Caplock Double Barrel Fowler

The caplock double-barrel fowler was a versatile sporting gun of the early-to-mid 19th century, designed primarily for hunting waterfowl, upland game, and general sporting use. Evolving from the earlier flintlock smoothbore fowlers, this firearm employed the more reliable percussion cap ignition system, which gained popularity after the 1830s for its improved resistance to weather and faster ignition.

Typical examples featured side-by-side smoothbore barrels, ranging from 16 to 10 gauge, though larger bore sizes were not uncommon for waterfowling pieces. Barrels were generally browned or blued iron or steel, mounted to a walnut stock with iron or brass furniture.

The locks were often back-action or bar-action percussion locks, each fitted with a hammer striking a nipple seated at the breech of the barrel. Many had double triggers—one for each barrel—allowing quick follow-up shots in the field.

Stocks were straight or half-pistol gripped, usually with checkering at the wrist, and often finished with a steel buttplate. Depending on quality and origin, some examples were plain working guns, while others bore fine engraving on locks and furniture, catering to wealthier sportsmen.

Lightweight and practical, the caplock double fowler became a staple of hunting across Europe and America, bridging the gap between the flintlock age and the later cartridge shotguns of the mid-to-late 19th century.