AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: davec2 on February 09, 2016, 05:41:52 AM
-
A while back, a fellow commissioned me to build him a brass barreled blunderbuss. I took on the task reluctantly because of my work schedule. However, he said he wasn't in a rush, so I took the job. I told him the first step was getting a barrel out of Ed Rayl, which might take some time. It did, but Ed eventually got me a couple of 10 gage brass barrels, one 20 inches long and another, for this customer, 18 inches long. The barrels showed up a month before Christmas but I am just now getting around to starting the project.
The fellow I am building this for really liked the muzzle rings I had added to a few of Ed's 4 gage barrels in both steel and in brass, one of which was to my own 4 gage blunderbuss. So, today I managed to rough machine the two brass rings, silver braze them to the barrel, and then machine them in place to their final configuration. ( A previous post on a steel barrel mod http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37545.msg360437#msg360437 )
Anyway, here are some photos of todays barrel work.........
Machining the rough muzzle ring...........
(https://preview.ibb.co/hM6NXQ/IMG_1320.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c5kue5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/nLULK5/IMG_1322.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kdS7z5)
Getting ready to braze the rings in place.........
(https://preview.ibb.co/gUdEe5/IMG_1324.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ncHkmk)
Brazing...............
(https://preview.ibb.co/csdrRk/IMG_1325.jpg) (http://ibb.co/bMm0K5)
First machining of the rings on the barrel........
(https://preview.ibb.co/kXmBRk/IMG_1330.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nxenz5)
Finished........
(https://preview.ibb.co/cguLK5/IMG_1331.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hxGpCQ)
Polished.........
(https://preview.ibb.co/mr4bsQ/IMG_1332.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jRB0K5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dsubsQ/IMG_1333.jpg) (http://ibb.co/i8F5mk)
-
Lovely work, Dave!
-
Now that is nice, make a good pistol to repel boarders... ;D....Tom
-
Very impressive!
-
Sweet
-
Gathering additional parts..........
(https://preview.ibb.co/nbWvmk/IMG_3015.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fR9gRk)
Stock wood........
(https://preview.ibb.co/ePegRk/IMG_1265.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fY5MRk)
-
I am starting to get scared.
David
-
Most lovely work, Dave.
-
David you are a real craftsmen. Can't wait to follow this build.
-
OK David.....now you can really get scared. I will be sending the stock and barrel for inletting in the next few days. Progress is slow, but here are the next steps.......
Made a few sketches of the profile. This is the final selection.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/mO6pCQ/Sean_BB_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eZ9nz5)
Cut out the stock profile....left the butt long for now but will cut it to the correct length once the barrel and lock are in place......
(https://preview.ibb.co/fN4nz5/Sean_BB_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hveLK5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mZzbsQ/Sean_BB_3.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mogpCQ)
Polished up several of the brass parts........
(https://preview.ibb.co/dacUCQ/Sean_BB_4.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nqBpCQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dUPWRk/Sean_BB_5.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gKAhXQ)
Refining the detail on the side plate.....not quite finished yet.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/grckmk/Sean_BB_6.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nGQue5)
-
this is a great thread!
-
That's is going to beautiful when its all done.With the barrel all polished and the walnut stock.
-
That is a perfect stock blank! The grain seems to fit the architecture amazingly well. Great work!
Jim
-
Hi,
Looking great, Dave. Thanks for posting this.
dave
-
That is a perfect stock blank! The grain seems to fit the architecture amazingly well. Great work!
Jim
Going to be beautiful, the way the figure matches from comb to butt.
-
Well, it's been since February since I had a chance to work much on the blunderbuss......work, medical issues, travel....life ! But here is some recent progress for anyone interested in a blunderbuss.
Next step was to have Dave Rase inlet the barrel and drill the ram rod hole for me......(I don't do these by hand any longer - Dave is just too good at this to pass up his expertise.)
Next I planed the stock to a good starting width to get rid of a lot of excess wood......and started inletting the lock. The entire lock is not in yet, but the plate is.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/kpuvFR/Sean_BB_9.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cMN49m)
My two least favorite tasks are the rear ramrod pipe and the butt plate. I started with the butt plate......
