AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Mike Lyons on May 15, 2019, 03:40:34 AM
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This is my first build from a plank. I apologize for the billion pictures but I’d like the experts to fill me in. I received a lot of advice from this forum and I thank all of you. The wood was from Stoner Creek and I followed the Mike Brooks tutorial. This was the most fun I’ve had in years. I can’t wait to shoot it. It’s a .36 cal 44” A weight Colerain barrel. It has a 13 1/2 trigger pull, 1/8 offset and a zornes classic lock. I tried to build it in the Lehigh style of John Rupp. It’s finished in Tried and True and Kibler’s Iron Natrate. First time I’ve ever engraved. I’m not a Master. Haha. Notice the copper in the toe plate taken from the original rupp rifle. This was so much fun. Thanks again everyone for the advice. Mike, Wayne, David and whoever told me to use my thumb and finger to feel the square edge, you saved me in the end. Thanks again!! On to horns!!
(https://i.ibb.co/VqCPC8y/047-C08-F0-DF40-4-C34-B550-3-F62-A9-AF4-E28.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wzQxQ1H)
(https://i.ibb.co/2ydbJ0x/A485857-C-7307-466-C-B4-A1-34-D9-EC19-ACB8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CzQrLpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/M1rCj6v/01-C00512-5542-4-C60-903-D-062-B36-C795-E3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1X1mp6g)
(https://i.ibb.co/sWMHM6y/4945916-B-3-F3-F-4919-8-CA0-D7-A0-E83-D6-BA4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nP5C5nz)
(https://i.ibb.co/4fn3BGC/31279-B02-D762-44-E8-A234-2-B6561328659.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JdwgX48)
(https://i.ibb.co/hfBXgDs/DD3-D1669-4-D5-C-49-F2-9-DB1-6-C895-DEFCBB8.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k143GQK)
(https://i.ibb.co/rbVKV0G/8-BF77-AD1-F782-4576-9441-4-E68765-DBF77.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Q8474QF)
(https://i.ibb.co/nschy2R/13396-AB1-C6-A7-483-E-8-F9-B-6-F86-D913417-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z68yrsN)
(https://i.ibb.co/BGjnhcq/DDC67887-662-B-4345-A58-E-0-A95-B0101-F9-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yp54zdW)
(https://i.ibb.co/1rQDCPC/5-A3-AEC0-E-F8-BD-485-A-8306-78-CCEFE2-C475.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k4BRLwL)
(https://i.ibb.co/p0cdpVk/492-F7287-47-FF-4143-A38-A-93-A020-D347-D7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3r2cH6P)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZJzTbBT/8-FBA27-C8-A024-448-A-A7-E9-9-C58-ABD2-EBAA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/H2Tg9tg)
(https://i.ibb.co/qMRZqp3/BAF7-B8-CC-52-F3-445-B-9-FAF-77-B2-DDBA2-BC2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LzCGj1X)
(https://i.ibb.co/6gHQ6JJ/C04-CF94-B-577-D-4-BDE-9951-91-BC7-A24-AB5-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QrP0sjj)
(https://i.ibb.co/SKPmL6k/AC461-F6-A-B679-40-A1-A071-9880-C3-F0-DF2-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/P5NWSr2)
(https://i.ibb.co/TPBf2Cd/EA5450-B3-670-A-4556-AEDA-7-E72-D892-EEFE.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3Sy3dJQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/cyqK1Pj/906-A3485-105-D-4042-873-B-5766-CC593-E5-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HKZLV0j)
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Let me be the first to offer congratulations. This rifle is far nicer than my first build...far far nicer!! You will enjoy shooting this rifle for the rest of your life, unless you sell it to a complimentary admirer. I caution against that. But even if that happens, your next one will be better than the first, and so on.
Nicely done Sir!
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Fine job Mike. Not many makers out there who’s work looks that good that fast. You’re blessed with a gift! Now keep that ball rolling. I’ll take your next project!! The parts are all here.
Congratulations.
Wayne
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I agree, looks great! Bring it up to St. Albans next month and try it out.
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Now that is one slender looking sleek machine. Very nice .
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Looks great Mike! I hope this old Dickert I keep avoiding comes out half as nice!
Greg
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Thanks everyone. I have a walnut plank on the menu next. I’m not completely sure what I’m going to do with it.
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Dang, Mike! You set the bar pretty high for the rest of us - great job and congrats.
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Y'all who build from a plank of wood just amaze me.
I have trouble with kits!
I wish I had started this hobby earlier in life before my eyesight and arthritis problems kicked in.
Beautiful rifle AV. It is an inspiration.
