George Laloux Fowler

[Andy54Hawken]

What I have here is my George Laloux flintlock fowler.
A fowler is simply a 18th and 19th century term for a single barrel shotgun.
This one is in 20 gauge.
39 inch barrel, walnut half stock and weighs about 6 pounds.
George Laloux was a Belgian gun manufacturer. His company made guns from 1834 to 1920.
I think that this is a gun from 1900 -1920 due to its excellent condition.
That said it ain't much different from a fowler from the 1830's.
Fowler's can shoot both a single patched round ball or shot of various types.
I still hunt with this gun.
Andy

Full view of the Fowler.


Close up of the lock.


All you need to shoot patched round ball.

All you need to shoot shot.
Click on the pictures to make 'em enlarge.

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[CountryGent]

Very neato. What species do you hunt with said?

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Thank you @CountryGent

I have hunted deer and grouse with this gun...gotten both with it.
I have also hunted turkey with this gun....and haven't gotten one .....yet.
Andy

 

[JJ1911A1]

Beautiful Andy!!!!!!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Thank you @JJ1911A1
Andy

 

[thorborg]

Nice one Andy
In the 50's, I met an old guy in Wallowa Oregon who showed me his grandpa's fowler brought with him just prior to the great Oregon trail migration and settled some where in the North powder area. I was a kid then, so didn't pay much attention to the particulars but do remember it being long, fully stocked with wood so thin along the barrel I wondered how it could be strong enough to hold up.
It was graceful, with its thin walled round barrel. what impressed me most was it was lighter weight than I expected. At the time I did not know "Fowler". Jump ahead to adulthood, I wanted to buy a similar to my memory gun but all I could find affordable were the rifled reproductions of today with heavy thick walled hex barrels, enough wood to build a house, looking not much different than other popular reproductions except without rifling.
I'm still amazed, at the time i saw it, it still shot. Considering its history, I'd expect the thin barrel to be at least a little bent or the forearm cracked. Must of had great care.
I've yet to find a thin walled, round barrel reproduction fowler, I wonder why.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

@thorborg
Thank you.

I would guess that the reason why we see more thick walled barrels nowadays is
because many folks load with a tighter patch and ball combination and with a "heavier " powder charge.
When these were the only type of firearms....the patch and ball combination and powder charges were often , not always...
But often much lighter than what is used now.

That said...
I own and have seen thick heavy octagonal barrels on many antique rifles.
Styling and the ability to re-bore a worn barrel played a role here.

And with that said...
A properly proportioned , thin walled , correctly stocked fowler is graceful as well as being easy to carry and shoot.
Andy

 

[NeoBlackdog]

I'd be afraid to take that thing out of the safe! What a beautiful gun. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I'd be afraid to take that thing out of the safe! What a beautiful gun. Thanks for sharing it with us.

You are welcome and thank you.

As far as use goes....it was built to be used....
So I shoot and hunt with it.
I also maintain it very well.

With that said...
It does have hunting and use marks along with some wear ....
All acquired honestly with out abuse or neglect.

I enjoy shooting some of my antique firearms.
Common sense here plays a role along with weather.
If I want to shoot a lot ...then a new made muzzle loader is the one to use.
However for a stroll along a fur trade fort or a hunt , or a shot at some clay birds or ringing some steel...
then it is fun to play show and tell ... make hits or be fed with a gun that is historic.
Andy

Here is a beautiful gun / rifle :

Doc Brown Longrifle.

• Andy54Hawken
• May 5, 2024
• 1