Well now! Lots of eye-popping replies on this one. Let me start by saying Bill (in Oregon), yes I am indeed at the very beginning of a project. I plan on getting a New England .45 rifle built. My wish-list entry for a New England fowler is still alive but recently got relegated to the back of the line. I just have to (a)do my research and (b)convince the maestro gunbuilder to build it.
Thank you, Spence, for sharing those photos of your circa 1815 weapon. It's beautiful. I have a pretty good collection of original blackpowder arms and there's just something about them that is much more than just their age that makes them special. Their beauty and craftsmanship resonate with something deep inside, giving one the aura of the many hands that must have held them in all those years. Looking at yours its a safe bet that you know exactly what I mean.
Which leads me to ask Capt Joel, what circa is your weapon? I've got no clue, don't know anything about it except what my eyes see and that's very good indeed.
Now Robby, you can't just torture me with pictures of one outstanding cherry weapon, but THREE! They are too gorgeous for words, and that's just from photos. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to see them "in the flesh", so to speak, and to actually hold them and shoot them. The hidden torment witheld from your post is that I'm almost sure you had a hand in building at least one, but possibly the whole kit and kaboodle, all three. Regardless,I forgive you as well as thank you for sharing them, they're just about the closest thing I've seen to completely and utterly astounding firearms.
I am trying to get a handle on the woods native to New England that were favored by gunbuilders 200+ years ago. In that vein, I'm trying to research the rifles that were built. I think it's safe to say that the overwhelming choice in firearms in NE back then were fowlers. Grinslade's book very nicely put a lot of these guns together and handily categorized by style and the areas the guns were built and used.
If anyone can help me out by pointing me in the right direction to a source for New England rifles I'd very much appreciate it. I mean anything - a book, a pamphlet, a website - anything.
Again, Many thanks to all for contributing so much to my query.
