W&C Scott, as well as others, as well as the accessories they used. The other area of firearms were the “punt” guns which were super large bore guns some hand held some deck mounted on boats. All smooth bore muzzleloaders. Great reading of a time forgotten. Thanks for reading Art. Any questions on the book feel free to ask
 
Art Peltier said:
Perhaps this barely applies but there is a book called the Outlaw Gunner. It is about the early days of market hunting for ducks. It covers the 10 gauge muzzleloader shotguns, W&C Scott, as well as others, as well as the accessories they used. The other area of firearms were the “punt” guns which were super large bore guns some hand held some deck mounted on boats. All smooth bore muzzleloaders. Great reading of a time forgotten. Thanks for reading Art. Any questions on the book feel free to ask
I have heard of the book Outlaw Gunner and punt guns .thanks for mentioned it but I am well acquainted with them that is for a later thread

Thanks
Feltwad
 
What always amazes me is why people use the term bore for a gauge!
A bore is measured across its D.
A gauge is used to assess, determine or obtain a measurement, a nominal bore.

B.
 
Hi,
Was gauge not referred to number of balls to the pound ie; 4 gauge= 4 balls to the pound, 8 gauge = 8 balls to the pound, 10 gauge= 10 balls to the pound, 12 gauge= 12 balls of bore diameter to the pound, 16 gauge- 16 balls to the pound, and so on.
Even rifle calibres of yesterday were referred as # of balls to the pound, and eventually the actual bore gauge or caliber was adopted.
Have a great day!
Fred
 
Britsmoothie,

Same for bore, Brit.
A ball that fitted the Bore exactly so 'bore
was used.
12 (to the pound)bore and such. Much more common in the UK than gauge.

Very nice collection there Feltwad!
Lovely to see them and all their various charming differences.
The Stockton gun;
Did Smythe take over these premises??
Books,
Yes, Snowdon Sleights, also Stanley Duncan, and of course old Kenzie! (Not a writer, but P.Scott wrote of him....or was it Colin Willock?? Forget!)

All the best,
Richard.
 
Both Williamson and Smythe were in business at the same time ,Smythe at Dovecote Street and Williamson At 2 Bridge Street
Feltwad

Decoys and a Advertising board that was seen in that period
 
Old Ford said:
Hi,
Was gauge not referred to number of balls to the pound ie; 4 gauge= 4 balls to the pound, 8 gauge = 8 balls to the pound, 10 gauge= 10 balls to the pound, 12 gauge= 12 balls of bore diameter to the pound, 16 gauge- 16 balls to the pound, and so on.
Even rifle calibres of yesterday were referred as # of balls to the pound, and eventually the actual bore gauge or caliber was adopted.
Have a great day!
Fred
Exactly, using lead balls to a pound weight is a gauging method.
A bore is a hole.
The bore dimensions of a 12g is nominally .729" but can vary from .710"-.740".
That is why the term guage should be used and not bore.

It matters not subtle variations in bore diameter for shotguns and even though rifles were once gauged a similar way the need for a more accurate description of bore diameter in order to obtain molds or ball of the correct size meant that gauges for rifles were soon dropped.
So to recap, one can shoot a.45" rifle. That is a bore (or groove) diameter, a precise measurement.
A gauge is an approximation. Not a bore.
In fact the only common no gauge shotguns of bored measurement are 9mm and .410". They rightfully are called bores.
To describe a 12 gauge as 12 bore implies it has a measurement of the value of 12 across the diameter of the tube, but 12 what? Millimetres, thousands of an inch, 12 what?

No matter how common the term is it's wrong just as in describing a homosexual as gay, gay means happy not sodomy!

B.
 
Feltwad said:
Both Williamson and Smythe were in business at the same time ,Smythe at Dovecote Street and Williamson At 2 Bridge Street
Feltwad

Decoys and a Advertising board that was seen in that period
Another two 10 bore duck guns with 34 inch barrels




 
To clarify. Most of the Punt guns were not measured in gauge that’s why I used the term bore. They were homemade barrels, some multiple that held massive amounts of powder and shot. If shot was not available nails and anything else they could find was used! Most were attached to a boat so they could sneak up on the birds. They were hunting commercially, to get money to feed their families. Sport and conservation were absent. Art
 
Very interesting to see the guns, thanks.

Writing in 1789, Wm. Cleator said:

"Duck-guns are generally bent a little upward near the muzzle, which, the gunsmiths say, makes them throw their shot farther than if they were perfectly straight."

Have you ever seen a duck gun like that?

Spence
 
Some time back I had a 16 double with 42 inch barrels and the muzzles were slightly oval, being wider side to side. I had it on display and a fellow kept badgering me to buy it. Finally we got close to agreeing on a price and I over heard him on the phone asking a gunsmith about lopping it off to 30 inches. I refused to sell it to him. There was really nothing special otherwise about the gun and the guy was going to ruin it in my opinion. And a few years later my house burned down and the gun was destroyed anyway.
 
George said:
Very interesting to see the guns, thanks.

Writing in 1789, Wm. Cleator said:

"Duck-guns are generally bent a little upward near the muzzle, which, the gunsmiths say, makes them throw their shot farther than if they were perfectly straight."

Have you ever seen a duck gun like that?

Spence
I have two long barrelled fowlers which are flintlock conversions and when shouldered give the impression that they are bent upwards from 10 to 12 inches from the muzzle The reason for this is because the barrel is fluted at the muzzle .
Feltwad
 
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