AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: MarkEngraver on August 31, 2011, 03:50:46 AM
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Well, this will be my first attempt at trying to post some pictures of my new rifle I just finished.
The particulars are : .45 cal. Green Mtn. barrel, 7/8 x 36"
somewhat modified L&R Durs Egg lock
all the rest of the furniture is made by myself
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45057.jpg&hash=fada78e62e72d5bef7669f94e849d198dcfc59c7)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45058.jpg&hash=c8fbe2f655699e28d3bc77bc81968575abb3096d)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45065.jpg&hash=4500cb4d7bc607a886e9f0a2eb6cca91304840df)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45067.jpg&hash=bf1ba9303dc5af9d152f83034d7a7b125ab07bae)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45071.jpg&hash=c46551f20a112d0064ac923fe0ef22f551aaa205)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45068.jpg&hash=3bf1b0006407ef600027b3055a138c89af904bf7)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2F45IronMontedrifle2075JPG.jpg&hash=c02c0f1fd1937b2efc538d9a8d58c5eefddf890a)
The rear sight is an experiment with an aperture system. My eyes are getting older too, as others have stated in other posts so I figured I'd give this a try. If it doesn't work I'll go back to a standard barrel sight.
thanks for looking, Mark
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Man! What's NOT to like! That patchbox is my new favorite--ever. And since I'm of an age, tell us more about that rear sight. Is that a peep that's open at the top? See? I don't see so well either. :-\
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WOW Mark. Really nice work. I like everything about it.
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That is stunningly beautiful, and a little different and a bit contemporary at the same time. Excellent. The PB is great, obviously, and I especially like the carving around the cheekpiece -- very southern in feel, not stiff and formal at all, though neatly executed. Really there isn't anything I don't like on that rifle, except you need double set triggers :).
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Very nice job through out this completed project. Many well executed features. Glad you were successful posting the pictures. Thanks, AJ
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Mark that is a beautiful rifle and very well done!! the hand of a true artist!! The carving is exquisite, the engraving with the light touch of a master..and oh the architecture.......I think I like it!!! Thanks for posting the pictures.
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Mark,
That is one beautiful rifle. Everything about it is simple, yet elegant. To me its kind of a cross between a mountain rifle and a longrifle, and they've been blended perfectly. I really like what you've done. Thanks for sharing!
Ed
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I like it!
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Beautiful work Mark ... the best of compliments are in order !!! ;D
I like the sight idea. I hit 50 in a couple weeks and my eyes can use some help!
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Nice design, nicely done!
Way to go,
Jeff
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Wow, another nice rifle. Thats at least three maybe more in just the last few days. Shur glad I frequent this site and really glad you posted the pics. Very nice. Smylee
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Thank you all, I appreciate the kind words.
Let me add some further details about the gun.
The stock started as a Pecatonica "Armstrong" pattern with a little reshaping, it is stained with Aqua Fortis.
The length of pull is 14 3/4 inches. I have long arms, and anything less than 14 inches feels like a kids gun for me, so hence the long pull.
The rear sight is a peep with the top shaped like a heart or Mickey Mouse ears. I saw a drawing of this sight in a book called
"OLD GUNSIGHTS" by Nick Strobel. The caption reads " Rear Peep Sight on ancient flintlock rifle", its on pg131 of the book.
It seems to work OK, but this sight turned out to be too low, I already made a little taller one and mounted it.
I think it's going to work out, I just have to get use to a different system. It's like shooting my long range rolling blocks.
I don't like double set triggers, Sorry !
The inspiration for the gun is Ian Pratt's 2008 CLA rifle. All I've seen are pictures but, That Gun just captured me! I wanted to build something in that "spirit".
Here's a few more pictures.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45061.jpg&hash=582f93520cbb28015c7c977f0e7995233f6cac9f)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2F45IronMontedrifle2068JPG.jpg&hash=b5e448d95310d37d8643e35ce76073f40e075395)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FIronMountedrifle45060.jpg&hash=26deff3817d791d68fe62c31d303ce3502cb5bce)
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Wow! Where have you been hiding? Terrific work, all very coherent and beautifully executed.
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Oho... my word.......... I am speechless... do you have more pictures?
How did you make the butt plate?
What is the patch box made of?
That sight is interesting… I also would like to know more about it.
That is an amazing rifle...............
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Great Job! Well executed and great workmanship.
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Nice job Mark...
Dave
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Very nice, well done. Especially like the trigger guard and patchbox.
Dennis
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I too like the patch box and the long entry thimble. Overall it is a simple gun with just enough accents to make if unique. Great work.
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Very nice work, Mark! Can you please describe how you finished the metal?
Thanks
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That's a beauty! It's one of those rifles where each element adds to the total. I can't remember a long rifle with the same barrel length as eye-catching as this one! That's a rare accomplishment. May I ask what the finished rifle weighs? I'm having a .45 cal. 7/8" X 39" rifle made in the near future.
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Satwel,
Frankly, this is my second attempt at presenting a little "age" to a rifle.
I've read a lot of the posts on ALR on the "debate on aging" ,and the posts on the processes used by the various members here for putting on some age.
This is what I did ..... I buried the parts !
