N.E. Fowler Continued

The lock mortise is roughed in. It will require some clean up after the lock bolts and trigger are installed. I use lamp black(candle soot) to check for interference.

New England Fowler in the Making

     Here I'm starting with a cherry blank that has had the 43" 54 caliber Getz smoothbore barrel inletted and ramrod hole drilled. The web between the barrel and ramrod hole started at about a 1/4". I dropped the barrel down in the stock an 1/8". The purpose is to have a more slender piece when finished.
     Next I plan out the shape of the stock. This includes drop, cast-off, and length of pull. Bandsaw off the excess both on the sides, top ,and bottom. Plane the lock panels down to the correct thickness, and start inletting the lock(Not a bad idea to do the breechplug 1st, but I've seated the barrel back tight. So there is no gap at the breech end of the barrel). The sides of the lock plate are filed before inletting. This is a Chamber's Early Colonial flintlock.

More from the Forge

Boning Knife

Here is an 8" boning knife I just finished up. The blade was forged from a saw blade and is under 1/8" thick on the spine. The curly maple handle was saved from a firewood pile, has 3 brass pins and a pewter bolster. The scabbard is also curly maple, but from different stock and has 2 pewter bands.

Fire Place Tools and Rack

All forged from 3/8" square stock.

Lined bag with hand woven stap

Probably one of most time consuming leather projects I've tackled. This bag was made using thick bark tanned deer skin, lining fabric, waxed linen thread, a hand woven sash, and steel buckles. All pockets and gussets are lined. Everything is hand sewn with a saddle stitch. After completion the bag was wet formed, dried , and treated with a leather preservative.

Bamboo Backed Hickory Reflex Deflex Longbow

This bow has a 45 pound draw at 28 inches, and is 68" overall in length. The tips are goat horn. (sold pending funds)