15 Gauge Philadelphia Fowler by Tom Caster

[Second-rate Marksman]

I picked up this smoothbore by the talented Tom Caster a couple months ago for a steal on the American Long Rifle Forum classifieds. The seller had apparently commissioned two such builds by Tom (another in 20 gauge) and opted to sell this one (which hadn’t even been fired) at a tremendous loss. It was advertised as being a 16 gauge, but -much to my surprise- the bore mic’d at .685”, which brings it closer to a 15 gauge (.677”). It’s designed to capture the look and feel of a classic 1760’s Philadelphia fowler.

[Second-rate Marksman]

I spent the better part of the day yesterday casting up some .66 cal balls to feed this beast. My Marty’s 4-cavity mold made short work of things. You have to cut off the sprue as it doesn’t have an integral cutter, but that’s no biggie.

[Bigsmoke]

Eric, it seems that your motto ought to be:

He who dies with the most toys - WINS!!!   

In a previous life, I would probably have been jealous, but now I am thinking more about selling stuff than I am about buying anything more.

John

[Second-rate Marksman]

Ha! Believe it or not, I’m in the process of some serious self-regulation here. Trying to pare down the collection: a few rifles, a smoothbore or two, and a pistol. That ain’t so bad, is it? Unfortunately, I’ve discovered it’s easier (and faster) to buy firearms than it is to sell them. 😬

In all seriousness, I think there’s something to be said for owning a single gun and learning how to shoot it well. You know, the ‘beware the man with one gun’ mentality…

I guess I’m destined for a life of mediocrity!

[duca]

Beautiful Gun! And so true on what you said about easer to buy then to sell! I feel your pain