Favorite Style

A question not fair, but.....
What is your favorite style on the muzzleloaders.
Lancaster,Lehigh,Bedfort,Bucks,North Carolina,Berks,Lebanon,Virginia,New England Fowlers,Tulle or other French muskets or any other style.
:hatsoff:

English fowlers for me followed by new england fowlers

Well, I'll give an unfair answer to an unfair question: I like them all! Actually, I would have a hard time choosing between certain models--not all models from each school are alike--there are certain Lehighs, certain Lancasters, certain Reading, etc. that I like equally well. I love Eric Kettenberg's version of the Faber gun. Allen Martin made a "plain" Lehigh with wooden box recently that was just plain beautiful. Bill Shipman makes a dandy early Dickert, but there is an original in the RCA books that I'd really love to have! Then, of course, there are English fowlers by Mike Brooks or a proper "type C" by a reenacting friend of mine that I'd trade three guns for....cannot decide on a favorite...

I admire good craftsmanship and graceful lines. After that, the type doesn't really matter to me. When well designed and built, they're all great.

The rifles of East Tenn, next the Virginia style. The guns from Maryland catch my eye. Most any full stock flinter will pass muster. :thumbsup:

If it loads from the muzzle it's the right style.

Well said John. :winking:

my tater gun loads from both ends, does that count?

I think the best looking muzzleloaders are form the early 19th c. They are the most graceful, and handsome IMO. I suppose my very favorite is a faithful Hawken copy. I normally don't use these rifles much because I have been doing 18th c. reenacting for years. I am working on an early 19th c. persona at this time.

I like the fit of a J P Beck rifle. The look & history behind the simple, smith made Tenn guns is certainly hard to beat for me also.

fusil de chasse.

English fowlers and Hawkens.

undertaker said:

A question not fair, but.....
What is your favorite style on the muzzleloaders.
Lancaster,Lehigh,Bedfort,Bucks,North Carolina,Berks,Lebanon,Virginia,New England Fowlers,Tulle or other French muskets or any other style.
:hatsoff:

Click to expand...

Yes, all of them. But if I had to pick I favor early heavy long rifles. Wooden Patch boxes, large bores, plain or maybe a little curl maple stocks. Transitional Rifles. I'm working on a 42 inch .62 caliber rifle at the moment.

Jeff :winking:

I guess the european military muskets... Bess, Charleville...

Don't have one yet... YET! :grin: :thumbsup:

Legion

The Lehigh.. :grin:
Lehigh...

Lancaster, fits me just right.

Chambersburg-A Schweitzer

The Northampton (Lehigh) is my absolute favorite. I also have a "thing" for club-butt fowlers.

I like the looks of the simple Jaeger rifles myself.Not those garish fancy ones just the simple, short, big bore hunters rifles.A handy and no nonsense hunting gun.

I like the Northwest Trade Guns followed by English Fowlers. :thumbsup: