Fowlers & Smooth Rifles in the early RMFT

[Chuck Burrows]

April 1st.- After breakfast I went ashore with the two hunters, Harrington and Mears, but soon separated from them in order to visit the bluffs. In the evening I descended into the valley, and on my way to find the boat, observed a skunk(4), (Viverra mephitis) and being desirous of procuring the skin, fired at it, but with shot only, having that day taken out my fowling-piece instead of my rifle. It appeared that I had either missed entirely, or only slightly wounded it, as it turned round instantly, and ran towards me. Being well aware of the consequence if overtaken, I fled, but was so closely pursued, that I was under the necessity of re-loading whilst in the act of running. At the next discharge I killed it; but as it had ejected its offensive liquor upon its tail, I could not touch it, but cut a slender vine, of which I made a noose, and dragged my prize to the boat. I found that the Canadians considered it as a delicacy, and were desirous of procuring it to eat: this enabled me to obtain the skin without having to perform the disgusting operation of taking it off myself.

per Dr. John Bradbury from his "Travels in the Interior of America in the years 1809, 1810, and 1811" he was traveling with the Astorian's party
user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/bradbury/index.html

It was through one of these chasms that our party determined to proceed ; and accoutered each with a fowling-piece, horn and pouch, we set forward in quest of adventures.

per fellow Astorian Ross Cox from "Adventures on the Columbia River" archive.org/details/adventuresoncolu00coxr page 30 of the pdf file

and one of the men had charge of my fowling-piece

ibid page 89 of the pdf file

We ran to the scene of action, and found our friend surrounded by a number of Indians, all of whom kept at a respectful distance. He had his fowling-piece, which he changed from one hand to the other, and appeared violently chafed

ibid page 165 pdf

He instantly darted into the field with his fowling-piece,

ibid page 166 pdf

We also distributed nearly half a bale of tobacco among all present, and our youthful deliverer was presented by Mr. Keith with a handsome fowling-piece, and some other valuable articles.

ibid page 182 pdf

We had not advanced more than three miles, when I missed my fowling-piece ; and imagining that I had left it at the place where we had passed the night, I returned to look for it ; but on arriving at the spot I was much annoyed to find the object of my search lying across my arms !

ibid page 184 pdf

and horses almost exhausted from cold and want of nourishment; in addition to which I had been accustomed for some days previously to carry my fowling-piece over the left shoulder, from which I suddenly missed the weight, and, without mentioning the circumstance to any of the men, turned back on my fool's errand.

ibid page 185 pdf

some notes frome Charles Hanson's article "Smoothbores on the Frontier" Book of Buckskinning 4
1) Beginning in the 1790's and until post War of 1812, the Brits' produced somewhat shorter barreled (38-44" ?) "chief's" guns that were not NW guns but British style single barrel fowlers - page 119
2) In 1800 the US Office of Indian Trade began to import high grade fowlers for the trade, these were most likely made by Ketland. They were also stocked by various civilian dealers and the USOIT purchased hundreds from those dealers after the War Began page 119
3) From 1820-1845 the American Fur Company offered fine high quality chief's guns . page 119-120
4) 1800-1821 the Northwest Company purchased/stocked high quality fowling pieces page 120
Smooth rifles from Hanson's article:
1) USOIT purchased 100 "rifle mounted fuzees" made by Deringer during the war of 1812 page 119. Also in the "firearms of the American West: 1803-1865 it's noted that the USOIT purchased 60 smooth rifles from Deringer in 1816.
The guns mentioned above are further described in the article and B &W pics of a circa 1813-1816 chief's gun made by Sutherland - it's pictured next to a NW so the differences are obvious. page 121. On page 120 is a B & W pic of a Deringer smooth rifle.