AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Tony Clark on December 29, 2011, 03:50:46 AM
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I'm working on this little box at the moment, about 10" long 4" wide 2.5" high that has a sliding lid in the shape of a patchbox trying to get my hand back before I begin to attempt the carving of some rifles where I left off a while ago. It's made of apple wood and it is hard as can be, it will be totally carved on every surface. I saw a similar box at a CLA show awhile back I think Brad Emig had it on his table.
What sort a projects is everyone else working on in the way of gunbuilding? Is it just me or do some things take a while for others too? ::) Currently I have Bonewitz and (sigh) #42 RCA to complete. Half done with #42 but I already hate it. Good thing I have another barrel and mounts to do the next one which I plan on having exactly right.
What are you working on? How about future projects, any plans?
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Just finishing up my 1815 GA smoothbore. Got a piece of black walnut from Dan Fruth being inlet with a Rice So Classic .50 that I hope to start turning into a M Gillespie for my Son-in-law in a couple of weeks or so.... got a .53 cal Hugh Toenjes pistol to get done theis spring....and a new pine floor to put into my gunshop......... oh, and a job......
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When I am not inletting barrels I am working on carving a canoe gun in the N.W. Coastal Art Haida design.
Dave
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.... got a .53 cal Hugh Toenjes pistol to get done theis spring...
What is .53 cal Hugh Toenies pistol exactly? That is an odd caliber.
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When I am not inletting barrels I am working on carving a canoe gun in the N.W. Coastal Art Haida design.
Dave
That sounds different. What kind of designs are you going with? The N. W. coast tribes were the ultimate wood carvers of any north american indians no doubt.
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.53 cal barrel made by Hugh Toenjes. 11 inches long. has a cupped breech so the flash hole will go through the side of the barrel and the breech plug. Hugh started the pistol several years ago and I bought It from him last year... essentially as a kit with a very highly modified and tuned small siler lock.... If I can do it justice it will be a fine addition to the arsenal!!
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Guys,
I have just finished a 0.418 caliber, octagon to round 38.4 inch long barrel forged from wrought iron, smoothbore. I have in process two flintlocks about 1/2 done and all parts at least rough forged from wrought iron. Next year I plan to get these parts together and make some sort of light weight fowler or smooth rifle, haven't decided on the style yet. Come to think of it, by the time I get to buying the wood for the stock, at least 90% of my work is finished. I will be out of the country until late May 2012 so will pick it up after that.
Jim Everett
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Just finishing up a Bucks County, a LH Lancaster that's 70%, a Lancaster that's just got the bbl and RR work done and another Bucks County waiting for shipment for bbl and RR work. My wife keeps telling me that I'm nuts and won't finish all the above seeing I'm 80 yrs....But, I'm an optimist but will have to speed things up a bit. Anyways, what does she know....Fred
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Just keep building them Fred!!! ;D ;D ;)
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Going through a divorce(friendly on both side's!)so i'm working on getting my shop re-set in Port Austin,Mi. When it's up and runnin',.32 Ash Southern and a Virginia smoothbore,both were started before the move. All should done in the next week or so. Then,2 Hawkin's,2 Lehigh's,3 East Tenn.............and so on!
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A Reading ("Haga-esque") fowler. It's been stalled out since last spring so with the onset of winter I should be able to get going again.
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Good for you, Fred! If it's like previous Bucks pieces you've built, it'll be a Beaut.
Round toe "Virginia" rifle here, then an English Sporting Rifle I'm 3/4 way through.
Ed
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1000 pound gun safe brought it home flat on a trailer used pipe the slide it off.
Got it stood up with an engine hoist, its 6 ft tall, now I need to create a place to put it.
Oh guns. I have a 18 (?) pound chunk rifle in the works ala Dickert but other things keep getting in the way.
Hopefully since I am missing next months match I will get the carving done and it will have finish on the wood by February match.
Dan
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I'm working on six guns in my mind, and one on the bench. A Lehigh. A mix between Rupp and Kuntz, it will be signed 'Krupp'.
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1. walnut 4 bore Blunderbuss
2. Lyman Great plains flintlock fullstock,restock to curly maple
3. 12 ga. flintlock pistol
4. 12 ga. flint trade rifle
5. swamped .45 cal lancaster style flintlock
6. .20 guage smooth rifle with a 42 inch swamped barrel
7. 31 inch swamped .54, curly maple, short rifle for a nice lady
8. waiting on barrel inlet for a 44 inch swamped .40 cal southern rifle
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24 bore flint fowler and 20 bore trade pistol. Got all the parts. Now to mail order the time ::).
