1740-1750 French Fowler .. I Think

Zak93

Cadet
Joined
Aug 18, 2019
Well, i know this is quite a little bit before the civil war , but there is a lot of experts on here that I'm sure may know a thing or two . Its had a few repairs done too the stock, and it has a replacement lock on it (would love to find a original to complete this piece of history ) if you all could Help me find more information on it there is not much online that i could see . It has one small makers mark on barrel with a crown over top of AM i think, 44 1/4 “ barrel ,octagon to round .62 caliber , no rifling . Thank you all ahead of time ! Looking forward to all the insight !!

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Based on the illustrations you provided about the Drake French Fowler, and how the architecture of the that gun that so closely follows the architecture of you gun, I think you have your answer. I'm assuming that the architecture of the Drake fowler, with it's elaborate engraving would have been for a "gentleman's" fusil or fowler, and more of a presentation piece than a working gun. Yours is a step down from that level of finish, made more for use than display. The butt plate is very interesting, as you normally don't see them wrap around the stock as yours does. The transition area of the barrel where it changes from an octagon to round is interesting , as normally there is a raised metal "wedding" band at the transition point; yours lacks this detail. Perhaps that's a feature of English Fowlers or was a feature known to be used by the barrel maker. In one of your pictures of the wrist area of the stock, there appears to be a hole on the top side of the wrist. I'm assuming that at one time there was a thumb piece that fit into that hole as I can't imagine what other purpose that hole would have.
You said that you thought that at some time the lock had been replaced. I don't think so, as I don't see anything that would make me think that this fowler is not in it's original condition, (you even have a flint in the lock and it's ramrod!). The gun either saw very little use, or was owned by someone who understood how to take care of it. Notice that the screw heads are not jimmied up. Someone used the correct type of turn screw when the disassembled the gun for cleaning. Overall, it's an outstanding piece of history. If it could only talk. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to view your fowler.

Perhaps you may want to go to over to American Long Rifles and present your pictures to them on their forum? The folks at that site are much more knowledgeable about guns of this type and age.

a link to them:
https://americanlongrifles.com/
 
I don't know what it is, but it looks wonderful to me.
Very nice matching wear and age.
I don't remember seeing butt plates with wrap around wings, but they sure look correct.
I second Booner's suggestion you seek into on the americanlongrifles site.
 
I don't know what it is, but it looks wonderful to me.
Very nice matching wear and age.
I don't remember seeing butt plates with wrap around wings, but they sure look correct.
I second Booner's suggestion you seek into on the americanlongrifles site.
I concur. A friend of mine had an old family heirloom muzzleloader.
No clue as to it history, other then it was not military and there were a few markings from the gunsmith

They hit the nail on the head as to whom the gunsmith was, his locations and what years.

Good luck.
 
how many years did it take to wear all of the checkering off of the wrist??? now that was somebody's favorite piece!!
 
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