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Can you help ID maker of my FdC

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S

Sooty Scot

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Just traded for this, for my F& I persona.
The seller said the consensus of knowledgeable folks he'd shown it to is that it was made by Jackie Brown; apparently, the fancy trigger was a halmark.

I've had it completely stripped down: polishing, getting to know it, & searching for any sort of mark (new toy reaction).. Not a one, inside or out.
De-farbing for reenactment doesn't make sense; I'd expect some sort of maker/proofing marks at least, for historical accuracy. Once I'm sure it's not heresy,I may try to add any appropriate external ones. (I'm still learning about FdC's.

From the fit, finish, and stock wood, that it's smith-built- not a factory job- makes sense to me. I love the way it looks, feels, and shoots (shot, at least; still waiting on balls) so this search is mostly curiosity.

Thanks for any info/leads you can offer. IMG_3728.jpgIMG_3734.jpgIMG_3752.jpgIMG_3800.jpg
 
Appears to be mimicing a 'fusil fin' (fine) what with the brass ornaments and different sideplate.

Admittedly I'm most familiar with those arms from the Tulle (A. TVLLE or TVLLE as marked on the lockplate) armory, and with that aforementioned sideplate and the 'tail' or 'nub' on the rear end of the lockplate (also correctly that of a 'banana' shape), then I'd guesstimate it to be a 'Le Fusil Fin' of the early 1729 contract, which were typically reserved to be given out as gifts to Indian Chiefs.

It would be way cool if you added the Fleur de Lis and Tulle markings to your lockplate! Track of the Wolf sells such a stamp, like from my lefty FdC build, which I had luckily borrowed from someone. I got the FdL stamp from eBay, for $10.

ATulle.jpg


I have a few firelocks that Jackie made and he only started marking his barrels within the past few years that I am aware of anyway.

JBrown.jpg
 
Last edited:
Without a name on the gun it is impossible to say who made it.

It appears to have some parts from Larry Zornes' Mold & Gun Shop. The lock, the trigger guard, and the sideplate, match parts in the Mold & Gun Shop catalog I have for the Type D trade gun. The thumb piece matches Zornes' Type C part.

If you could show a top view of the butt plate extension, I could probably identify it as either a Type D or C butt plate.

Zornes sells kits and individual parts, so a custom maker can mix and match.

Technically speaking, your gun is not what is commonly called today a fusil de chasse. It is closer to a Type D French trade gun in stock shape and parts. The early "banana" shaped lock was more common in the first quarter of the 18th century, but could have found its way on a later rifle. The sideplate and thumb piece are close to some that Kevin Gladysz dates from 1708-1730. The trigger guard could fit this period or later.

The French trade gun in New France is probably a lot more complicated than was presented in Russel Bouchard's little booklet titled The Fusil de Tulle in New France which is only 48 pages long. It likely on scratches the surface. Kevin Gladysz's The French Trade Gun in North America which focuses on guns from Saint-Etienne is 183 pages long and presents a much more complex picture of the guns from that manufacturing center. It's reasonable to assume that trade guns from Tulle are equally as varied and complex as they are from Saint-Etienne.
 
Hello. I have a rifle with the same J. Brown on barrel. Does anyone have a history of this maker/builder?
 
Flint62Smoothie said:
Appears to be mimicing a 'fusil fin' (fine) what with the brass ornaments and different sideplate.

Admittedly I'm most familiar with those arms from the Tulle (A. TVLLE or TVLLE as marked on the lockplate) armory, and with that aforementioned sideplate and the 'tail' or 'nub' on the rear end of the lockplate (also correctly that of a 'banana' shape), then I'd guesstimate it to be a 'Le Fusil Fin' of the early 1729 contract, which were typically reserved to be given out as gifts to Indian Chiefs.

It would be way cool if you added the Fleur de Lis and Tulle markings to your lockplate! Track of the Wolf sells such a stamp, like from my lefty FdC build, which I had luckily borrowed from someone. I got the FdL stamp from eBay, for $10.

View attachment 140100

I have a few firelocks that Jackie made and he only started marking his barrels within the past few years that I am aware of anyway.

View attachment 140096
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the information and for the lead on the stamp. I want to make it as authentic as I can, both for my own satisfaction and to make it a better close-up teaching tool.

As before, finding the gun begins the search and dictates a lot of what I do with it.
I've come to reenacting late in life, taking part in a F&I event for the first time last year. I had an original British fusil to use then (actually key to being accepted, I think. My other flint rifle is a SMR, which lands me in the 1790 on period). I was looking for a HC gun, which side stepped finding a Bess and which allowed me a less formally, militarily, bound persona.

Aside from being a beautiful piece (I admit prejudice already; it's a sweet shooter),it allows me to retire my solid but overworked antique.

My information search begins.
 
plmeek said:
Without a name on the gun it is impossible to say who made it.

It appears to have some parts from Larry Zornes' Mold & Gun Shop. The lock, the trigger guard, and the sideplate, match parts in the Mold & Gun Shop catalog I have for the Type D trade gun. The thumb piece matches Zornes' Type C part.

If you could show a top view of the butt plate extension, I could probably identify it as either a Type D or C butt plate.

Zornes sells kits and individual parts, so a custom maker can mix and match.

Technically speaking, your gun is not what is commonly called today a fusil de chasse. It is closer to a Type D French trade gun in stock shape and parts. The early "banana" shaped lock was more common in the first quarter of the 18th century, but could have found its way on a later rifle. The sideplate and thumb piece are close to some that Kevin Gladysz dates from 1708-1730. The trigger guard could fit this period or later.

The French trade gun in New France is probably a lot more complicated than was presented in Russel Bouchard's little booklet titled The Fusil de Tulle in New France which is only 48 pages long. It likely on scratches the surface. Kevin Gladysz's The French Trade Gun in North America which focuses on guns from Saint-Etienne is 183 pages long and presents a much more complex picture of the guns from that manufacturing center. It's reasonable to assume that trade guns from Tulle are equally as varied and complex as they are from Saint-Etienne.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information. Is this picture clear enough? If not, I'll take another tomorrow by daylight.IMG_3731.jpgIMG_3731.jpgIMG_3786.jpg
 
Excuse the duplicate. I'm still learning how to wend my way through this electronic forest.
 
plmeek said:
The French trade gun in New France is probably a lot more complicated than was presented in Russel Bouchard's little booklet titled The Fusil de Tulle in New France which is only 48 pages long. It likely on scratches the surface. Kevin Gladysz's The French Trade Gun in North America which focuses on guns from Saint-Etienne is 183 pages long and presents a much more complex picture of the guns from that manufacturing center.
Click to expand...

As a follower of anything Ken Hamilton from Maine, who has original FdC's in his possesion and who has handled such originals, including THE original Hannalh Dustin musket, I found the Gladysz's book absolutely USELESS for anything, but for the 'cheap' French trade guns from the St. Entienne. It is NOT the reference for arms from Tulle, to which the OP's post appears to be.

I can't quote it accurately here ... but even the IDN preferred the flintlocks from the A.TVLLE armory than from St. Entienne!
 
Thank you for the information. It's a fine, light (7#12oz) tool. Now that I have a properly sized flint, the occasional misfires are cured; it throws a healthy spray of sparks.
 
rich pierce said:
Unlikely Jackie Brown made it. I don’t recall carving on his guns. Could be I missed some that were carved.
Click to expand...

I think he may have other guys assembling guns to in the white stage for him independently at their homes, with Jackie finishing them in his shop. That’s what Tip Curtis did. He would finish them 4 at a time.
 

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