(https://preview.ibb.co/nCMsvR/Sean_BB_7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iD91pm)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fE8GN6/Sean_BB_8.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hnjqh6)
Then I took off the extra wood on the underside of the butt.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/c4KO26/Sean_BB_10.jpg) (http://ibb.co/j1zO26)
Current state of progress.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/nPbsvR/Sean_BB_11.jpg) (http://ibb.co/crtu9m)
-
Dave,
I concur on the least favorite tasks, but yours looks just fine and that lock inlet looks like it was part of the tree.
I've seen you do that muzzle treatment before and your skill with the lathe amazes me. It really puts the icing on the cake.
Not to mention the progress on the Chambers copy ;D
Jeff
-
always had a soft spot for the blunderbuss, that will be a fine one!
-
What an alley (or rigging) cleaner with a handful of buckshot. ;)
-
Little at a time......had some time to shape and inlet the barrel tang today and make the barrel under lugs. Next is finishing the lock inletting.
(https://preview.ibb.co/mZJSUm/Sean_BB_12.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ku0wN6)
-
That's looking really good.Cant wait to see the finished product.
-
I should order one from Dave and report back with jungle usage! I bet I could get way more shot in it! ;D
-
Dang Dave, it looks like the wood grew around that tang. Thanks for the progress report. Now that your back at it at the rate you build I figure it will be done by Saturday :)
Tim
-
Back at it......Got the ram rod pipes in place.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/gEdBpm/Sean_BB_14.jpg) (http://ibb.co/imEj9m)
Made up the heavy duty barrel lugs by silver soldering the blade to the base and then used a lower temp silver bearing solder to mount the lugs to the barrel. These are the rough lugs.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/ca5D26/Sean_BB_13.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jAL2vR)
Then the lugs were final shaped, inletted, and drilled. The forward lug has a 0.125 inch diameter hole to accommodate a 5-40 sling swivel screw.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/fLPj9m/Sean_BB_15.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mO30h6)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jav2vR/Sean_BB_16.jpg) (http://ibb.co/b0fD26)
Off to polish and engrave the lock now.
-
Love your fine work, Dave.
-
What a fun build! Looking great, Dave!
Curtis
-
Curtis,
Yes....it is a fun build. Even more fun to shoot. I just wish I had the time to work right through to the end. This working for a living is sure getting in the way !
-
Thanks for the updates, Dave.
Beautiful work. Your fitting is beyond great.
-
Lock internals inletted.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/mvR326/Sean_BB_18.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hKO5FR)
Lock in place.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/eeUeaR/Sean_BB_19.jpg) (http://ibb.co/j3Y5FR)
Trigger pivot support silver soldered to the trigger plate. The trigger is the next part to go in.....
(https://preview.ibb.co/gsCbN6/Sean_BB_20.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nAHnUm)
-
Trigger and trigger guard going into place. This will be the last thing that I need to keep the stock square for. As soon as the trigger guard is inletted and pinned, I will start knocking off any wood that doesn't look like a blunderbuss. This is the part in a build that I really enjoy.....a little time with a spoke shave, plane, rasps, etc., and the gun goes from looking like a plank to looking and feeling like.....well.....a gun.
(https://preview.ibb.co/b6KLFR/IMG_1900.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jgZ99m)
The side plate details have all been finalized.....only final polishing remaining. Here the lock bolts have been installed and the side plate is located and ready for inletting......
(https://preview.ibb.co/jzdmpm/IMG_1902.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mHW6pm)
Over all, I'm not fast....but I'm not slow either.......I'm just sort of "half fast"......
-
You're doing nice work. Looks like you're using candle soot for inletting. Do you find it shows up well against the walnut stock?
-
Single Malt,
I use an alcohol lamp with kerosene in it to smoke parts.....much quicker than a candle. And for a barrel, I use an oxy - acetylene torch without the oxygen. I could smoke the whole side of a car with that in a very short time. And yes, the black soot shows very distinctly on walnut.
-
Dave is so good it's disgusting.
-
Finished all the inletting (except for the side plate) and pinning, so it was time to take the plank with all the parts it is and start knocking off anything that didn't look like a blunderbuss. Here it is still in the "plank phase".......(the tang screw is just a temporary while I adjusted the trigger).
