1765-1775 English Fowler

[dave_person]

Hi,
Reposted the photos using Imgur.com. Much better photo hosting service than Photobucket.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Great pics. Imgur seems to work. PB no longer. I never did like.
That is definately a drool worthy fowler. Beautiful. :thumbsup:

 

[rushlake1]

Time well spent Dave!

any pictures of the muzzle-bore?

Interested in Getz fowler barrels.

 

[trigrcreep]

I am trying to build my first fowler-I now have a goal.I Keep coming back to look at your fowler like a moth drawn to a flame. What kind of wood is that?

 

[dave_person]

Hi Stormcloud,
Thanks for looking. The fowler architecture is based on an original English fowler that I own so it is a good example of a typical 1770s gun. The wood is American black walnut that I stained to look more like English walnut. The trick is to stain the wood with a yellow dye such as an aniline dye and then rub it back a bit with a Scotch-Brite pad. The yellow eliminates the cold purple-brown tone common in black walnut and warms it up a lot.

dave

 

[Feltwad]

Hi Gus,
That is a great bit of history. Egg first worked for John Twigg in London before setting up his own business. As to signing "Royal" guns, the maker certainly signed them and if there is any silver or gold ornamentation, the metal is hallmarked along with the stamp of the gold or silversmith. Certainly, stockers and engravers rarely if ever signed their work.

dave

Yes there were some English Stockers that did sign there work .Over the years I have come across several when doing restoration the most common place was behind the standing breech or the butt plate .
Feltwad
An early English Fowler notice the drop of the stock

 

[dave_person]

Hi Feltwad,
Thanks for the photos. That is a nice take-down fowler. My gun above is fitted for a small woman so the stock is straighter to accommodate her build. I assume you mean the signatures of stock makers were under the butt plate or standing breech and could not be seen without disassembling the gun? My original fowler has no such marks but then it was likely export grade, although it is very well made.

dave