vintage american large bore fowler

[morb]

i found this while surfing around on the net

AMERICAN LARGE BORE FOWLER: Circa 1850. Bore is .85 inch. Nice Damascus Pattern on the 31 inch brown barrel. Smooth bore with light pitting throughout. Horn nose-cap brass mounted rose-wood ramrod with worm attachment. Tight crisp action. WEIGHTS A MASSIVE 9LBS.

i'm thinking about buying it to shoot since i don't like having a gun i can't shoot. i was hoping to get everyone's thoughts on shooting a vintage gun.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Once you buy it it is yours to do with as you wish. Whether it is safe or suitable is impossible to tell without examination. And maybe not even then.

I have an original J.W. Hawksley flask I hunt with, but a flask has less stress than a firearm.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Morb,

See the thread close by , "Damascus barrels who shoots them?" or something like that.
Yes, a good few of us use these old guns.
It sounds very sturdy!.
I would have said a live pigeon gun, being short and large bore, but Usually they did not have provision for a ramrod.
I'd like to see some photos of it! Sounds a nice one.

All the best,
Richard.

 

[morb]

Morb,

See the thread close by , "Damascus barrels who shoots them?" or something like that.
Yes, a good few of us use these old guns.
It sounds very sturdy!.
I would have said a live pigeon gun, being short and large bore, but Usually they did not have provision for a ramrod.
I'd like to see some photos of it! Sounds a nice one.

All the best,
Richard.

it does look sturdy in the pics, i'm at about 90% on pulling the trigger on this one. once i find a new host for photos, i'll post a pic

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Morb,
I just posted a picture right off my computer. Yep, I got a shock when I saw I could!
I don't know how it worked, but it did!
(In "Thoughts on Smoothbore" thread, or some such)

Just checked;
at bottom right you will see "Upload a File" Click on that and it'll take you straight to your pictures on your computer!
Wow! Nice!

 

[morb]

Morb,
I just posted a picture right off my computer. Yep, I got a shock when I saw I could!
I don't know how it worked, but it did!
(In "Thoughts on Smoothbore" thread, or some such)

Just checked;
at bottom right you will see "Upload a File" Click on that and it'll take you straight to your pictures on your computer!
Wow! Nice!

thanks, i got it. here's the pic, it has a bit of wood missing at the toe but all in all...

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Looks V clean and solid Morb.
Toe would be an easy fix.

 

[Skychief]

Go for it Morb. Life's short. Looks good!

 

[Feltwad]

Morb
For what I can see from the image the gun looks in good condition which could be a 8 or 10 bore , I would put it late percussion from 1850 . If I do not offend it has one big fault some time in its existence some one has reduced the barrel length by at least 4 to 6 inches
Feltwad

 

[Loyalist Dave]

For what I can see from the image the gun looks in good condition which could be a 8 or 10 bore , I would put it late percussion from 1850 . If I do not offend it has one big fault some time in its existence some one has reduced the barrel length by at least 4 to 6 inches

Hmmm..., I'm not as positive. IF it wasn't shortened after being made, and it's not a military amusette/wall gun...., then with an .85 bore it might be choked, and thus is a 7 bore with a choke for waterfowl. OR perhaps it was shortened for hunting dangerous game in India (up close in the jungle) and is an 8 bore with a cylinder barrel.

LD

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Dave,
I'm sure by the lines it's purely a sporting gun.
The barrel length is what made me think live pigeon gun. (Yet these didn't usually have ramrods)
All will come to light when in Morb's hands , if he goes for it!
Don't think it will have choke. Sure not in fact Unless jugged later.

Best regards,
R.

 

[Feltwad]

Hmmm..., I'm not as positive. IF it wasn't shortened after being made, and it's not a military amusette/wall gun...., then with an .85 bore it might be choked, and thus is a 7 bore with a choke for waterfowl. OR perhaps it was shortened for hunting dangerous game in India (up close in the jungle) and is an 8 bore with a cylinder barrel.

LD

For what I can see from the image this gun has diffidently lost part of its barrel length plus ramrod rib and pipe. The original length for this wildfowl gun barrel would have been 36 to 40 inches
Feltwad
AStand Of Original Fowlers

 

[BrownBear]

It is American made after all, so of course they'd have followed Eurocentric norms!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

For what I can see from the image this gun has diffidently lost part of its barrel length plus ramrod rib and pipe. The original length for this wildfowl gun barrel would have been 36 to 40 inches

AH so then my last suggestion, "..., perhaps it was shortened for hunting dangerous game in India (up close in the jungle) and is an 8 bore with a cylinder barrel", just might be applicable. Otherwise why shorten it, unless one wants a huge spread of lots of shot, and it's as suggested a pigeon gun?

LD

 

[Feltwad]

AH so then my last suggestion, "..., perhaps it was shortened for hunting dangerous game in India (up close in the jungle) and is an 8 bore with a cylinder barrel", just might be applicable. Otherwise why shorten it, unless one wants a huge spread of lots of shot, and it's as suggested a pigeon gun?

LD

Live pigeon guns come in all big bore sizes and also barrel lengths all are minus a ramrod rib enclosed is a image of pigeon guns
Feltwad

 

[morb]

thanks everyone. i never considered the barrel being chopped, i will send an email to find out if it looks like it shortened at some point.
i'm not really up to date on these old muzzle loaders so i'm wondering why a live pigeon gun would not have a ram rod?
i have attached a pic of the muzzle end

 

[Rat]

I'm just thinking that walking through grizz country with that, loaded with ball, would give me a nice warm and fuzzy feeling. I'd be like: "hey Grizz, you talking to me????" 9 pounds sounds pretty hefty, but sometimes I hunt with my 1861 Springfield, which weighs in at 9 or 10, and it don't kill me to carry it. I like it. Should make a fine turkey gun too.

 

[morb]

I'm just thinking that walking through grizz country with that, loaded with ball, would give me a nice warm and fuzzy feeling. I'd be like: "hey Grizz, you talking to me????" 9 pounds sounds pretty hefty, but sometimes I hunt with my 1861 Springfield, which weighs in at 9 or 10, and it don't kill me to carry it. I like it. Should make a fine turkey gun too.

i was kind thinking the same sort of thing, with a ball that size if you hit it it's going down. would they have shot a prb in that size?

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Morb,

Live pigeon was a form of trapshooting, using live birds. It became a game with Very heavy wagers. So heavy in fact, that missing a bird could cost years of wages, (or the family estate).
In this sport, a loading rod was used, as shooting was from a static position, so normally no provision was made for a rammer.
One of the first places to provide this sport, was behind the "Old Hats ' public house near London.
Live pigeon guns often did not have very long barrels, but were large bore to accommodate a large load of shot.
This one you show will have been shortened a little, as the ramrod thimble is far from the muzzle, as Feltwad said.

While not made for large game hunting in Africa, (Most were built heavier to stand the hoorific charges they were fed, and the rough and tumble life of horseback sport. ie, thicker wrists, etc.)it would suffice with a decent charge.
Yes, balls could be patched and were made and used up to 2 bore. (8 ounce ball) but an 8 will do a lot of work and be less painful!

 

[Britsmoothy]

Well if it has been shortened it sure has been well done.

B.