Rod Gates applies new technology applied to an old idea.

Rod Gates of Cross Timbers MO has for some time now been noted as an accomplished builder of double barrel and single barrel fowlers. He has for years worked on getting quality locks that were up to his exacting standards. He has worked on making components by CNC and other automated machine methods.
A customer brought in a fairly mint Joseph Bentley  late period percussion shotgun and wanted Rod to restock it as it did not fit him. Rod said he would rather paint over the Mona Lisa.  He did agree to build as close of a copy as possible for his customer. To build the different shaped locks, he used his own funds to work out a computer program that built most of the lock components with some minor hand filing and fitting required. Once that was done he made this copy of the Joseph Bentley shotgun. It is an excellent copy and I think Bentley would be proud of it. Bentley would have built this shotgun about 1844/1850. Notice the unusual.position of the nipple at the rear of the breech. Straight shot into the powder charge. Never heard of Bentley?  Well some of his relatives used his shop to make automobile parts, and they were bought out by a company you will know.  Ever here of  Rolls Royce/ Bentley?