Early Pennsylvania Smoothbores

[RyanAK]

Hey, gang. I’m getting ready to start a build and looking for some additional images to assist. BJ and Dave Person have been extremely helpful with advice, and BJ has offered to mentor me through the build. (BJ, I owe you a call. Got back to work and immediately started working 6 day weeks…)

After waffling back and forth on a c.1750s build, I’ve settled on a Pennsylvania-built smoothbore gun. Not a smoothrifle, but a Fowler. I’m hoping the collected wisdom can assist with some images or other research on these guns to solidify the stock architecture from the 1750s. I’ve tracked down many later guns, but as with rifles, the early stuff is scarce. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

R

 

[MAC1967]

If I understand your question . . . . The Jim Chambers Pennnsylvania Fowler is one you might want to look at . . I think it is modeled around 1760-1770, but his web page says. Hatchet Jack on this sight has a amazing one, but here is a pic of mine . . I need to take better pics of it. . . and it's left handed.

 

[rich pierce]

In Bob Lienemann’s book on Moravian guns of the Revolutionary War there’s a couple big smoothbores that closely resembles the Marshall rifle in overall architecture. Those are what I’d research. One is called the Pike gun. Some of the buttstock was scabbed off during its working life.

 

[RyanAK]

If I understand your question . . . . The Jim Chambers Pennnsylvania Fowler is one you might want to look at . . I think it is modeled around 1760-1770, but his web page says. Hatchet Jack on this sight has a amazing one, but here is a pic of mine . . I need to take better pics of it. . . and it's left handed. View attachment 155661View attachment 155662View attachment 155663

Lovely piece, Mac! I guess I should have been more clear… I’m building from a plank rather than a kit and I’m researching extant examples to get a sense of stock architecture style.

In Bob Lienemann’s book on Moravian guns of the Revolutionary War there’s a couple big smoothbores that closely resembles the Marshall rifle in overall architecture. Those are what I’d research. One is called the Pike gun. Some of the buttstock was scabbed off during its working life.

Thanks, Rich! Of course I only own the second book! Do these smoothbores have a cheekrest and rifle trigger guard as a smoothrifle, or are they Marshall-esq stocks with Fowler guard and round toe?

 

[rich pierce]

Lovely piece, Mac! I guess I should have been more clear… I’m building from a plank rather than a kit and I’m researching extant examples to get a sense of stock architecture style.


Thanks, Rich! Of course I only own the second book! Do these smoothbores have a cheekrest and rifle trigger guard as a smoothrifle, or are they Marshall-esq stocks with Fowler guard and round toe?

I’m traveling. When I get home I’ll be able to answer your questions. I think it’s book 2.

 

[RyanAK]

Thanks, Rich. I’ll have another look in Book II in the meantime.

 

[RyanAK]

I’m wondering if the stock profiles on these smoothbore guns built in Pennsylvania by gunsmiths of Germanic heritage weren’t like British fowling pieces due to the number of imports coming into the colonies…