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Congratulations on a really fine build ! That rifle is way better than my first ....you have an eye for detail . Have fun shooting it :)
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Exceptional! You have incredible natural talent. That's one of the hardest schools out there to do and you made it look easy. I like the color and finish....I like your carving too, you really did well with the parting tool, got the flat spots out of the volutes, very good.
I'll teach Wayne how to engrave then he can teach you. You did well with your engraving, you just need a brush up on your sharpening skills. My sharpening method is easy, even I can do it.
I envy your drive, I used to have drive like that! :P
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Great job. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing your next work.
Bob
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That looks really good for a first build, I see some great builds down the line for you, look forward to following them.
Tim C.
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That was a great job for your first rifle!
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:o :o... Very, Very nice, Mike,... !!! ... as I've always said,... If I didn't like Tennessee rifles so much, my favorite would be Lehigh Valley rifles,..!!! .... and you have done an expert job with this one,.... BTW,.... more original Tennessee rifles were stocked in black walnut than any other wood,... (hint, hint...!!!)... well done and regards,.... Cades Cove Fiddler,......
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Thanks fellows. I did two parts kits prior to this plank. Thanks for the tip Mike. It seems that when I learned how to sharpen my chisels to razor sharp, I took a pretty big leap forward. It only makes sense that it's the same with engraving. I never really made the connection until you mentioned it. Any reason to visit Wayne's place is a good day. If he would allow me to move my camper to his property, I'd go off the grid and live there. HAHA!! Cowboy, you would be surprised the difference in dealing with a plank. I don't want to say that it is easier, but in a lot of ways, the parts kits can hold you back. They limit you in ways where a plank doesn't. Hope that makes sense.
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As Clark's dad would say "She's a beaut". Great work!
All the elements flow together nicely. I also like the aging that you did on her.
Richard
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Fantastic job. I think you’ll look back on ol’ #1 fondly. Well done.
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Mike,
Very nice work. That will be treasured forsure. As Taylor said don't sell your first one no matter how much you dislike it. I have always regretted selling the first of anything I have madw.
Mike
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Good job on your first, and certainly not last piece!!!
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Good job on your first, and certainly not last piece!!!
OUTSTANDING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!My first one was done in a High School shop
class in 1954 and looked like something that floated up from the Titanic.This one of yours
is professional work of the first rank.
Bob Roller
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She's beautiful. Everything about it looks great to me. I can't begin to understand how you did that on your first from a plank.
What a treasure. Your inletting and stock architecture/finish are excellent.
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Outstanding!
That's a respectable effort at any level, but great for the first one from a blank.
Jeff
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You got yerself a sweetheart of a rifle there! Good shaping and carving!
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Very very nice. I am working on a squirrel rifle now from a plank and few parts. I don't have any carving to do, but it will need some engraving. How many trys did it take you to do the engraving? I had signed up for the Shippers class and it got canceled, so I looked at the test plates and decided to just start on my own. None of the engraving I have done so far looks as good as what you have.
DAve
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Way to go, Mike, you will go far,Pilgrim !! Great to see y'all young fellers takin up the trade,and ,like has been said, you are a natural at this. Keep on building, bro.Yep, ya cant build just ONE !!hahahaha Dave F 8) 8)
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I started to write a comment earlier today and was side tracked by something. Any how real nice rifle Mike. I really like the carving on it and how clean it is.
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Afghanvet, you blow me away. What a beautiful rifle for a 1st - well done. Apart from the lock panel lengths there is nothing not to like about this rifle.
Amazingly well done - bravo!
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Thanks Mountain Dave, Mr. Talbert and Mr. Roller, Brian, Daryl, Caster and everyone else. DAve, I practiced lines and swerves on couple small plates. I can’t give you any advice on engraving because I would be talking out of my @ss. I don’t know enough to help you out and I’d probably hurt you more than help. I really didn’t practice a whole lot. The parting tool helped me with what little engraving I did. I used the same sort of motion with a small hammer and square graver. I studied a couple examples in Shumway and from the KRA disk. I looked at lots of examples of the type of look I was going for for this type of rifle. I’d take the class if you get the chance. Having the chance to watch an expert work and give you pointers is as good as it gets. When an expert on here gives you advice, read it over and over. There’s a lot of experience and knowledge in their advice and you can pull a lot of information from everything they say. Never blow off any of the experts advice or comments and don’t take offense from things they say.
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Mike,
I consider myself an apprentice builder, at best. You and your work are inspiring. I agree with you wholeheartedly regarding classes and listening to the advice from the masters here. Thanks for sharing photos of your work. Look forward to seeing more.