(https://preview.ibb.co/jTrvh6/Sean_BB_22.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c0K4aR)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ep7qFR/Sean_BB_23.jpg) (http://ibb.co/j5TK9m)
(https://preview.ibb.co/e5PgN6/Sean_BB_24.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fVGHvR)
(https://preview.ibb.co/e7wHvR/Sean_BB_25.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cBCqFR)
A couple of hours later, with a spoke shave and a couple of gouges, it looked a little better. By the way, all the stuff on the deck is what didn't look like a blunderbuss to me........
(https://preview.ibb.co/csqo26/Sean_BB_21.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mF66pm)
(https://preview.ibb.co/irTVFR/Sean_BB_27.jpg) (http://ibb.co/da71N6)
Still a lot of fine shaping to do but 95% of the stock removal is now complete.....then the carving and the engraving and the finishing. Like I said.....half fast.....
-
There's nothing wrong with being "half-fast." Good, careful work, I'd say.
-
You're right...that stuff on the floor looks NOTHING like a blunderbuss.
Beautiful work as always.
-
Well, after many months of time off from gun making to make a living, I am in the final stages of finishing two of three commissions. This one was fairly far along when I had to ring up all stop for a bit. All the inletting was done except for the side plate which, as you can see, is not one of the simpler shapes to deal with.
(https://preview.ibb.co/jWF1uF/Sean_BB_Sideplate_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c4iAoa)
I do the outline mostly with a very pointy carving knife (but for this kind of complex shape I really should try the "stab in" method).
(https://preview.ibb.co/gLtX1v/Sean_BB_Sideplate_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/juDnZF)
Final inlet is very shallow.....about 1/2 the thickness of the side plate which is only about 0.100" at the thickest part.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/kMPGTa/Sean_BB_Sideplate_3.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hGDAoa)
Wood carving and engraving are next......
PS.....this is what I was doing when I can't work on guns.....40,000 pounds of thrust.......sequestered for months at a time in the Mojave Desert......
(https://preview.ibb.co/kETbTa/CCt_Cap_Test_004.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nvm7ZF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cY738a/CCt_Cap_Test_001.jpg) (http://ibb.co/e6ibTa)
-
Great pictures, Dave,
Is that your protype finish drying machine for long rifles? Looks like it would really speed up the process of curing polymerized tung oil. Gosh I really love your work. I know you worked with your Dad on jewelry, but how did you learn the skill set you have with respect to engraving as well as metal work and wood work? I assume you did not learn those particular skills commanding naval ships, another very admirable and respectful occupation.
dave
-
David,
The flame temperature on that engine is about 5,600 degrees F, so it would make short work of drying any finish I am aware of. :)
Thanks for the compliments.....I sat down at a bench as a dental technician for my Dad when I was 6. I did articulations, denture set up, gold castings for crown and bridge work, etc., etc. I loved to work with him and did so almost every weekend and week nights after I did my homework. He had worked as a jeweler in New York when he was a boy during the depression and before he joined the Navy in World War 2 and we did a lot of jewelry work in the lab as well. I worked like that with him until I left for the Naval Academy when I was 19. He is 90 now and still does some incredible jewelry work....and he still makes his own teeth when he needs to...:) He has also always been a great wood worker. So the metal and wood work, as well all of the manual dexterity skills, comes from him. The engraving I can attribute completely to Jerry Huddleston.
And, as you correctly point out, driving destroyers around the ocean, shooting missiles, guns, and torpedoes did not do much for sharpening ones fabrication skills, but it did defend the nation. And now, building and testing rocket engines does add some very sophisticated manufacturing techniques to my repertoire , but I don't use chemical vapor deposition (etc.) too often building 18th century weapons.
Working quietly in my tiny shop is, however, much quieter and less nerve racking than testing spacecraft engines.
Thanks again.
Dave C
-
To break up the task of carving on the little rifle, I started on the breech carving on the 'buss. The will be some molding work but not a lot of elaborate carving on this one. The breech carving is the most elaborate. Started with a free hand version of the design....
(https://preview.ibb.co/jWSWuF/Sean_BB_Start_of_Craving_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gvPY8a)
Then.....duplicate it on the opposite side......
(https://preview.ibb.co/jxjBuF/Sean_BB_Start_of_Craving_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/bUCLoa)
Start of the carving and a little scraping / smoothing around the breech plug tang......