I plugged the muzzle/ touch hole of the barrel , stripped the various parts of oils , swabbed Apple Cider Vinegar on the parts , and then buried the parts in the back yard with about in inch or so of dirt over them and left them for a couple days.
When I dug them up, they had good blotchy, spotty rust on them. I clean them up some with red scotch brite. What I had was again a spotty rust pitting/etching to the parts which is what I was after.
Then I Cold Blued everything and let it sit for a while outside in the sun working with the Apple Cider Vinegar still on the parts. Then I washed everything down with hot water and set in the sun again.
(It was hot that day in the central mountains of AZ. were I live, couldn't hardly touch the parts.)
Anyway they developed a fine rust, I carded that back to the look I was looking for, A blue greyed steel with some rust appearance.
Then I rubbed everything down with a light coat of linseed oil and set in the sun to "bake" it in.
With all the Wiz-Bang rust preventatives out there, I have found no better than good old linseed oil.
It's what my farmer forefathers used on the machinery, plows and disks and such.
I like the look I got with this process, maybe the bluing/Clorox process would have work just as well ?
Sorry for being long winded and again
Thank You all for the kind words,
Mark
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WOW is all I can say
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Mark........you did a great job on this thing. It's difficult to make a gun look good, especially when you make it with a long
pull...........14 3/4" is long, but you pulled it off wonderfully. I also like what you did with the trigger, am happy to see that you didn't install one right out of the bag. You done good...............Don
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54bucks,
The gun weighs a shade under 8lbs.
I have another .45 with a 7/8 42" barrel, I weighed that one too and it comes in at 9 1/2 lbs.
I would expect a 39"er would get in at 9lbs. or a little less.
Mark
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Another beauty! Very nice work!
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Very Sharp. I really do like it :)
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WOW Mark, that is just splendid. All the comments and praise are well deserved. Dave
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Absolutely beautiful rifle, Mark. Well done!
Bill
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Really good execution throughout.
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Your rifle is exquisite and I really like your rear sight. My eyes are aging and with the true definition of compliment I will respectively copy it
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That is really sweet!
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wonderful rifle
the metal finish you achieved has me double-thinking my browning plans, thanks for the info there too.
how is the aperture working out? can we see some more shots of that detail?
wp
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I'm a little late on this but OUTSTANDING rifle. Beautiful and tastfully done. I love the aging. Thanks for posting the pics.
Cheers,
Ken
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It's never too late. Just a lovely rifle. You demonstrate great skill...looking forward to more from you.
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Fellows,
I'm finally in place where I can actually see the pictures!
Mark,
I've never liked patchboxes, but yours is something I wouldn't mind having on a rifle! Love the big screws on the sideplate, and all your other screws are regulated! Love it!
Sight's an excellant idea, and I hope you can tell us more on how well it works out for you. I know my eyes keep on getting worse no matter how much I excercise them. I really like the work and detail on the hammer too.
What I can't tell for sure, and you may have mentioned it and I missed it, but is the furniture steel or brass? Looks like steel to me...
Best regards,
Albert “Matamoro” Rasch (http://trochronicles.blogspot.com)
Charged! Hog Hunting at its Best! (http://trochronicles.blogspot.com/2007/05/charged-hog-hunting-adventures.html)
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!
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A little update on the aperture sight and I've added a few pictures to give you a better idea of what it looks like.
The sight in the first pictures turned out to be too low.
The hole was 1/4" above the top flat of the barrel and 3/32 in diameter.
When I shot the gun to regulate the sights ( 25 yrds.), the impact was way low, so I kept filing the front and it got to the point I'd end up with a "nubbin" for a front sight ....... not good !
So I started shooting the gun with the sight blade between the "ears", over the aperture and it turned out to be right on right where I had stopped filing the front blade.
I noted the height of the "ears" where I was sighting at 3/8".
So I have made a new sight and fitted it to the rifle.
The hole is 3/8" above the flat and 5/64 ths in diameter.
Here's a couple pics of the new sight.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FRearSight013.jpg&hash=796f5dcddf7ff9ba78ef9a367656e83b89058ee5)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1109.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh432%2Fmarkengraver%2FRearSight023.jpg&hash=3b089811d5450fadab23834cbff2c02ce82f2ff3)
In this second picture I tried to give you all an idea of what it looks like when you sight through it.
Like a big blurry buckhorn sight ! ( I couldn't catch the blade with the camera )
I haven't been able to shoot the gun in a while. The 4th and last kid moved out and I've been playing "HGTV" with his room ! But I'll keep you all posted as to the progress with this sighting system.
Mark
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thanks for the sight update/detail. i've always thought i'd like to try one for hunting-and now i see how i'll do it.
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Mark, I like everything about your work on this rifle. The lines are beautiful, everything is well
balanced and artful. Very accomplished work. Congrats.
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Thanks Mark!
Appreciate the picture and explanation.
Best regards,
Albert “Matamoro” Rasch (http://trochronicles.blogspot.com)
Charged! Hog Hunting at its Best! (http://trochronicles.blogspot.com/2007/05/charged-hog-hunting-adventures.html)
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!
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Mark, I have heard "art" described as having no other function than as it is...
while a "craft" piece has function as intended. What a great blend you have
created. Beatiful! Thanks. woodburner
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beautiful I really like the mixed metal patch box
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That is one beautiful rifle! 8)