Incidentally, I’ve served with a Mike Lyons from NJ National Guard and several Lyons from MS Guard. Wonder if any are your kin folk.
Regards,
Paul
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Incidentally, I’ve served with a Mike Lyons from NJ National Guard and several Lyons from MS Guard. Wonder if any are your kin folk.
Regards,
Paul
Possibly. My line came from a William Lyon over on the Hopewell ship in 1635 and landed in Massachusetts Bay. My great grandfather added the “s”. Most folks with the same last name can trace back to a common ancestor. It’s really odd. If I go back deeper, I had relatives in the Glamis Castle in Scotland. The Queens mother is in my line. Her dad was a Lyon from the Glamis Castle. What in the world happened for a 14 year old orphan to leave that royalty life to come here and turn into a bunch of dirt poor farmers and plumbers who mingled with female Native Americans is a mystery. Had to be religious reasons.
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That is a great build. I don't know much about Lehighs, but yours is graceful and well executed. What I admire the most, since following your work through your first builds, you are not afraid to tackle the unknown and let the chips fly. Excellent.
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Wow. It's accomplishment enough to work this well, but to do it this fast? That's impressive. It wasn't that long ago you brought your previous project to Boonesborough.
Will this be at CLA?
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Mike I seem to be late to the party. That is one fine looking rifle. You did good. Patience and sharp tools is the key..! What I really like about your rifle is the minor little scratches and such. It shows usage and character. Never did like guns that were to perfect.
You did real well. Someday when I get the nerve I'll post my first gun I built from a plank. Now I got to pick Mike Brooks brain on that sharpening tip.
Once again super nice looking rifle..! Oldtravler
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She is a dandy Mike. Can’t wait to see it in person.
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(https://i.ibb.co/zXNVSHD/BAF7-B8-CC-52-F3-445-B-9-FAF-77-B2-DDBA2-BC2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/y6VF8B7)
I just have to ask....in this image, if I draw an imaginary line down your sights, and from your tang to the butt plate, what I seem to see is a severe CAST ON! The stock appears to bend to the left - into the shooter's cheek! I am hoping it is an optical delusion because of the drop at the comb and heel. Can you comment?
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(https://i.ibb.co/zXNVSHD/BAF7-B8-CC-52-F3-445-B-9-FAF-77-B2-DDBA2-BC2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/y6VF8B7)
I just have to ask....in this image, if I draw an imaginary line down your sights, and from your tang to the butt plate, what I seem to see is a severe CAST ON! The stock appears to bend to the left - into the shooter's cheek! I am hoping it is an optical delusion because of the drop at the comb and heel. Can you comment?
I see what you’re saying. It’s some sort of illusion because there’s very little cast off the other direction. That picture is also showing my tang bent way way to the left. I don’t know what happened with that shot.
(https://i.ibb.co/9VNhZn3/1-A8-AF925-6-C62-4-EBA-BFC6-A50-F7-A6-F7819.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b2PFb1R)
(https://i.ibb.co/23R9NKr/BBC023-A2-3-C79-4-C25-911-A-208-E44-C9-F656.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CK4c20y)
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I see what you’re saying. It’s some sort of illusion because there’s very little cast off the other direction. That picture is also showing my tang bent way way to the left. I don’t know what happened with that shot.
Caution, objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear. ;)
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Mike since she has a flaw now. You should give it to me. Promise I'll take care of it. then you can start on another. Just trying to help you out.... Lol
Oldtravler
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Cast-on, or cast off - if it fits and you shoot it well, such is life. In other words, No Problem.
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Very nicely done!
John
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OK. Now I'm happy! Your second image says everything. Well done.
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What did you finally decide on as a stain / finish / process? That's one of the most time consuming aspects of building I think. It looks nice what ever it is that you used.
Rupp and Moll Lehighs are really tricky to get the lines right on. So many guys terminate the nose of the comb too far back, drop the wrist too far, or make the belly curve too deep. You left your wrist high, carried the comb nose forward far enough, and resisted the urge to deepen the belly curve. This gun came out a LOT better than your last one. It's gratifying to do these from a blank isn't it?
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I ended up using a grey scotch bright pad applying two doses of Kiblers magic potion and then with the same pad adding several coats of Tried and True varnish. Then finished it off with Johnson’s paste wax.
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Yeah- that's nice!
(https://i.ibb.co/JcH2wwp/Afghan-Vet-s-Lehigh.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6yFb77t)
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That is a fine looking finishing job. That step is make-or-break, and you did yourself credit. God Bless, Marc
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Beautiful riflegun! Hat's off!