Track's Fowler Kits

[Onojutta]

Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts about Tack of the Wolf's two English/American fowler kits? Most notably, one of them is available with a hooked breach. That is definitely convenient for field stripping and cleaning, but is it PC for guns found throughout the colonies in the 18th century?

I've been pleased with a rifle kit I purchased from Track several years ago, but I don't know as much about fowlers...

(Moderators, if this topic belongs in the Gun Builders bench, I won't be offended if you move it there)

Thanks.

 

[tenngun]

Did tracks NWG and very pleased with it.
It seems from my reading hooked breaches started 1770s(?). Became more common after 1800. Needed keys to work well. Their European fowler the makings for a gentleman’s top end gun. So we could expect to see the latest.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I just read the description on Track's site. The parts offered are pretty good. I would have hoped to see a 46" barrel listed as one of the options. The L&R lock is pretty good and will be a good performer after some lock tuning work to polish up the parts. I would have hoped to see a Chambers lock offered as an option. I know this ups the as delivered cost, but I would select walnut as the wood. I would also prefer to see that the lock is not inlet on the supplied stock. You need to be able to properly align the touch hole to the proper position in the pan. Too many preinlet stocks have the lock located too far back and the touch hole would be drilled into the breech plug. Get the White Lightning touch hole liner (1/4 by 32) and the installation kit.

While the hooked breech was being offered on some very high end English fowling guns, such a breech was not at all common in the colonies. I do know and recognize that a hooked breech makes cleaning so much easier. I would have to seriously think about the common practice here in the colonies. Get a copy of Grinslade's "Flintlock Fowlers" to study as you make your decision.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I build a lot of historically correct fowlers and muskets. I recommend one of Chambers fowler kits rather than TOW. They have better quality components, particularly the locks. Even the brass or steel hardware is better and historically correct. For example, the acorn trigger guard on Track's kit is too large, incorrectly shaped, and the wrong guard for a round-faced lock. By the time English makers were using that guard they were also using flat-faced locks on all but the lowest quality guns. Grinslade's book is useful but if you want to learn about 18th century British fowlers visit the links below and follow through with all the parts in the "Miscellaneous Tutorials" section.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=48841.0
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=52635.0

dave