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Working on my next Lehigh.( John Rupp) It's an addiction. When I finish this one, it's on to #3.
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Building my wife a light 45 with stepped wrist and a southern flair. This is the first gun that I have built without makeing it to fit me and it feels weird but she says it feels right to her. BTW, she has never shot a muzzleloader of any kind and this is a flintlock. Keeping my fingers crossed that she will enjoy the experience.
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Working on a 45 cal Lehigh using one of David Keck's Stopil Long stocks.
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Going through a divorce(friendly on both side's!)so i'm working on getting my shop re-set in Port Austin,Mi. When it's up and runnin',.32 Ash Southern and a Virginia smoothbore,both were started before the move. All should done in the next week or so. Then,2 Hawkin's,2 Lehigh's,3 East Tenn.............and so on!
Yer going back down below? Sorry to hear about the divorce.
Yer pal, Joe
BTW, I'm working on getting the shop cleaned up before I start more guns. I got 5 to make, all alike. :/
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I'm working on a .50 cal Lehigh for my nephew. Just got the lock plate in yesterday. Set it high on the side of the barrel. Looks odd to me, but that is what makes a slim looking profile. I am using one of Rice's A weight barrels so the mainspring shouldn't touch the barrel flat.
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Working on #2, a .50 caliber JP Beck, getting parts for #3, a Dauphin County/Martin Shell and thoroughly enjoying shooting #1, a .45 caliber Peter Berry.
I feel like a real slacker compared to some of the work-in-progress lists here.
Bill
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Got a .50 cal JP Beck on the bench about 2/3 complete. A Long Land Service musket is in the on-deck circle.
Happy New Year!
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Right now I'm working on a half stock, .50 cal. flint Tennessee rifle w/wooden rib. I hope to have it finished by the end of January.
Next will be a .52 cal. early flint rifle I'll keep for my own use.
After that,, if there's time before Spring field work, parts for a flint Leman are patiently waiting on a shelf in the shop.
I have several more planned in thought, but that's as far as they've gotten so far.
Ted K.
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it will be signed 'Krupp'.
... altho I think there actually was a Krupp armorer who fed the Nazi war machine. maybe a Runtz ? (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runemasterstudios.com%2Fgraemlins%2Fimages%2Feh.gif&hash=af2e1d777377e62ca7d3187b7347b0df79843bb9)
I'm plodding along on a tennessee mountain with a .50 44" Rice B, using some renditions from contemporary builders as inspiration.
Just finished the entry thimble, which (hopefully) means I'm over the hump.
pouring a pewter nosecap this weekend.
Lookin forward to picking up parts at the Artisan Show in Lewisburg PA in early Feb for the next build.
/mm
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.45 caliber Tennessee. 40-1/2" Rice straight barrel, Bob Roller Lock, maple stock. I forged/am forging everything else. Butt plate and trigger guard are done.
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it will be signed 'Krupp'.
... altho I think there actually was a Krupp armorer who fed the Nazi war machine. maybe a Runtz ? (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runemasterstudios.com%2Fgraemlins%2Fimages%2Feh.gif&hash=af2e1d777377e62ca7d3187b7347b0df79843bb9)
I'm plodding along on a tennessee mountain with a .50 44" Rice B, using some renditions from contemporary builders as inspiration.
Just finished the entry thimble, which (hopefully) means I'm over the hump.
pouring a pewter nosecap this weekend.
Lookin forward to picking up parts at the Artisan Show in Lewisburg PA in early Feb for the next build.
/mm
Runtz!! That'l make 'em scratch their heads a century of so down the pike!! ::)
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.50 cal (since I already had the barrel) cussin, 38 in. 15/16th straight. Left her lay last spring then suffered from builder's block this fall. Finally got at her and she's in final stock shaping now. The builder's block is tough to get over.....neighbor lady and all ::)
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Just getting going on a C. Humble (Kentucky) inspired rifle - .54 cal 44" 'D' weight Rice barrel, nicely curled stock. Got the barrel inlet completed, and got the ramrod holed drilled last night - well centered vertically, a little to the right laterally. I'm hoping I don't have mainspring interference. Also need to finish up a pre-rev. war era 'musket-stocked' rifle.
