Comments on TVM Fowler?

[Rich]

Looking for a new .62 fowler. Anyone have any experiance with TVM's built fowler?

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

If you order one, just be sure you thoroughly look it over. I had to send a TVM rifle back not once, but twice, last year. It was not a well made rifle but that is neither here nor there, plenty of happy customer etc. etc.

I’ll just leave it that for the money, you can get a much better gun that is made much closer to the originals.

 

[FishDFly]

Send a note to Smokey Plainsman., he has a lot of experience with TVM.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Have owned two TVM Folwers (smoothbore) and I currently own a TVM Fowler (rifled: looks just like their fowler but with a .62 rifled bore and a rear sight.) I have had nothing but complete success with TVM. I also have a .36 Late Lancaster, .50 Early Virginia, .54 Southern Rifle made by them. All excellent shooters with fast locks (left hand large Siler.) I am tall and lanky and TVM has build guns to my exact specifications. TVM has always provided excellent service and personal attention. Highly recommend.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Rich]

Thanks

 

[thomas]

I own 2 TVM fowlers & one rifle a .40 cal. Lancaster I'm very happy with them. I recommend TVM too.
Thomas

 

[Tacksman45]

Looking for a new .62 fowler. Anyone have any experiance with TVM's built fowler?

Hi Rich,

Yes I do recommend them! Send me a pm, I have one that I can send you some pictures of.

 

[SDSmlf]

Owned one a few years ago. Agree with Smokey. Was not impressed, many better places to spend money.

 

[Yewbender]

I have .36 Iron Pa and .62 Fowler from TVM that i’m very happy with. No problems or issues at all. They are very nice people to deal with as well. Here’s the .62 Fowler

 

[Yewbender]

Here’s the .36

 

[Art Caputo]

I own a TVM 62 cal Fowler and .40, ,45, and 50 cal rifles...all flintlocks. They are all well made, exceptionally accurate, and have proven highly reliable for for many years.

 

[Roughneck]

i have owned several TVM built guns and they were all very nicely built. I still have one 36 caliber poor boy and its utterly reliable and one of the most accurate rifles I own. I have seen a few others at shoots I have attended and haven't seen a bad one yet.

 

[tenngun]

I have never owned a TVM, I’ve never delt with them in any way. I’ve seen a lot of neat guns at events but can’t say I’ve ever seen a TVM except on line, but I don’t ask where a person got a good gun.
But, I’ve looked on their site and seen good looking guns.
Do not these guns use the same components as other gun companies? LR,Chambers, Getz, GM, ect?
I’ve delt with Sitting Fox, whom I’ve see disparaged but was as good in quality as Track of the Wolf, and Pecotonic.
My gut tells me you will get as good from TVM as any other maker in the price range.

 

[jbwilliams3]

It depends on what you're looking for. For guns that closely resemble fit, finish, and architecture of original guns - not so much. Granted, the vast majority of people couldn't tell the difference between an original 18th century fowling piece and a T.C. Hawken. However, If you buy one of their guns you will likely have a functioning firelock that will shoot what you point it at from what folks say. On the other hand, over the years folks have posted pictures of serious issues with their new TVM guns. The ones who communicated their problems with the company seem to have their issues fixed. You can argue that guns with these issues should never have been shipped and I would agree, though TVM certainly seems to take care of things when brought to their attention. There are builders out there who make more historically correct guns, but TVM is certainly convenient it seems.

 

[FishDFly]

"My gut tells me you will get as good from TVM as any other maker in the price range."

There are other folks who will not agree with you.

Let the buyer beware. I tried to do business with them, enough said.

Smokey Plainsman was discouraged from doing business with them, ask him now.

 

[jbwilliams3]

P.S. I can think of one or two gents who bought a TVM gun and then came online to complain about what they had since learned were historic inaccuracies in their guns (things like barrel profile [non-tapering, straight barrel] and too much wood left on stock, gap between forestock and ramrod, etc.). Do your research beforehand if these sorts of things would bother you. You can't blame a company for not doing your research for you.

 

[FishDFly]

Since reading here since 2005 there seems to be about a 60 to 40 split on TVM, favorable to not so happy.

Since this site over the years has sent a lot of business to TVM, they have never come here and posted nor, addressed those who are not happy.

I wanted to make a road trip to see their work and place an order, I was discourage to do so.

Curious as to why.

 

[Bob McBride]

Can’t add much about TVM except the anecdotal evidence I’ve read above. That said, good parts that a custom gun builder would use will cost $800ish. So if you are using that as a starting point the amount of labor you are willing to pay above that will give you that amount of value. I would be up front with them as you order and let them know you’ve read on the forum about some questionable guns shipping, which you don’t believe they would do, as you have faith in them, but any loose inlets or other funkiness will result in a return and a thread on the forum featuring up close high res pics.... and likewise a well done gun will get the equal amount of good publicity on the forum with the same number of high res pics...Set your expectations, and ask them if they can fulfill them.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Rich,
I've repaired several TVM fowlers. They are pretty well made. The barrels on each that I worked on were 20 gauge and pretty heavy. A larger gauge may be lighter. That can be fine for shooting patched round ball but I prefer a lighter weight for a true bird gun.

dave

 

[hanshi]

A few things about TVM guns. They will supply most any lock, barrel, wood grade and fittings you ask for; so ignore complaints concerning barrels. You get what you asked for. The main complaint about TVM guns is that they are not copies of existing guns; well, my Heavens! A lot of respected custom builders build guns that are not even close copies of existing guns. My TVM guns carry Rice, Green Mountain, Colerain barrels, and some Chambers flint locks. Are these "below par" parts??

I have a TVM smoothbore .62. It has a straight barrel and a rear sight like I wanted. It isn't heavy and is one of my very favorites for hunting. I have a close friend who has one and owned other TVM guns. Mine has a Chambers lock and is super reliable and accurate - 3-shot 50 yard groups just under 3" ave; That's pretty good in my book. That's with ball, of course and shot does very well, too. I would not say TVM makes the "best" guns because "best" is open to interpretation. Jim Kibler, Tip Curtis and others do superior work and TVM should be listed among them. I own guns by other makers and they are all of equal quality. NO, I don't work for TVM; I'm just a very satisfied customer. You will like your TVM smoothbore.
Here's mine with a deer to its credit. I like it so much I named it - and I don't name guns - "Ol' Loudmouf".