(https://preview.ibb.co/jdJh1v/Sean_BB_Start_of_Craving_3.jpg) (http://ibb.co/diMPEF)
More to follow......
-
looks great.
-
Man,going to be one heck of a blunderbuss, always liked them.
-
Man,going to be one heck of a blunderbuss, always liked them.
I had some long range sights that would be perfect for this gun ;D ;D
Bob Roller
-
SUPER NICE WORK!!! It`s nice to see . THANKS
-
The flame temperature on that engine is about 5,600 degrees F, so it would make short work of drying any finish I am aware of. Smiley
Bet you could blush AF in a hurry with that torch ;D
-
Not finished yet with sculpting and background smoothing but getting close:
(https://preview.ibb.co/fJsEEF/Sean_BB_Start_of_Craving_4.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mDoX1v)
-
That's excellent work, Dave. Is that small scraper one of your creations or is it commercially available?
-
Beautiful work, Dave!! You may have done this already but I take a small almost flat gouge, turn it upside down, and make a little stab into the edge of the shell where it is domed up. I angle it very slightly to undercut the shell a tiny bit. When finish is applied, the undercut magnifies the relief and really makes the shell pop. It is going to be a great gun!
dave
-
The flame temperature on that engine is about 5,600 degrees F, so it would make short work of drying any finish I am aware of. Smiley
Bet you could blush AF in a hurry with that torch ;D
I'm not sure "blush" quite covers it Dennis.
Looking good Dave - excellent work all around.
dave
-
David,
I shamelessly attempted a copy of your shell on your English rifle......with not much success, I might add. I need to re-work it, in so far as it is possible, and I appreciate the tip. I would like to watch you carve one from start to finish.
Dave C
-
Single Malt,
Forgot to answer your question. The "scraper" you see is a wax carver I also use for carving gold crown and bridge dental work. (Actually, I carve the crowns in wax and then cast them in gold). You can find all manner of wax carvers that can be easily customized into scrapers to use in smoothing out carving background on Ebay and at dental supply houses.
-
Thanks, Dave. I'll start browsing eBay. ;)
-
I have about 25 of those wax carving tools. The only thing I don't like about them is they are made of low carbon steel and can't be hardened. They won't hold an edge long. I wish I could find some high quality ones.
-
Jerry,
The knock off versions are made of cheap steel. The higher quality ones sold by the dental supply houses are mostly made of a tough stainless steel alloy and are hardened. I have both.
-
Waiting for the finish to dry on the 3/4 scale rifle.....switched over to the last of the metal polishing on the blunderbuss before I begin the engraving.
(https://preview.ibb.co/gBwG9F/Sean_BB_Polished_Lock.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jtyUUF)
The next pictures will be of engraving work.....
-
Dave , The list of superlatives to describe your work has about been used up but, I`ll throw my hat in the ring with everyone else on here who looks upon your work with amazement. It is always a treat to view your posts. However I do humbly request that you post proof of at least one mistake that you`ve made ever ! so that we know that your not a government created cyborg sent to this site to shame the rest of us into taking up needlepoint and burning our shops down LOL !!! . SUPER WORK !!! Thanks for sharing Nathan
-
Nathan,
Thanks for the vote of confidence......I make plenty of mistakes. I just don't take pictures of them and show them to all of you. And, as I have gotten older, I am better at fixing my mistakes. Now sometimes that involves just starting all over again, but then there are a few tricks I have learned along the way, many from others on this board, that have made it much easier to recover from a substantial screw up. Here is a link to one major screw up and the fix......
Go down a couple of posts from the beginning.....wrist grain problem I didn't notice until the rifle was almost done !
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37152.0
-
Dave, Nice repair job. I had a friend a couple years ago drop a rifle on my shop floor it actually fell out of a vise . It broke right through the wrist. We drilled it and epoxied a brass rod in the wrist . The repair turned out almost invisible. It still is a hair raising thought. Thanks for sharing. I love seeing your work. I do have a question for you about making a touchmark stamp. I know that you have a really nice touchmark.I felt that with your skillset you probably made it yourself. If you have any info. on how to make one I would be very gratetful to hear it.. I want to make one for a bladesmith friend of mine so it will be used for hot stamping blades. If you don't have anything to share on this subject I understand . I just thought you might have some pointers . I`m also planning to make one for myself which will be used cold. Thanks, Nathan
-
Nathan,
This thread will take you to a complete explanation of the stamps I have made and purchased and how I apply them:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=1138.0
And here is one from Acer and how he does it.....