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I'm just about done with the carving on my French pistol so I guess it is time to learn how to engrave. I also have a Lancaster rifle in the works for one of my shooting buddies.
JMC
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Mid way through a Sharon Plains rifle kit that has been giving me some fits. This has to be the hardest, most brittle piece of walnut I've ever worked with. There is some irregular grain around the tang / breech and it just does not cooperate with anything but a file. That and the trigger plate pre-inlet is way out of position. I really hate pre-inlet components...
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.50 cal (since I already had the barrel) cussin, 38 in. 15/16th straight. Left her lay last spring then suffered from builder's block this fall. Finally got at her and she's in final stock shaping now. The builder's block is tough to get over.....neighbor lady and all ::)
Braggin or complainin Roger?? :o :o ;D ;D
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Gathering parts for a late flint, halfstock, iron mounted English rifle. Have a late Ketland lock from Chambers and a decent piece of English walnut. Will use a Rice English barrel probably .58 cal.
Mike C
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Restoring an old Belgian sxs percussion fowler for a guy who is giving it to his dad on his 81st birthday. The gun has no Belgian markings but was made with a grotesque fish carving as a pistol grip rail. I've seen enouph of these to attribute it's placement. Some previous owner sanded away all of the stock finish, so it is getting a dose of my special patina coating.
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I'm trying to find underlugs.
Coryjoe
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Working on a curly cherry Christian springs full choke turkey getter
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Still trying to finish up my Bucks 40 caliber. I may not be good but I sure am slow. Just used one of Mr Snyders touchhole counterbore. Worked very well!
Cory Joe you can make those quicker than you can order them.
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I'm trying to find underlugs.
Coryjoe
Cory Joe,
Make them, you can do that long before you can order them and they are pretty much free if you make them from scrap.
There is tutorial on them I believe.
Dennis
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puttin' together an East Tennessee squirrel'y rifle.
.36 cal. GM barrel, 3/4" x42", L&R Manton/Bailes lock, on a Cherry stock
making the furniture myself
Also currently engraving a Cape Buffalo With English scroll on a Winchester M70 .458 Win Mag that loads from the rear ....... like a Ferguson rifle !!! ?
Does that count ?
Mark
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I am literally trying to find them in my shop, they are here somewhere. I bet if I ordered some these would just appear.
Coryjoe
I'm trying to find underlugs.
Coryjoe
Cory Joe,
Make them, you can do that long before you can order them and they are pretty much free if you make them from scrap.
There is tutorial on them I believe.
Dennis
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Got a .40 Bedford mostly roughed out with the barrel inlet that's on the bench, a silver mounted pistol that's been waiting patiently, two Maryland guns profiled with barrels inlet next in line. Assorted horn and knife stuff laying around the shop, too.
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A .32 Tennessee Tree Rat gun, and a bottle of Rare Eagle. Both are coming along.
Bill
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I have a Fichthorn .50 cal in the finishing stage, 2 .54 cal Berks pistols my boys are working on, 2 powder horns near completion, a doublehorn in work and doing the drawings for RCA #53 that I have the parts and stock for and is my next build.
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A bunch,,I'm good at buyin' odd parts and stuff and then trying to find the time.
I do have a Tenn style in the works though.
3/4" oct Rayl 40cal. great piece of curly maple. I was going to put a Dale Johnson lock on it but just came accross a Bob Roller small percussion (1983) along with a DST w/his stamp on it. Neither has ever fitted so maybe I'll make a percussion for once. ,,and maybe the DJ lock isn't the best choice in style anyway.
Also a Queen Ann Musket from a TRS kit. Something a little different from the usual Bess and some Dutch influence in the styling I think. So maybe that'll fit me better.
I'll most likely be back here with questions when it comes to spring hardening/temper time. Their directions are confusing from what I'm used to, but so are their choice of steel.,,realizing they are cast though.
A 1/2 stock flint rifle. Again 40 cal. 13/16oct. Trying out one of Tipp Curtis's locks. Got the pre-carve, GM bbl, lock and B/P for a very nice price at Dixons last summer.
The rest I have or will make.
I'd like to build an underhammer in the Kendall or Hilliard style. But that'll wait for a while.
I still have a 15/16 damascus rifle bbl blank from Ken Bresien's shop in 50cal to use yet. He tabled it after it developed a bad spot in the rifling during the process.
