This half-stock flint fowling gun has English influences and is attributed to Ron Paull. This gun has tight inletting and is neatly finished by that well known builder. Stocked in figured walnut and trimmed in iron furniture, this fowling gun features a finely checkered wrist and wire inlay. The smooth-bore 24 gauge octagon-to-round barrel is bright, and has been well maintained. This short and lightweight fowler will be a joy to carry in the field. Weight is 6.9 pounds. Trigger reach is 14-1/2" to fit today's taller size shooter.
The 24 gauge 30-1/2" octagon-to-round smooth-bore barrel is tapered octagon for the first 10" near the breech, which transitions to sixteen flats before the single wedding band transition to round. The bore measures .580" diameter at the muzzle. The bore is bright, clean, and ready to shoot. The front sight is a small silver blade soldered 1" behind the muzzle. A small v-notch rear sight is dovetailed 5" head of the breech. The barrel exterior is finished to a smooth chocolate brown. The left oblique flat is marked -24- along with a P in a circle, which is Ron Paull's maker's mark. The top of the false-hooked breech plug and tang is lightly engraved. The plug/tang has the appearance of a hooked breech, but it is actually fixed, as seen on many antiques. A single tang bolt passes through the tang and stock to engage the trigger plate below. An iron barrel key surrounded by silver escutcheons secures the barrel to the forearm.
The figured walnut stock is finished to a satin sheen and has a few minor handling marks from use. The wrist is finely checkered for a secure grip. The tall buttplate is neatly inlet and browned to match the barrel. The buttplate is surrounded with silver and brass wire inlays in a scroll pattern. The top view shows silver and brass inlay also surrounds the pointed tang of the fixed breech plug. The buttstock has been slightly angled away from the center line of the barrel, known as cast-off, which provides room for the shooter's face and helps to quickly align the sights. The iron trigger guard with long grip rail is browned to match the barrel. The forearm of the gun is fitted with a pewter cap. A iron ramrod entry pipe with short pointed skirt is found directly behind the pewter forend cap. The wooden ramrod passes through two iron pipes soldered to the barrel's under rib. The ramrod is fitted with a brass loading tip and the opposite end is fitted with a brass tip threaded to accept 8-32 cleaning and loading accessories. No cheek is shaped on the buttstock, in true fowling gun fashion. The two lock bolts pass through separate engraved silver sideplates. Brass and wire inlay decorates the side panel.
The small Siler flint lock has been neatly reshaped at the tail to more closely resemble English style locks from the period. The lock is finished to the same brown as the barrel, and the plate and cock have been lightly engraved. It has a strong mainspring and sparks well. We recommend our 5/8” gun flint for best performance in this lock, #FLINT-ENG-5. The trigger is pinned high, for best leverage, giving this lock a smooth easy trigger release. The stainless steel vent liner is positioned directly above the center of the flash pan, high enough to serve as a window on the hottest part of the flash. The vent hole has been internally coned to provide good ignition. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.
Neatly assembled by a well-known and respected builder, this fowler will be a joy to own. The bore is bright and ready to shoot on your next upland bird hunt. You won't be disappointed by this well made fowling gun! Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
