A very utilitarian fowler with a 20 gauge, 42" octagon-to-round barrel, maple stock, Jim Chambers late Ketland flintlock, and English influenced iron furniture. The breech is signed by contemporary builder Mr. Steve Losey. Weighing in at 6.7 pounds, this fowler has a trigger reach of 13-1/2" making it well suited for today's average size shooter.
The fowler has a 20 gauge 42" octagon-to-round barrel with a 13" octagon breech with a single wedding band to round. The barrel has been finished to a slightly mottled brown color. The bore appears to have a jug choke for better performance with shot. The .620" diameter bore is bright and clean, ready for patched round balls or lead shot. This fowler has no rear sight, thus it qualifies for the NMLRA Trade Gun Match rules, shooting both round balls at paper targets, and shot at clay birds.
Stocked in a nice piece of curly maple this smooth bore is trimmed in patina finished iron furniture. The stock is shaped with a wide flat English influenced buttplate. This fowler does have a few handling marks in the stock associated with handling, which seem appropriate with the patina finish on the iron furniture. We also note recoil chip starting on the left side of the flared tang. The triggerguard has the bow threaded into the triggerplate and a long grip rail secured with screws. The ramrod is secured by three English style iron ramrod pipes. The 3/8" diameter ramrod is fitted with a brass tip with 8-32 threads. A single lock bolt mounts the late Ketland flintlock and no sideplate is fitted in "poor boy' fashion.
The 1810 to 1820 era Ketland flintlock is perhaps the most popular style of flint lock found on fine original antique American longrifles. This attractive medium size rifle lock is based on our best Siler internal lock parts. Notice the pointed tail and rounded pan of the lock plate. The tail of the lock plate is slightly lower than the raised panel that forms the lock plate, separated by an attractive molding. The raised panel is surrounded by a chamfered edge. The frizzen glides over a roller bearing on the frizzen spring, which is retained by a hidden mounting screw. The Ketland family of lock makers were quick to incorporate the best new features in their rifles, fowlers, and flint locks. A steel vent hole liner is well centered both horizontally and vertically. 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. The barrel has some rub marks from the frizzen, this is from the lock bolt being over tightened. The trigger has a wide curled face. The trigger is pinned high to provide good leverage against the sear of the lock.
This 20 gauge fowler has a number of small handling marks which add to the antique patina. 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.