Needs to be rebore/rerifled or relined.
I have his L/R(?) trigger guard pattern piece and one of the castings from it. I guess he didn't care for the quality of what was available at the time and was setting up for his own casting.
I'll probably just keep those ,,just because.
Then there's the work on those 'other' guns to be done...just finished up a restoration of one of Ithaca's NID in grade 5.
Interesting to see what others are working on and have plans to do in the future.
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1. A .50 caplock Sam Hawken with 7/8 x 31" .50 Rice barrel. Hawken 15/16" Squirrel rifle breech plug fitted and filed down to 7/8". J&S Hawken pistol lock. Have the stock sawed out, barrel and tang inlet, starting on the lock inlet. Will look just like a real Hawken but smaller and lighter in the barrel for a woman.
2. A .54 caplock Sam Hawken with 1 x 32" Green Mountain barrel, nearly ready to finish. All done but working on the triggers now.
3. A .54 caplock Sam Hawken with 1 x 32" Green River barrel. Barrel is a take-off, with the rib unsoldered and the front sight too close to the muzzle. I'll cut it to 32" and solder the rib on. Lock is in, barrel and tang inlet, butt plate and toeplate in, needs the trigger fitted, and lock and tang bolts fitted.
4. A .54 caplock Sam Hawken with 1 1/8" x 31" Green River barrel, steel parts assembled, sights in. Stock is sawed out, barrel channel routed and rod hole drilled. All parts on hand.
5. A .58 1 1/8" tapered to 1" 36" Green River barrel, not drilled for breech plug. Want to make this a fullstock flint Hawken, but not with a patent breech. No plug yet. Anyone know where I can get a 1 1/8" flint hooked tang?
6. I have 4 or 5 more barrels with no plans for them yet. I'm glad it is winter so I can work on this stuff.
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I am great at starting projects but slow on finishing.
I have a English sporting rifle/shot gun in .62, English walnut, shootable when the touch hole is drilled. final finsih for wood and metal.
Jaeger rifle .54 Getz, Poszer Hardware, English walnut, lots of carving & ingraving yet to be done, yet to install sliding but trap lid
Maryiland style .50 cal 42" B wt all in the white now
Georgian style holster pistol .58 cal bronze barrel, rifle shop Moses Brent hardware
all are in the final stages for stain and varnish some carving yet to be done on some.
I will finish them in the order listed some day.
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Im working on a chambers Haines 40 cal kit with rice barrel an single trigger. And Im working on a 54 flintlock pistol. 6 inch barrel. And Im waiting on a 62 cal barrel from charles burton that Im gonna have built into a early virginia rifle. ;D
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working towards getting back to my Jenks carbine build. I have also started getting "Pieces" to machine my Billinghurst cylinder rifle. ;)
that, plus building another bench for the shop and cleaning/reorganizing the
mess down stairs :D
Respect Always
Metalshaper/Jonathan
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Jenks Carbine, neat I just saw one of the navy models in the Navy Museum on the Washington Navy Yard. Mule ear... made me stop and look since it was in the same case with one of those early breachloader contraptions. The museum was also playing Master and Commander inside the Constitution Deck display... sat down next to a cannon and watched the fight scene. Pretty cool.
I am currently working on an English dragoon carbine~ 1770s. I have been looking at as many pictures of origionals as I can find from the 1740-1770 period and about the only thing I have found that they have in common is that their all a bit different. So I will take some liberties as well.
After that I just need to get a stock for a late golden age Lancaster... a stock and barrel for a Jaeger (got a Davis jaeger lock for Christmas)... and on my dream list accumulate parts for a German 17th century wheelock rifle and a doglock pistol. Also picked up a Davis Twigg lock and have been mulling over possibilities.
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Well, since money has been tight lately,I've kinda been in a holding pattern. I have tried my hand at a few accoutrements mainly knives. Look for them soon. Been wantin an early Virginia, .58cal 48" barrel still haven't ordered it. The money thing. I did get someone to buy one of my horns though. Money for the build
Rich
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Going through a divorce(friendly on both side's!)so i'm working on getting my shop re-set in Port Austin,Mi. When it's up and runnin',.32 Ash Southern and a Virginia smoothbore,both were started before the move. All should done in the next week or so. Then,2 Hawkin's,2 Lehigh's,3 East Tenn.............and so on!
Yer going back down below? Sorry to hear about the divorce.