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=981.0
-
Had some time to start engraving on the blunderbuss.......
Lock is done:
(https://preview.ibb.co/jiQOOa/Sean_BB_Lock_Engrave_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dS4uUF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hS23Oa/Sean_BB_Lock_Engrave_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mZxsGv)
Started on the barrel:
(https://preview.ibb.co/emMKwv/Sean_BB_Barrel_Engrave_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fKxsGv)
.....and the barrel tang......
(https://preview.ibb.co/ka7EUF/Sean_BB_Tang_Engrave_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/m8iopF)
-
Beautiful work. I like the tasteful engraving style you've gone for: minimal but very finely detailed.
-
Too bad Prussian Blue wasn't a permanent finish!
Really nicely done, Dave.
-
Finished the barrel breech and tang engraving......
(https://preview.ibb.co/ficEUF/Sean_BB_Breech_Engraving_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fDU6bv)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dGC3Oa/Sean_BB_Breech_Engraving.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gqWKwv)
-
That would make the Mantons jealous! It's hard to find words to describe the elegance and craftsmanship of your work Dave. Thanks for the continued postings.
Blessed be your Christmas.
Carl
-
Ya man, tight and elegant,that's some real nice work there.
-
I got to learn to work faster. Or not get distracted. One or the other, or both maybe. Great looking blunderbuss and workmanship. One question, are the little circles that border your wedding band at the breech of the barrel stamped in or cut, or a combination of both?
David
-
David, the border beads are graver cut into little squares and then octagons. After the rough cutting, I use a punch to make the beads perfectly round. Works well in steel or brass. The beads are three dimensional, not just circles. Here are the same beads in steel:
(https://preview.ibb.co/fB62Gv/Chambers_Copy_36.jpg) (http://ibb.co/emDSia)
-
When looking at your earlier work, I'm suitably impressed... But there is no doubt that you are constantly improving. This is absolutely beautiful. Crisp, precise, and absolutely Crisalli in style.
-
Trigger guard engraving done:
(https://preview.ibb.co/mAzuUF/Sean_BB_Trigger_Guard_Engraving.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iTxg9F)
-
David, the border beads are graver cut into little squares and then octagons. After the rough cutting, I use a punch to make the beads perfectly round. Works well in steel or brass. The beads are three dimensional, not just circles. Here are the same beads in steel:
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi139.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fq300%2Fdavec2_photos%2F36%2520Cal%2520Chambers%2520Copy%2FChambers%2520Copy%252036_zpslyrj1uhd.jpg&hash=72dc49c312da9ebc9f2a60337e094f3d7ad4b04f)
Don't know what to say - Oh My!
-
Beautiful workmanship All around Dave.
Tim C.
-
Well, I quit working on anything over Christmas. Just enjoyed spending all of my time with the family. But here on New Year's Eve, I am trying to finish up the engraving on the blunderbuss commission. All the engraving is now complete....just final metal finishing and wood finishing to do....and add a couple of sling swivels. Updated photos:
(https://preview.ibb.co/n15ZUF/Sean_BB_Muzzle_Ram_Rod_End.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kMn3Oa)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dYbKwv/Sean_BB_Side_Plate.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eo2EUF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/m9TM9F/Sean_BB_Butt_Plate.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dfDopF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/km8M9F/Sean_BB_Sterling_Thumb_Piece.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mKjuUF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/njCg9F/Sean_BB_Breech_Area.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kCb8pF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/k5Rmbv/Sean_BB_Rear_Pipe.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iAgKwv)
(https://preview.ibb.co/f63opF/Sean_BB_Trigger_Guard.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gkdcia)
(https://preview.ibb.co/c41V3a/Sean_BB_Trigger_Guard_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jPqOOa)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ntXsGv/Sean_BB_Lock_Area.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kUeHia)
-
That is superb !
-
Excellent workmanship. Dave
-
Very nicely executed.
