This antique English single barrel fowler is marked I .Hollis & Sons on the lock and the top flat of the tapered round barrel with Rigby style flats at the breech. The fowler is stocked in checkered walnut and iron furniture. This fowler has been disassembled at sometime in the past and almost every screw or bolt head has been altered buffing them. The rear of the under barrel rib has come off at some point in the past and it was rejoined to the barrel with a brown epoxy, which is visible on the outside edge as well as the rear of the open end of the hollow rib. Trigger reach is 14" to fit a an average size shooter. This fowler weighs 5.3 pounds.
The barrel is marked 15 gauge on the bottom of the breech and has Birmingham proof marks. The bore measure .690", which is closer to what is considered a 14 gauge today. The bore is mostly bright and appears to be cleaned-up. The muzzle looks like it has been cleaned bright. The barrel has visible Damascus pattern and the breech has a platinum blow-out plug. The breech end of the barrel has 2" Rigby style flats and the top of the barrel is hand engraved with a star burst design. The last 5" of the barrel rib has an epoxy repair to reattach it to the barrel. The repair is visible from both the exterior and from the open end at the rear. Not an ideal repair method we make no guarantee as to the viability of that repair for long term durability if you plan to fire this fowler. If you plan to fire this fowler never use steel shot in any antique muzzle loading gun. Use only lead shot for upland game, and the new non-toxic Bismuth shot where required by law, for waterfowl.
The European walnut stock has some pattern. The stock has some scattered handling marks in the finish. The nearly flat buttplate has a short pointed comb that just extends over the heel of the stock. The lock panels are very slender and gently taper widest at the front, an architectural detail of later percussion guns. The stock has a few small scattered chips along the edges of the furniture. The English style hooked breech has a long tang breech. The rounded toe of the stock is fitted with an initial plate. The flat checkered wrist extends beyond the triggerguard. The guard is retained by two screws in the rear, the front is attached to the triggerplate below. The screws have all been polished.
An iron forend cap protects the end grain of the stock. Forward the ramrod pipes are in good condition. The entry pipe has classic English styling, while the forward pipes are straight pipes. The screws that mount the entry pipe from the ramrod channel have been reshaped to index the current position in the round barrel channel. The ramrod currently installed appears to be a replacement. The exposed end has a antique flared brass tip while the hidden end is blank. The sideplate is a simple washer style. The side panel does have a 1/2" crack extending from the sideplate toward the trigger.
The front action bar style percussion lock is engraved with a decorative border and some accents around the screws. The front of the lock is engraved I Hollis & Sons.. The lock functions but the hammer has some play on the tumbler shank. We did not attempt to dismount the nipple.
This attractive antique fowling gun is a good representative example of a higher grade trade fowler from the mid to late 19th century. The barrel has visible pattern. The rib has been epoxied back into position, which is not ideal. We always recommend that if you plan to fire any unknown antique that you fire your maximum load, remotely, to prove any antique gun safe, to your satisfaction. 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.
The barrel is marked 15 gauge on the bottom of the breech and has Birmingham proof marks. The bore measure .690", which is closer to what is considered a 14 gauge today. The bore is mostly bright and appears to be cleaned-up. The muzzle looks like it has been cleaned bright. The barrel has visible Damascus pattern and the breech has a platinum blow-out plug. The breech end of the barrel has 2" Rigby style flats and the top of the barrel is hand engraved with a star burst design. The last 5" of the barrel rib has an epoxy repair to reattach it to the barrel. The repair is visible from both the exterior and from the open end at the rear. Not an ideal repair method we make no guarantee as to the viability of that repair for long term durability if you plan to fire this fowler. If you plan to fire this fowler never use steel shot in any antique muzzle loading gun. Use only lead shot for upland game, and the new non-toxic Bismuth shot where required by law, for waterfowl.
The European walnut stock has some pattern. The stock has some scattered handling marks in the finish. The nearly flat buttplate has a short pointed comb that just extends over the heel of the stock. The lock panels are very slender and gently taper widest at the front, an architectural detail of later percussion guns. The stock has a few small scattered chips along the edges of the furniture. The English style hooked breech has a long tang breech. The rounded toe of the stock is fitted with an initial plate. The flat checkered wrist extends beyond the triggerguard. The guard is retained by two screws in the rear, the front is attached to the triggerplate below. The screws have all been polished.
An iron forend cap protects the end grain of the stock. Forward the ramrod pipes are in good condition. The entry pipe has classic English styling, while the forward pipes are straight pipes. The screws that mount the entry pipe from the ramrod channel have been reshaped to index the current position in the round barrel channel. The ramrod currently installed appears to be a replacement. The exposed end has a antique flared brass tip while the hidden end is blank. The sideplate is a simple washer style. The side panel does have a 1/2" crack extending from the sideplate toward the trigger.
The front action bar style percussion lock is engraved with a decorative border and some accents around the screws. The front of the lock is engraved I Hollis & Sons.. The lock functions but the hammer has some play on the tumbler shank. We did not attempt to dismount the nipple.
This attractive antique fowling gun is a good representative example of a higher grade trade fowler from the mid to late 19th century. The barrel has visible pattern. The rib has been epoxied back into position, which is not ideal. We always recommend that if you plan to fire any unknown antique that you fire your maximum load, remotely, to prove any antique gun safe, to your satisfaction. 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.
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