Yer pal, Joe
BTW, I'm working on getting the shop cleaned up before I start more guns. I got 5 to make, all alike. :/
Yeah,I love the Yoop,maybe when this place in P/A is done I'll sell and go back. Love the wood's runnin' up there!
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Starting a half stock Midwestern Rifle in 40 caliber (GRRW 15/16" 34 "s long)). Using a decent birdseye maple stock, DRU triggers that I've had for sometime, lock that I made from small Siler and Davis parts. Nothing fancy but want a good off hand shooter when done.
Ray
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I have been working on a iron mounted .54 with a sliding patch box for about 3 years (waaaay to long) that I am going to finish this summer. I also intend to re-barrel my .50 walnut stocked poorboy. Mike New.
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I',m working on a Chamber's 50 cal. York kit.
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I',m working on a Chamber's 50 cal. York kit.
Rick, I would love to see some images of your progress. I have often thought of building one of those.
Coryjoe
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My main project is a Upper East Tennessee in curly cherry. (Over-the-Comb tang) I am about 1/2 way with it & just about to go test shoot it. Also have a Lancaster In-the-White that is on hold til the Tenn is done. Then have a long barrel Lancaster to build. Can't seem to find time to work on anything anymore......
Keith Lisle
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I'm reworking a CVA Hawken for a friend. I have a new walnut stock to finish shaping for my old CVA Kentucky so the grandkids can shoot with me. And then I have maple Hawken stock I got at an auction
that I need to round up the remaining parts to complete. Kind of backwards, but it was too good a deal to let go. It came with a L&R lock, but I need to order a hammer for it. Butt plate in place, entry pipe is there and inlet, but need to get barrel, tang, under rib and pipes. Also need to get 3 more escutcheons.
When I figure out how to post pictures I will get some on. The old guy that started it was a cabinet maker and did a nice job of it.
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Change of plans from my earlier post. I have put the Haida carved canoe gun on hold due to the fact that I received my replacement barrel from John Getz for the matchlock I was building. The USPS lost the first barrel in shipping a few months ago. To this day it has never turned up. I was hoping to have had the matchlock ready to shoot for the Paul Bunyan turkey shoot in mid November. Now I am hoping to have it ready for our first of the month shoot in February.
Dave
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The USPS lost the first barrel in shipping a few months ago. To this day it has never turned up.
Dave
I had that happen once sending one of Johns barrels and a blank to Fred M. by UPS. Somebody cut the package open just enough to get the barrel out and then continued sending it on its way. UPS rep tried to deny paying me even though it was insured, they was said it wasn't packaged properly and the barrel got separated from the blank due to my negligence. I only had to holler and scream just a little for them to send me a check but talk about inconvenience... I had waited forever for that barrel in the 1st place... I bet thats what happened to your barrel too, it wasn't "lost" a usps employee probably stole it. Ought to be a law against that.
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I'm working on a .45 rifle based on No. 79 in Volume I of "Rifles of Colonial America." It is attributed to Isaac Haines. I'm keeping the single trigger but changed the patchbox to a wooden sliding style. The original was a .60 smoothbore. I'm using an octagon to round barrel by Colerain.
I bought the kit from Tip Curtis about two years ago. I stop and start. Lately I've been making a more concerted effort.
So far I have the barrel/tang inlet and pinned. The trigger is inlet and tang bolt tapped and drilled. The buttplate is on, the lockplate is inlet with the lock bolts tapped and drilled. Two ramrod thimbles are inlet and I'm working on the entry thimble. I'd have to admit to being very slow on the entry thimble.
I use Chuck Dixon's book as a guide to the building sequence. So far so good.
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.45 flint boy's rifle with 30"x13/16 GM straight barrel. Been working off and on (generally off) for a couple years but have a 3/20/12 deadline for my son's 12th birthday.