-
Dave , Beautiful work!!! Did you cast the thumbpiece your self ? Thanks Nathan
-
Nathan,
Yes. I made an original thumb piece in brass (cut out with a saw and carved with gravers and chisels). Then I vulcanized a rubber mold and pumped wax patterns as I need them to cast in gold, sterling silver, or brass. I make this same design in several different sizes. Here is a smaller silver version I used to decorate the patch box door on an English rifle:
(https://preview.ibb.co/jqhHGv/English_Rifle_15.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c1kF3a)
-
Dave, PM sent Thanks Nathan
-
Well....Not "done" done....but close enough for the final photos. Need to get a sling made and a few of the screw heads need to be hardened, but nothing that would make the photos any better than they are now. Here goes......the stock is not quite as dark at appears here.......
(https://preview.ibb.co/kKvaz5/Sean_BB_Final_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/g4HoK5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cwpPsQ/Sean_BB_Final_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fdscCQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jtLKRk/Sean_BB_Final_3.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ni5VXQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gEKeRk/Sean_BB_Final_4.jpg) (http://ibb.co/byxAXQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dPsoK5/Sean_BB_Final_5.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mrPeRk)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jNyvz5/Sean_BB_Final_6.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mAzPsQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jtQxCQ/Sean_BB_Final_7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/nrt66k)
(https://preview.ibb.co/bKwR6k/Sean_BB_Final_8.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cqoHCQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mrTHCQ/Sean_BB_Final_9.jpg) (http://ibb.co/n9dvz5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mQjeRk/Sean_BB_Final_10.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ks866k)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpreview.ibb.co%2FeiJTK5%2FSean_BB_Final_11.jpg&hash=12803a1427b811814305ca6a31f3d88de96b02e3) (http://ibb.co/mJYHCQ)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eFxcCQ/Sean_BB_Final_12.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ej5m6k)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fwqKRk/Sean_BB_Final_13.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eeghe5)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ewQVXQ/Sean_BB_Final_14.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jLVxCQ)
-
Beautiful Dave,like it a lot
-
Incredibly beautiful, Dave. Now - tell me honestly, that it would not be GREAT to shoot a moose at 10' or 15' with that gun!
-
Incredibly beautiful, Dave. Now - tell me honestly, that it would not be GREAT to shoot a moose at 10' or 15' with that gun!
As long as it died quickly.....
Otherwise, enjoy the experience for the short time you would have left!!
-
Beautiful as always Dave.
-
Daryl,
Somewhere long ago I read that the English made 4 gage, flintlock, very short barrels guns well into the 19th century for sale to Pygmy tribes in Africa. The Pygmies hunted elephants by getting underneath them while the elephant was grazing, placing the butt of the gun on the ground pointing the barrel straight up at the elephant's belly, ducking down, and then depressing the trigger with a thumb. As soon as the gun went off, the hunter would drop it and then get out from under the elephant as quickly as possible (for obvious reasons).
I think if I went after a moose with a blunderbuss, I might adopt a similar method.....:)
Thank you all for the kind comments.
-
I really like it! Sleek and pleasing to the eye. I'd be happy to own one.
-
I've getting wound up on this, a bit. I think I need one with an 18" bl., 4 bore, of course - that would be 1.052", give or take a few thousandths. A 5 gauge ball, at .977" would weigh 1,400gr. 1,750gr. for a full 4 bore ball, so about 1,675gr. for a 1.00" ball - or thereabouts - hard or soft, no matter.
-
Beautiful in every aspect. Very well done, Dave! Thanks very much for sharing.
Ed
-
Since I raised the question re what can you use it for..?? I should tell you that I put a swivel mount on mine, and it regularly spends time either on a post in front of my shop, or..on the front of my canoe ;D
-
Dave. Did you cut the letters on the thumb piece??
-
Jerry,
I didn't cut the thumb piece letters, I etched them fairly deep. Using the usual resist, I scribed the letters through the resist and then etched them into the sterling silver with a solution of 25% nitric acid. Took about 5 minutes to etch and then I cleaned up a few of the serifs and lines with a graver. I did cut the "LONDON" on the top barrel flat, but those letters are much larger and easier to do. I still can't engrave script or, actually, any type of lettering well enough to do so with confidence. I am trying to teach myself script lettering now.
However, I did do this lettering on the underside of the copy of the Jim Chambers rifle I just finished. The lettering was all laid out with a pencil and cut with a graver. I did it on the underside of the barrel because I lack confidence, but it came out well enough that I am not ashamed of it.
