Fowler flintlock pistol

Ken Maddock · 13th August 2015, 06:01 PM

Hi all
I recently purchased the attached pistol
It is maker marked to Fowler, I was told he was a Dublin gunsmith but I can't find nothing on him, does anyone have any information on this gunmaker
There is no proof mark on the pistol, this seemingly is common enough as ireland did not have a proof house.
Lovely tight well made pistol with roller on frizzen spring, snappy safety catch and silver furniture
Any information gratefully accepted
Regards to all
Ken

fernando · 13th August 2015, 06:46 PM

Nice pistol, Ken

.
Is that a silver estucheon on the stock back?
There was an 18th. century great maker "Fowler of Dublin". I am not sure it is the same one

.

.. or could it be (the same as) Thomas Fowler, who sold duelling guns in Dublin by 1800 ?

http://www.museum.ie/en/news/press-r...8-a7532cbd2ecd

.

Ken Maddock · 13th August 2015, 07:24 PM

Hi Fernando
Yes silver estucheon, with nothing engraved on it and silver butt cap
Do you have any references to Fowler that I could look up

I just also got a gold inlaid percussion pistol that I am currently working on, the same one I showed screw removal technique on, I will reveal that gun in a few weeks when the rock solid trigger is released and numerous other problems sorted

In the mean time any info on Fowler willing accepted
Thanks
Ken

fernando · 13th August 2015, 07:28 PM

Read post #2 again; i have just edited it.

fernando · 13th August 2015, 07:34 PM

... and again, mentioned in the bottom right side of this paper.
Apparently he was active between 1790-1830 ...

.

fernando · 13th August 2015, 07:54 PM

... And finally:

.

http://issuu.com/bluegator/docs/summer2012/53

Ken Maddock · 13th August 2015, 08:52 PM

Fernando
I have to hand it to you, that is fantastic information
I am impressed
3 great references in less than 2 hours
Lots of good reading for me tonight
Best regards
Ken

Fernando K · 13th August 2015, 10:28 PM

Hello

With respect, and without intention to disturb, I have caught my attention the geometry of frizzen seems cut, so that the cock not be stopped when it hit, before opening the bread. Also, I think the latch bolt failure. It would take a good photograph of the interior of the lock and the relative position of the parts of the lock.

Affectionately. Fernando K

Ken Maddock · 14th August 2015, 08:37 AM

Hi Fernando K
I have some extra images attached
I agree the top of the frizzen is missing a bit, but it fits perfect and I have added an image to show the hammer does match the frizzen in my opinion
Hope some more information can be gleaned
Thanks for observations
Sorry about bad photos, off to work and kids are acting up:-)
Ken

corrado26 · 14th August 2015, 04:04 PM

I want to add a very similar pistol of an other Dublin gunmaker. It is a flintlock-pocketpistol with a cartridge Magazin in ist stock for three rounds. The pistol was made by JOHN Rigby and is missing any proof marks as the FOWLER pistol.
The reason was probably the political situation in Ireland. Until the beginning of the Irish Revolution in 1798 the proof of all barrels took place in the "Dublin Castle". The proof mark showed two crossed hammers under a crown. These activities ended abruptly in 1798 and so all in Ireland produced firearms have not been proofed and got no proofmarks.

After the reception of the ideas of the French Revolution the Party of the politically extreme United Irishman was founded. Their aim was the total dissociation of Ireland from England and 1796 they had over 100.000 men under arms and got strong support from France. This movement was betrayed and the "Clearing" by the British army demanded more than 30.000 dead.

corrado26

corrado26 · 14th August 2015, 04:09 PM

I just found fotos of a nice pair of FOWLER pistols in my Archive. These pistols are also made in Dublin and don't show proof marks too. Interesting is the Boutet style cock like an inversed "C" at both, the Rigby and the Fowler-pistol
Regards
corrado26

Fernando K · 14th August 2015, 10:11 PM

Hello

Rigby magnificent photographs and Fowler. I still think the frizzen this cut on purpose, to avoid collision with the cock in his fall. In any case, the cock has been replaced.

Would have to consider whether the tear line is spontaneous or has saw marks or lime.

Affectionately. Fernando K

Pukka Bundook · 15th August 2015, 02:54 PM

Very nice pictures in the above posts.
The "French cocks" were quite popular in England & Ireland around the 1810 period, give or take a few years!

I wonder if the pistol in the O.P. has had the hammer (frizzen ) bobbed so that it would not be pulled open when withdrawing the pistol from an overcoat pocket?
It would be a bad time to lose one's priming, if the pistol was being withdrawn for defense!