Larry Luck
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I'm still working on some long barreled targetpistols. At the moment I trying to get the singel phase double settrigger right. Hopefully this next trial run will work. The pistols will have rustblued steel furniture with silver accents. The rr thimbles are done and inlet and I'm working on the triggergard design. Hope to engrave some simple borders on them and cast a tin muzzelcap. When I've finished these pistols, I hope to start on the accoutrement's for the pair of silver Kentucky pistols and start on a lefthanded Beck rifle.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi73.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi202%2Frolfkt%2Flong%2520barrel%2520target%2520pistol%2Ftargetpistols002-3.jpg&hash=57825038fdd4b50767f8053b25dde42e2cabcda6)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi73.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi202%2Frolfkt%2Flong%2520barrel%2520target%2520pistol%2Ftargetpistols007-1.jpg&hash=0189d220de42c2a0add2dce9219464f304f10f16)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi73.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi202%2Frolfkt%2Flong%2520barrel%2520target%2520pistol%2Ftargetpistols006-1.jpg&hash=9d19812ea4ec82d221399d286e3059834a9f7ee6)
Best regards
Rolf
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I am working on inletting an English fowler butt plate, have been for over a month.
I laid out my cut lines then had the bright idea to leave a "little" extra wood to practice on as I went in with the butt plate. I started inletting with what you see in the following picture, not at my cut line.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv181%2Fekrewson%2FEnglish%2520Fowler%2Fbuttplatecutline.jpg&hash=deabfde3d6a91d06a82dcc157ec4524abf2e099b)
Well, leaving the extra wood was big mistake. Most people could build a gun in the time I have spent removing that"extra" wood.
Almost done now, moved the screw a bunch of times as the plate went down as in evidence by the hickory dowels I glued in to cover my holes.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv181%2Fekrewson%2FButtplatealmosttwomonths.jpg&hash=e743d5b6253580de837c6f4f8da01d2e5490d0a0)
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Erik,
Very common. I think we've all done that. The buttplate and entry pipe are the two most difficult things in building a rifle.
If it makes you feel better, it doesn't get any easier.
SORRY!!!
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I'm working on a 54 caliber rifle that will be similar to an original my dad had. We believe the original was a buck and ball rifle, but my dad had a rifled liner put in the barrel. I'm working from memory since Dad didn't take any pictures of it. Lancaster style architecture, 54 cal swamped Rayle barrel, a striking piece of maple from Tiger Hunt, checkered wrist, black horn fore end tip, Deluxe Siler lock. The barrel channel is inlet as well as the ramrod channel. The barrel pins will be drilled next since the staples are in place and inlet into the barrel channel. The sides of the foreend must be taken down before I drill the pins, the blank is still as wide as when I purchased it. The stain on the original was a dark honey brown color so I have some experimenting to do with my wood scraps.
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Eric, I shape the buttstock as I inlet the buttplate. Same with entry thimble. Never had any luck inletting in a deep hole. it might help. One thing this does is give better vision of the inletting black.
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I found a few surprises as I went to down Rich, somehow I lost 3/8" of drop when I was down where I thought I should be plus the extension was pointing down instead of level with the comb. Down I went some more and got these things straightened out.
Your way sounds like a lot better idea.
My buttplate now looks like it grew into the wood when I tap it into place but it has been a long haul to get to this point.
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My buttplate now looks like it grew into the wood when I tap it into place but it has been a long haul to get to this point.
Eric it's looking good and that is a challenging butt plate to inlet. Couple things i have found that make building a gun easier is, don't ever leave any extra wood for anything. Get rid of it all to begin with. Rarely do I see a gun where i think too much wood was taken off. On the other hand, one of the most common problems I see is that not enough wood is taken off.
For the buttplate I have found the hammer is your friend when your working with 70/30 brass castings. I use very little inletting black for any type of inlet. I just like to look closely at what I am trying to do and kind of figure it out. In other words, I kind of do the job in my head before I actually try do it in reality. Visualize that buttplate in place before you begin and then do what it takes to get it close. For the last bit use the hammer to close it up and make it perfect.
It is a false sense of security to leave any extra wood for anything. Be confident and cut to the mark. Think about it and don't be afraid of the challenge of it.
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Not so much working on, but the latest project I am procrastinating on is a Chambers Lancaster kit in .58. Got to get off my backside...
Ez
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Building a Hawken light sporting rifle as shown in the Jim Gordon books. 40 cal. with a sweet little Roller lock, thanks Bob. Other parts are from Don Stith. The stock is complete. Waiting on work schedule to slow down to finish 'er up. Been on the road since August.
Kevin
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I'm still working on a Blunderbuss for the USS Houston I about have all the stuff on it lock, trigger, butt plate etc it's still in it's ban sawed state. As soon as I can find a good piece of metal I'll start in the spring bayonet.
