May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This fowler is illustrated and described on pages 188 & 189 in "For Liberty I live" by Al Benting. Thomas Earl lived between 1737-1819. He worked in Leicester, near Worcester, on the Great Post Road. It has been traditionally asserted that Thomas Earl made a fowler owned by George Washington. Earl worked between 1767-1819, making superb guns with excellent relief carving behind the barrel tangs and well engraved brass furniture. Earl manufactured a gun of great workmanship for Colonel William Henshaw in 1773. When Henshaw marched to Cambridge, he took the fowler and it apparently fell under the observation of General Washington, he admired it so much he ordered one of the same pattern. Apparently Earl carried it to New York where the army was then stationed and delivered it personally to General Washington. The fowler has a round tapered barrel with a relief rib on top tapering towards the muzzle. There are also flats extending from the breech about 11" on each side. There is a small brass half moon front sight. The flat boat shaped lockplate is recessed at the tail section and has beveled edges. It is deeply engraved "THOMAS EARL" in the center. The lock features an early unbridled pan. The trigger has scroll cut outs and is rearward curling. The furniture is brass, including the sideplate engraved with shell designs and floral scrolls. The buttplate tang and trigger guard are engraved en suite. The two foremost ramrod ferrules are trumpeted. The nearly full length cherry stock is of familiar New England form with relief panels terminating in tear drops around the lock, cavity, and sideplate. There is relief cameo carving surrounding the trigger guard and ramrod entry ferrule. A fine shell is carved in relief around the tombstone shaped barrel tang. Complete with a period iron ramrod that fits properly. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina with areas of scattered pitting. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration and retains a brown patina with some minor freckling. Lock markings are excellent. Cock does not hold on half cock. Brass retains a dark nearly brown mustard patina. Stock has a period repaired break at the toe and carving especially on forend shows heavy wear, otherwise there are some minor chips and age cracks. Approximately 31 - 1/2" of the forend have been professionally replaced. A very attractive signed New England fowler by one of the best known and most desirable New England makers.
Caliber/Bore
.75 Smoothbore