Richard.

13th August 2015, 06:01 PM	#1
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Fowler flintlock pistol Hi all I recently purchased the attached pistol It is maker marked to Fowler, I was told he was a Dublin gunsmith but I can't find nothing on him, does anyone have any information on this gunmaker There is no proof mark on the pistol, this seemingly is common enough as ireland did not have a proof house. Lovely tight well made pistol with roller on frizzen spring, snappy safety catch and silver furniture Any information gratefully accepted Regards to all Ken Attached Images

13th August 2015, 07:34 PM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,636	... and again, mentioned in the bottom right side of this paper. Apparently he was active between 1790-1830 ... . Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 13th August 2015 at 07:50 PM.

14th August 2015, 08:37 AM	#9
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Hi Fernando K I have some extra images attached I agree the top of the frizzen is missing a bit, but it fits perfect and I have added an image to show the hammer does match the frizzen in my opinion Hope some more information can be gleaned Thanks for observations Sorry about bad photos, off to work and kids are acting up:-) Ken Attached Images

14th August 2015, 04:04 PM	#10
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,166	I want to add a very similar pistol of an other Dublin gunmaker. It is a flintlock-pocketpistol with a cartridge Magazin in ist stock for three rounds. The pistol was made by JOHN Rigby and is missing any proof marks as the FOWLER pistol. The reason was probably the political situation in Ireland. Until the beginning of the Irish Revolution in 1798 the proof of all barrels took place in the "Dublin Castle". The proof mark showed two crossed hammers under a crown. These activities ended abruptly in 1798 and so all in Ireland produced firearms have not been proofed and got no proofmarks. After the reception of the ideas of the French Revolution the Party of the politically extreme United Irishman was founded. Their aim was the total dissociation of Ireland from England and 1796 they had over 100.000 men under arms and got strong support from France. This movement was betrayed and the "Clearing" by the British army demanded more than 30.000 dead. corrado26 Attached Images

14th August 2015, 04:09 PM	#11
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,166	I just found fotos of a nice pair of FOWLER pistols in my Archive. These pistols are also made in Dublin and don't show proof marks too. Interesting is the Boutet style cock like an inversed "C" at both, the Rigby and the Fowler-pistol Regards corrado26 Attached Images

13th August 2015, 06:46 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,636	Nice pistol, Ken . Is that a silver estucheon on the stock back? There was an 18th. century great maker "Fowler of Dublin". I am not sure it is the same one . .. or could it be (the same as) Thomas Fowler, who sold duelling guns in Dublin by 1800 ? http://www.museum.ie/en/news/press-r...8-a7532cbd2ecd . Last edited by fernando; 13th August 2015 at 07:27 PM.

13th August 2015, 07:24 PM	#3
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Hi Fernando Yes silver estucheon, with nothing engraved on it and silver butt cap Do you have any references to Fowler that I could look up I just also got a gold inlaid percussion pistol that I am currently working on, the same one I showed screw removal technique on, I will reveal that gun in a few weeks when the rock solid trigger is released and numerous other problems sorted In the mean time any info on Fowler willing accepted Thanks Ken

13th August 2015, 07:28 PM	#4
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,636	Read post #2 again; i have just edited it.

13th August 2015, 07:54 PM	#6
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,636	... And finally: . http://issuu.com/bluegator/docs/summer2012/53

13th August 2015, 08:52 PM	#7
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Fernando I have to hand it to you, that is fantastic information I am impressed 3 great references in less than 2 hours Lots of good reading for me tonight Best regards Ken

13th August 2015, 10:28 PM	#8
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 663	Hello With respect, and without intention to disturb, I have caught my attention the geometry of frizzen seems cut, so that the cock not be stopped when it hit, before opening the bread. Also, I think the latch bolt failure. It would take a good photograph of the interior of the lock and the relative position of the parts of the lock. Affectionately. Fernando K

14th August 2015, 10:11 PM	#12
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 663	Hello Rigby magnificent photographs and Fowler. I still think the frizzen this cut on purpose, to avoid collision with the cock in his fall. In any case, the cock has been replaced. Would have to consider whether the tear line is spontaneous or has saw marks or lime. Affectionately. Fernando K

15th August 2015, 02:54 PM	#13
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Very nice pictures in the above posts. The "French cocks" were quite popular in England & Ireland around the 1810 period, give or take a few years! I wonder if the pistol in the O.P. has had the hammer (frizzen ) bobbed so that it would not be pulled open when withdrawing the pistol from an overcoat pocket? It would be a bad time to lose one's priming, if the pistol was being withdrawn for defense! Richard.

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