Starting a Hudson Valley Fowler

[Pukka Bundook]

You don't need a step ladder to load.
Just carry a hole around with you to drop the butt in.

Well Rich,
We are all here waiting to hear ......?

 

[godutch]

I've been wondering about this one myself. I second the build thread suggestion!

 

[Cruzatte]

You don't need a step ladder to load.
Just carry a hole around with you to drop the butt in.

Well Rich,
We are all here waiting to hear ......?

Sounds like they'd be handy in Kansas. Flat enough in these parts to park the butt in the next county and load 'er up no sweat.

 

[rich pierce]

I moved to Vermont in the meanwhile and managed to finish my early English trade gun but then got hooked on turkey hunting. I’ve had success but all within 20-25 yards with my cylinder bore early New England fowler. Looking for more range i picked up a Colerain 20 ga turkey choke barrel.

BUILD IN PROGRESS NOW
I settled on a club-butt fowler for this build and have the barrel in now. I will use a TRS early Wilson trade gun flintlock which I am assembling. This one is based on CB 6 and CB 7 in Grinslades book on Colonial fowlers. These both have double cheekpieces and shell-shaped carving.

 

[rich pierce]

The HVF will follow this build and I hope to get them done before the Kempton PA gunmakers fair end of July.

 

[54ball]

The HVF will follow this build and I hope to get them done before the Kempton PA gunmakers fair end of July.

Did you get those snowshoes fixed?

 

[rich pierce]

Did you get those snowshoes fixed?

Kinda. Still not happy with bindings. But I’m done doing timed snowshoe biathlons, I think. Right knee is wearing out.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Thanks Rich for posting your build progress!
I looked at the stock with the drawing on the right side and then read it: “Double cheek pieces”! Think of a the beautiful carving to grace her

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Double cheek pieces! Think of a the beautiful carving to grace her

There's one in Grinslades book. Very high on the nifty scale.

 

[PathfinderNC]

There's one in Grinslades book. Very high on the nifty scale.

I’ve not been at the Kenton Gunmakers fair yet but if this Fowler will be there it might make me go!

 

[rich pierce]

I’ve been making hardware. I’ve got thimbles made of 0.032 sheet brass.

Many club butt fowlers and Hudson Valley fowlers had buttplates with long, tapering tangs extending along the comb. These are hard to find off the shelf. Mike Brooks has a couple, I think, and so does The Rifle Shoppe. The ones from TRS are exceptionally thick and most are of a form seldom seen on club butt fowlers, with a pronounced heel extending rearward. Anyway, from time to time I make a buttplate for a project because I want something different.
So, today I formed a buttplate from 0.062” sheet brass. I did a test buttplate out of thinner stock before putting the hammer to my precious long piece of 1/16” brass.

I use forms to shape buttplates. These include wooden forms and actual buttplate castings to guide the bending and forming. Here’s a paper template, forms, and work in progress. I often leave a little extra width in the area of the heel bend, because I’m not sure how much stretch I’ll get from peening. Then I trim as necessary.

Sometimes I add a puddle of solder in the heel to strengthen it, so it does not dent in case of hard use.

Sorry the pictures are out of order and there are dupes. Doing this on my phone.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I’ve been making hardware. I’ve got thimbles made of 0.032 sheet brass.

Many club butt fowlers and Hudson Valley fowlers had buttplates with long, tapering tangs extending along the comb. These are hard to find off the shelf. Mike Brooks has a couple, I think, and so does The Rifle Shoppe. The ones from TRS are exceptionally thick and most are of a form seldom seen on club butt fowlers, with a pronounced heel extending rearward. Anyway, from time to time I make a buttplate for a project because I want something different.
So, today I formed a buttplate from 0.062” sheet brass. I did a test buttplate out of thinner stock before putting the hammer to my precious long piece of 1/16” brass.

I use forms to shape buttplates. These include wooden forms and actual buttplate castings to guide the bending and forming. Here’s a paper template, forms, and work in progress. I often leave a little extra width in the area of the heel bend, because I’m not sure how much stretch I’ll get from peening. Then I trim as necessary.

Sometimes I add a puddle of solder in the heel to strengthen it, so it does not dent in case of hard use.

Sorry the pictures are out of order and there are dupes. Doing this on my phone.
View attachment 279383View attachment 279384View attachment 279385View attachment 279385View attachment 279390View attachment 279391

Nifty. I have a swage block I use when forming buttplates. You get great results with your methods .
.

 

[rich pierce]

Nifty. I have a swage block I use when forming buttplates. You get great results with your methods .
.

Mike, I had too many free-hand failures! I have a swage block but it’s rough. One winter project is to polish it with an angle grinder because it scars up brass pretty noticeably.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Thanks for updating your project Rich. That butt plate really takes some doing. dang. Gonna be nice, no doubt about that.

 

[smo]

The talent here still amazes me….

Thanks for sharing y’all’s knowledge, methods and Craftsmanship with the Forum..

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Mike, I had too many free-hand failures! I have a swage block but it’s rough. One winter project is to polish it with an angle grinder because it scars up brass pretty noticeably.

Yep , I always feel I'm right on the edge making sheet buttplates. Things get wonky fast!

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Same here Mike.

 

[rich pierce]

I hate looking at these threads and seeing how slow I am. Getting there though. The side plate side has near identical carving and cheekpiece which seems to be a feature of this maker, whoever it was. I’m guessing coastal Massachusetts or Rhodes Island with the nautilus shell carving. I’ll pretend it was a sea captain’s gun

 

[Magungo1066]

Wow! Looks great!