Fusil de chasse

CMichaud

CMichaud

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Well I don't see too many threads on these and have recently started to think of acquiring one.

I do not know much about them but was hoping someone could provide some education as to what defines them and where to find a good high quality example.

Thanks
 
CMichaud said:
Well I don't see too many threads on these and have recently started to think of acquiring one.

I do not know much about them but was hoping someone could provide some education as to what defines them and where to find a good high quality example.

Thanks
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Fusil de chasse



You do realize that what you are asking about is a "Hunting Gun" or "Shotgun" in the French language?

I think you may want to ask this question in the Hunting rifles or shotguns forum instead of here.
 
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My sons were playing with a BP muzzleloading shot gun over Christmas, at my place. I believe it was actually a British "Fowling Piece". It was a lot of fun, a very relaxing style of shooting, much like I find with all BP muzzleloaders. Lots of noise and smoke. It actually impressed me, by patterning very tight. They were shooting clays with it. I did learn that clean pristine snow, on a lake, is the ultimate for observing a shot pattern. I did not notice anything different about operating it from my Kentucky Long Rifle, except that they use a shot measure and then use an over shot card, to hold the shot in.
 
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Haha, it's like my brother and father thinking my shotgun manufacture was M&F, because it said MF on the butt stock. It actually stood for manufactured in France
 
A Fusil de Chasse is much like a Trade Gun but manufactured in France rather than England. Common features are flintlock ignition, simple single trigger, smoothbore barrel 54 - 62 caliber, usually in the range of 30 - 48" and no rear sight. There were at least 3 styles; Type C, Type D and Fin (fine) from about 1725 until 1800 or a bit later.. For good photos of the different styles look at the kits available from Track of the Wolf website. The furniture could be iron or brass but the Fin style was almost always brass. They were used in France but many were traded to the North American Indians for furs and other items as were the English Trade Guns. They were popular in the New World because they were versatile - could shoot shot or a single ball, or even a combination of 'Buck (shot) and Ball".
 
I've had aTulle fusil de chasse made by Centermark for about 30 years and would highly recommend them. Mine is 62 cal. It's light and shoulders well and is one of the last muzzleloaders I would part with. I don' know if Centermark is still in business, but their Tulles do show up for sale now and then.
 
B_noser said:
I've had aTulle fusil de chasse made by Centermark for about 30 years and would highly recommend them. Mine is 62 cal. It's light and shoulders well and is one of the last muzzleloaders I would part with. I don' know if Centermark is still in business, but their Tulles do show up for sale now and then.
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Thanks - I will have to keep my eye open for one. I did a quick google search and I think the company may be out of business?

Do you know if they were historically accurate?
 
Not really familiar with the details of their offerings but I would try Loyalist Arms out east.

Importing flinters from the US is also pretty straightforward so Track of the Wolf, Dixie Gun Works or others stateside might be worth looking at.

Joe Salter maybe for original pieces.
 
Thanks for the ideas guys. What little I have determined so far is that getting one "off the rack" that is period correct is difficult.

Some time back I got the idea of having a powder horn done up by a guy that did custom ones. Overall I was happy with the end result although I am not terribly certain how historically accurate it is really. Most of the engravings were copied off pictures I could find from the timeframe.

I was thinking it needed a rifle to join it now.





 
Track sells kits for French Tulle fusil-de-chasse,
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categ.../1/FRENCH-TULLE-FUSIL-DE-CHASSE-42-PARTS-LIST

I have shot them but I didn't like the angle of the butt-plate.

Here is a nice Fusil Ordinaire, not mine unfortunately.
24bksnq.jpg
 
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Ol' Flinter said:
A Fusil de Chasse is much like a Trade Gun but manufactured in France rather than England. Common features are flintlock ignition, simple single trigger, smoothbore barrel 54 - 62 caliber, usually in the range of 30 - 48" and no rear sight. There were at least 3 styles; Type C, Type D and Fin (fine) from about 1725 until 1800 or a bit later.. For good photos of the different styles look at the kits available from Track of the Wolf website. The furniture could be iron or brass but the Fin style was almost always brass. They were used in France but many were traded to the North American Indians for furs and other items as were the English Trade Guns. They were popular in the New World because they were versatile - could shoot shot or a single ball, or even a combination of 'Buck (shot) and Ball".
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X2 on what Ol'Flinter has said. Also commonly referred to as Smoothbore. Most contemporary makers have a trade gun in their line up I believe that Northstar West is often referred to as being the most historically correct.
 
Old thread up! Here is my fusil de chasse Tulle reproduction. Walnut stock, .62 Cal\20ga Colerain barrel, Jim Chambers lock and iron trimmed. If someone would like to get one R.E Davis and Sitting Fox are selling not so bad accurate repro kits. TOTW do not sell Tulle kits anymore. Beware of India made knock-offs. If someone would buy one get it at Veteran Arms in USA. A little more dollars but worth it. They make some refinish on their India made guns. Correctly drilling the flash hole and the most important thing... they proof the barrels. A non proofed gun is dangerous so it may not forgive on an accidental double charge or a forgotten ramrod in the barrel. Things happens...

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I would lean towards quality right off the hop Most people buy something of lesser quality and get discouraged when it does not perform.
Jim Chambers or Davis Locks are the top of the line with now a company name Kibler making top quality kits with outstanding hardware. Kibler is now making a 50,54,58 cal smoothbores as seen on other traditional muzzleloading forums. They are a high end kit that you can assemble your self with minimal skills.
Track of the Wolf sell fine flint rifles and smoothbores most are sent in on consignment from very skilled builders. Doc White is a builder of fine guns.
Dig deep and get your self something with a good lock and you will have nothing but fun for years to come.

Canadian builder Wayne Doucette may have something and they are jaw dropping
 
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fusildechasse.jpg Pic of fusil de chasse made for me about 2005 by Eric Kettenberg of New Albany, PA. Walnut stock, 44 inch coleraine barrel, lots of fun to shoot. Sold it privately some years later.
 

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Yes, Chambers, Davis and L&R made locks are among the best. With FFFFg in the pan the lock time gives me a very fast locktime fire that I like for bird hunting. Those are surely not as fast as my Citori but they do their job very well and are so fun to shoot. Corelain barrels are also very well made. Their double taper swamped shape make them very light compared to other makers.
 
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Hello, I built a Track Kit this past year. It is 62 cal with a 44 inch barrel. They have superb balance and wth 80 grains of 2 f over a lightly patched .60 ball I can get a 4 inch group at 50 yards with only the front sight. And being smoothbore no issues with shot. Much lighter than any English trade style musket. You can use it for re enactng from 1720s right thru the F and W period and into 1812 I would say. I also had a Loyalist Arms and it is a good version for the money. I worked the stock down on the one I had as I find they are heavily constructed and originals are /were vere slim . Cheers G
 
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