Rifling Bench Guide = HDTDT

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

Here is a really neat rifling guide the was used in the mid 19th c.  It is based on using an existing barrel so a working reproduction would be very much easier to make than constructing the typical wood one.  The rifling rod is attached to a cast in place lead section much the same as a freshening rod.  The assembled one in a collection moves as slick as greased glass. (unlike my wooden one which is more like a coal truck on gravel)  The lead slug on the central rod will slide in and out of the guide barrel following the existing grooves.

You can see that two short sections of the barrel are turned round to fit into two bearings on the bench frame.  The guide barrel is free to rotate on its own axis.  Attached to the rear end of the guide is a disc, it is wood with a metal band on its periphery.  Drilled into the band are 6 or 7 or 8 or whatever number of equally spaced holes.  The bench frame includes a small flat spring with a finger that would engage one of the holes.  To advance the rifling cutter to the next groove the gunsmith would pull the spring finger from a hole, rotate the guide, and allow the spring finger to engage the next hole.  The gunsmith could select if he wished a 6 or 7 groove barrel.  This example has two sets of holes for either a 6 groove barrel or for a seven groove barrel.  Maybe later I can post a photo of the entire machine, but I think that just the guide makes it easier to see how it works.

Jim Everett

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

Here is a rifling machine from the Journal of Historical Armsmaking Technology that uses the same setup as the Fry tool, except the one from JHAT is about 150 years earlier.  If you have this book and have had trouble interpreting the text (even in English) looking at the Fry tool can help explain things.

Jim

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

Here is the more complete rifling bench used by the Fry brothers of Ligonier Pa in the late 19th c.  It was mistakenly "misplaced" in the dusty attic of the Fort Ligonier workshop building until a really bright guy named Brad recovered it.  Thanks to him.  Anyway this is a rifling bench where the guide is a large bore rifled barrel with a cast lead plug traveling in the existing grooves.  It really works as slick as greased glass.  The base is a 4" x 4" x 8'-3" with a pivot pin hole at the back and two leg holes at the front.  A lot like the machine at Landis Valley.  The index disc can be used to rotate the barrel for either a 6, 7, or 8 groove barrel.  The lead  plug is 19" long and the maximum stroke of the machine is 50".

[Paddlefoot]

Very interesting post thank you so much James.  I wonder, is the lead insert plain lead or is it harder like babbit or linotype.

[Sawatis]

Thats cool Thanks Jim
Where ever did you come across this ??
John

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

Thanks for the interesting questions on the old gunsmithing tools.

Paddlefoot:  I have the same thought as you.  I have not done any testing on the metal, but I suspect that it is a lot harder than pure lead.  I have known about and had access to this particular tool for 40 years and during that time the metal should have oxidized to white lead, at least on the ends exposed t the atmosphere.  But I see no white.  So, probably it is some alloy like babbit or linotype.

John:  This rifling bench along with a very large number of original gunsmithing tools plus a number of original guns were all made and used by the Fry bothers in Ligonier Pa. circa 1850 - 1900.  This wonderful collection is at the Fort Ligonier Museum.  The tools are a real treasure and are much more rare than the guns themselves.  An interesting point: although this collection is at the Fort Ligonier Museum, it is not displayed as the fort was in operation only from 1758 - 1765.  I recently spoke with the museum director about finding a more appropriate home for the collection where it could more available for public study.

P.S.  Not only is the collection of Fry brothers tools and guns intact, but their house and their gunsmith shop building are still standing and in good condition on Main Street in Ligonier!!!

[shortbarrel]

the lead guide could have been poured out of handset type (american type founders), this is more durable than linotype or monotype. hand set type was cast to use over and over. monotype and linotype were cast to use one or two times and remelted. don"t know the formula, but you could probably look it up on the net. melts at about the same temperature. we made one of these machines about forty years ago and found out real quick that the poured guide had to be 12 inches or more to work. just my two cents worth from an ole time printer.

[Paddlefoot]

Good stuff Shortbarrel. I wasn't aware there was another alloy than linotype. I bet you know your Californa Job Case and what quoins are for.

[Habu]

the lead guide could have been poured out of handset type (american type founders), this is more durable than linotype or monotype. hand set type was cast to use over and over. monotype and linotype were cast to use one or two times and remelted. don"t know the formula, but you could probably look it up on the net. melts at about the same temperature. we made one of these machines about forty years ago and found out real quick that the poured guide had to be 12 inches or more to work. just my two cents worth from an ole time printer.

The info I have for this type is for "#4 hard" from ATF; alloy is 50% lead, 28% antimony, 20% tin, and 2% copper. 

I'd suspect it is something more like tin-based babbitt, I suspect that might have been easier for the maker to source.