(https://preview.ibb.co/eZTJOa/Chambers_Copy_37.jpg) (http://ibb.co/n209UF)
And the lettering style was copied from my Navy Surface Warfare qualification badge that my Dad had engraved for me by a very old jewelry engraver he knew 40 years ago. The engraver's name was Mr. Soto. He was a originally from Spain and was trained in Europe at the turn of the 20th century. He cut everything by hand with a push graver with only a very few tools and a block. He used only a single eye loop and sharpened his gravers on one small stone and emery paper. As a high school kid I would watch him work and marvel at how effortlessly he would lay out a design, lettering, borders, etc., and then just start cutting. This is the back of my Surface Warfare insignia that my Dad made for me in 18k gold and that Mr. Soto engraved in 1978. The whole engraved space is only about 1/2" tall. I like the design of the lettering and I tried to use the same style on the underside of the barrel in the picture above.
(https://preview.ibb.co/nRvMbv/IMG_0903.jpg) (http://ibb.co/m13k3a)
Here are both sides of a silver handled letter opener he did for my Dad as well. Took Mr. Soto about 5 minutes a side to lay out the design and finish cutting.
(https://preview.ibb.co/fkanGv/100_3179.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dCzEwv)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ninOpF/100_3180.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cCo7Gv)
-
Dave. Lettering is one of the hardest things there is to do. Straight Roman is the hardest in my opinion because if one vertical line is off the slightest bit it shows up like a light at night. Those are super good even if they are etched. I etch some lettering pretty often as you know. There is an old Dover book called the jewelry engravers manual. It is about the best book on lettering I have ever seen. It is very inexpensive. Script gravers are different than regular gravers in there geometry. Everybody interested in Engraving should get that book . Phil Coggan is the best engraver in the World in my opinion and he uses a script graver for a lot of his stuff especially on banknote style.
The bolino style engraving on your gun is very good. I couldn't do any better. Great job.
-
Jerry..., thanks for the info on the Jewelry Engravers Manual, just ordered a copy!
Dave, I keep finding more things to like each time I look at your work. Thanks again for sharing.
Ed
-
Real cool project and very precise execution! I should have shipped my "Free Born" rifle to you, to do my lettering. Super job!
-
Another old post resurrected here.....but I wanted to publicly thank James Rogers for his help on this. A year ago I had finished this commissioned blunderbuss and had ordered a sling for it from Roy Najecki. Unfortunately, Roy's wife had passed away just after I had ordered the sling and Roy had enough to deal with in his life without making a sling. Life and aerospace work intruded on me at this point and I did not have the time to deal with making or getting a sling made for several months. Some time later, I had asked James Rogers to make a special shot pouch for me and I happened to mention the sling. I asked if he could make one up for me. Of course, as these things always work out, James was right in the middle of his own busy life and moving into a new shop as well. Nonetheless, he made this buckle and sling for me and allowed me to finally complete this project. I just wanted to again let everyone know what a stupendous craftsman James is and what a pleasure it is to work with him.
(https://preview.ibb.co/e5HeeG/Sean_BB_Final_15.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jaLMtb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/f1qzeG/Sean_BB_Final_16.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ia9EDb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cVNCzG/Sean_BB_Final_18.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iuSeeG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ksjgtb/Sean_BB_Final_19.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cPCqmw)
-
STUNNING !
-
Very nice. Your engraving makes me want to get into that arena. More tools to buy I guess... :D
-
Yes indeed- Stunning! I would really like to shoot a moose with one of those - 4 bore would be perfect!
-
Hi Dave,
Wonderful as always! The engraved decoration is outstanding and very appropriate, historically.
dave
-
I don't know how I missed this before. That's a beautiful blunderbuss.
-
Dave,
Glad I could help out and honored to have my work accompany your superb workmanship.
James
-
In my book Dave ,Jerry an James your all Master's. Yep I said it. Beautiful gun an strap or sling. Very very nice work...!
-
Stunning!!!! Dave You have a gift that most of us only dream of. Thank you for posting such a beautiful piece. I just can't believe all the talent that is on this site and how helpful you all are. Again thank you for letting us see you build the Blunderbuss.
