December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
This American Fowler was made before the Revolutionary War and possibly before the French and Indian War. There are first hand accounts of these long barreled smoothbore longarms being used early in the Revolutionary War by militia who had no other weapon when called to duty. There is at least one surviving reference to a British soldier being killed on an island at New York City at a good distance (Man at Arms Magazine). It is a written account witnessed early in the Revolutionary War. The round three stage barrel is tapered and has baluster turnings at the breech and a brass sight at the muzzle. There are two sunken London Gunmakers Guild proofs at the breech. The reused lock is from a Pattern 1742 British Brown Bess flintlock with most of its engraved contour lines still evident. The deeply stamped small, horizontal crown and arrow are prominent under the pan. The frizzen has a period refaced repair that is evidence of its hard usage. The brass furniture is executed in the Dutch style with appealing, baluster style ramrod ferrules. The large pierced brass sideplate is convex and has leaf and vine scrolls. The trigger guard is ornate and has a repair behind the trigger bow.
The stock has relief leaf designs carved behind the barrel tang and ramrod entry ferrule. There is also relief carving around the lock and sideplate that terminates in a large traditional beaver tail shape. The initials "AWM" are carved on the left side of the butt. Also, the date "1771" is carved on the left side of the stock. CONDITION: Barrel retains a brown patina. Lock has a brown patina and functions well. The brass retains a dark mustard patina, back 4 - 1/2" of triggerguard have been restored. Stock has last 12 - 1/2" inches at muzzle professionally restored.