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I'm waiting on parts for a kentucky pistol kit. In the mean time I am working on a (probably) NOT historically correct speed loader for my Ferguson. The history indicates that Ferguson had ordered powder flasks of some kind for the rifle but the guns left Britain without them. Since the gun is unique these custom flasks may have been built to speed loading, most likely they threw a measured amount of powder from the flask.
My take is a little different. The idea is that it simultaneously drops a ball in the breach and throws a primer charge in the pan. Since this is more an experiment than historical recreation I am building it from materials I have on hand. If I had a block of brass I would have made the powder charger out of that but all I had laying around was ... yuck... aluminum, so it was made from that. I'm unsure if I can get the whole contraption to work, let alone if it will be a loading improvement for the gun. But it has been fun thinking it through.
Steve
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Last winter, I built two rifles for myself - the Verner, and the S. Hawken. I must have burned myself out. Though I did the research for a nice Verner pistol to complement my rifle, that's as far as I got.
Mark Wheland is sending me my barrel inlet into a piece of his maple for a Southern Mountain rifle build, and I have all of the parts, but I've also got a lovely 50 1/2" Getz octagon to round .50 cal smooth barrel in a piece of cherry for a JP Beck build, and a 44" x .25 cal. Rayl barrel in a fabulous piece of American Walnut for a T. Allison build. But I haven't been completely idle...I built myself an English Warbow 80 1/2" long and 100 pounds @ 32", plus a half sheaf of battle shafts to go with it.
Leatherbelly has talked me into putting together a new smoothbore for him, so that will likely be my next build. It features a 50" 28 gauge smooth barrel in a piece of Mark Wheland's wood. So that's going to take care of # 99. Number 100 has to be a special rifle, so I leaning toward the William Antes swivel breech rifle I have on the back burner with a pair of .54 cal Getz barrels and an English walnut stock.
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I'm working on my version of RCA-19 for one of the members of this forum. It has a short 33" Hoyt gain twist .62 caliber barrel. It's been almost a year now, but I hope to have it done before March.
I have a Bucks Co. .40 cal that was about 80% done before I started RCA-19, and I'd like to finish it next before starting another. There is ALWAYS another! ;D
Strange to hear about the Getz barrels being lost in the mail! I had the same experience with a .62 Jaeger barrel about 9 yrs. ago! I wasn't sure if John or Don Getz ever believed me, but they did make another one for me in short order. It's a real game getter and woods walk target killer.
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I'm also working (when I get the time) on a wheelock lock useing some of Raspza's plans
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.50 cal (since I already had the barrel) cussin, 38 in. 15/16th straight. Left her lay last spring then suffered from builder's block this fall. Finally got at her and she's in final stock shaping now. The builder's block is tough to get over.....neighbor lady and all ::)
Braggin or complainin Roger?? :o :o ;D ;D
Little of both seems like ;)
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I've been plodding along trying to get a rather neat southern mountain rifle finished. John and I made a stock pattern,
Mark Weader did the shaping in curly ash. I remember talking to Brad Emig at Dixon's....he had a finished, carved gun
done in curly ash. He said, never again. Now I know why. I am doing this gun in a real light swamped barrel, 43" long,
36 cal., one of Jim's Late Ketland lock, Davis double set triggers. It has taken far too long to get it done. I have to get
the barrel and some of the other parts browned/blackened, then put it all back together. And, guess what, it's a freevie
for a Friends of the NRA banquet coming up in march. Number 92 for me. For Fred Lehto, you said you were 80, that's
great, but I know what you mean about slowing up, will be 79 in May. It's great to get here but the hill is getting steeper ...........Don
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Too darn many projects on the go. Started a 17th century English doglock pistol ages ago, just ordered a RS doglock parts kit for it. Pistol is about ready for the lock, once the lock is ready, it won't take long to finish it off.
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Putting the finishing touches on a cherry half- stock Ohio rifle, have a nice 7/8" .45 cal barrel inlet for a Dickert, waiting for a left hand Manton so I can get started on a 16 Ga double flint shotgun and then I'm supposed to start on a left hand trade gun.
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I'm trying to finish up another Flint, swivel breech rifle. Claro walnut butt stock, German silver side panels and brass center rib. Otherwise brass mounted. The barrels are .45/.45, 13/16 x 36" swamped, octagon to round w/wedding bands. (thanks to Liston Rice)
Not following any particular school. I just always wanted to build one with GS side panels. It's almost done. Now I'm trying to get up enough nerve to do some engraving on it.