-
Well Dave, after seeing your work I think I should go and feed the pigs. I can do that! First have to go and buy some though.
Beautiful work, clean, neat engraving. altogether Lovely!
Thanks for all the pictures,
Best regards,
Richard.
-
Thank you all for the kind words. I have a commission to do another blunderbuss and a brace of pistols. So wish me luck in getting these next pieces done in a timely manner.
-
Dave, I apologize for again busting in and taking up space but your work is truly fantastic. I too would consider it an honer to hunt with such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. I would probably never see any game looking at the gun the whole time afield. Thanks for letting us ride along on this build. :)
-
Repel boarders! ;D Regardless of modern practical uses or "need", I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't covet that short beauty! Thanks for reviving this. The sling by James is the perfect finishing touch.
-
Delightful architecture, eye-catching detailing, and crisp execution. I love it. God Bless, Marc
-
Going back over the pictures for the hundredth time is just as delightful as the first time. Absolutely awesome work, Dave!
Have to agree on the craftsmanship of James as well. James makes some of the finest bags I’ve seen. Great work on the buckle and sling!
Ed
-
I'm extremely awed and generally green with envy. From your personal stories, it sounds like you came by your engraving (and carving?) skills at a very tender age, so I may excuse myself for not having had a similar advantaged upbringing.
Looking at your pictures, it appears that you regularly use an engraving ball. I just ordered one today--have wanted one for a long time--as well as the Jewelry Engravers's Handbook, to learn more about doing engraved script
It appears also that you are using Dykem or some similar blue machinist's dye to lay out your engraving. Do you just scribe your designs directly through the blue dye? I have tried using Chinese white and similar products, drawing on these with pencil, or directly on the metal surface, but without very good results. Is there anything else you do to lay out your designs prior to engraving?
Thanks for sharing these stories and pictures!
Gregg
-
Again....thank you all for the very kind comments. I'm still learning, but I enjoy the work, so it's fun to keep going.
Greg,
Yes, I do use blue layout dye and then sketch the design very lightly with a scribe. I also use Chinese white and / or just a soft wax and then layout with a pencil. As you know, the wax / pencil layout is easy to wipe out or off, so when I do that I usually do the design in small sections.
I didn't actually start engraving (really) until I took lessons from Jerry Huddleston a few years ago. He taught me a transfer technique that I use a lot especially for replicating a design or making a left and right hand version of a given design. I lay a piece of mylar film on top of a design and scribe the design into the mylar surface. Then I rub printers ink into the scribe marks, wipe the surface clean, flip the ink filled scribed lines down on the surface where I want it to go and use a burnisher to transfer the ink to the surface. Works great, but, like the pencil marks on the wax, it will smudge.
Hope this helps,
dave C
-
Very helpful, thank you Dave!
Gregg
-
James, I have gone back many times to study this excellent piece of work. I'm sure I will go back many more times over the years. I have always enjoyed your work very much. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. P.S. I typed this awhile back and didn't hit post.
Bob
-
Fabulous work
-
Davec2 I agree with Jim. Your work is at a level VERY few are capable of. Louie
-
This whole thread is from nine years ago now, so a little explanation is in order. If any of you have been following the much more recent thread on duplicating a smaller blunderbuss, I did that for the same fellow who commissioned me to make the one in this thread. In the intervening years, he purchased the original Nicholson and then had me make the close copy. The Nicholson, and the copy, are both very light weight, handy little guns and the owner asked me if I could cut down this first one I made for him to a shorter barrel length. Not looking forward to trying to do that, I suggested that he sell this one and have me build whatever else he wanted (which might include a pistol or two ?) He liked that idea.....and then asked me if I could find out if there would be any interest out there in someone purchasing this brass barreled, 10 gage version. I told him I would post something here just to see if there was any interest, and since this thread has been read more than 44,000 times, you never know. It would not be an inexpensive venture into the wonderful world of blunderbusses / shoulder fired artillery....but then again, they don't come along very often (like almost never :o) So this post is just a heads up that I will be posting this gun in the "for sale" section very soon...you never know when you might find someone with more money than good sense.... ;)
PS Here it is in action.....
(https://i.ibb.co/x8Mvd4tK/Sean-BB-Firing.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Wpc9jT4N)
-
Outstanding work!
Cheers Richard