Lewis’s Fowling Piece

Lewis brought a personal fowling piece — an extra-long smoothbore shoulder gun used primarily for bird hunting. Fowlers were common sporting arms of the era, with long barrels (typically 42-48 inches) and lighter construction than military muskets. The smoothbore barrel could fire shot for birds and waterfowl or a single ball for larger game. Lewis eventually traded his fowler to Native Americans in exchange for supplies during the return journey in 1806, demonstrating the fungible value of firearms as trade goods on the frontier.