AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Ken G on May 21, 2008, 05:08:43 AM
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Just curious how many rifles most members build in one year. It doesn't matter if you are a part time builder or full time builder.
Ken
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Actually, it's 'non of the above'. I usually build one every couple of years. Built my first in 1988 and have built 7 guns (working on #8) plus assembled 3 kits.
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Hey Cody. I made a change to the poll and also clicked to allow members to change their vote. Give it a whirl and see if it works.
Ken
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I usually build one a year, but my current project is a two, no, three year project, but I built another gun in between. So I am averaging, when I say one a year. How about that?
Tom
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I have been inconsistent on how many I build in a year. I have built as many as three in a year and have been stalled on 5 projects for the last 4 yrs. I do love to do this but the family and work have been really keeping me busy.
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I used to do 1-2 per year, 1978-1985. Then school and work derailed me till 2004. Now it's one every 1-2 years. Out of juice right now as the flint bidness takes my spare time. That's OK- a season for everything.
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I averaged about one a year through the 80's to mid 90's then I had a long time off with other pursuits & just did a few kits for friends. Back to work now since last year: did 2 and I have 2 out since this January and figuring I will be finishing up a 4 year project soon -bullet gun ( which doesn't fully count for this year ) and most likely a 4th by the end of this year . None as fancy as my older work when I had more patience. Those labor of love guns I miss. They were usually my own not made for somebody. My son has started helping me get some of my old (fancy projects) restarted but I'm afraid I don't remember exactly what I originally set out to do with them. One thing I know I have a bunch of work to do in my shop and for some reason I keep taking on more!
Jim
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Haven't been building long enough to really have an average. I figure 1-2 a year, with lots of practice and small non-gun projects in between. Just about to finish one up that I started in February.
-Eric
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I build 2 to 3 a year. That's about all I can do by working on them in the evenings and a little on weekends. Each one seems to get a little faster and I just made my own stock pattern which should speed the process some.
Ken
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I love these things and have several that are really nice. HOWEVER...I have tried it in the past and the outcome was less that inspring. I know good work when I see it, but just don't have the time needed to dedicate myself to do the kind of work needed. I am SO impressed with those of you whose work I see on the ALR site. Stay with it guys!!! Charles
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Trying out the new forum today. Seems better and faster. Build about 1.5 a year. Finished a ladies gun in Jan which is in the archives. Started a English fowler. In the process of pinning the barrel-Kid
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Usually 2 to 3 a year.
This year I'm really pushing it. Hope to complete about 5. I've got to get some money together to pay for that EK rifle.
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hey ken, currently working on my 42 nd. rifle. can we count all the ones that we helped others build. when i mean "helped" usually ment, did all the work while they watched. i'm sure everyone has had this
happen from time to time.
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I also take my time building. Haven't made that many, 6 or 7 maybe, but I AM very good at starting them then putting them a side for a year or two before finally finishing them. Seems I can't stay focused on a deign... Geo.
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I am trying for 1 a year. If I had more time.......
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i just finished a rebuild. and starting a build of a GPR, with a isaac haines lancaster from tip curtis on the way. im gonna try for 3-5 a year. i just finished this rebuild for my 15 year old daughter
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi294.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm116%2Fkeoni121%2Fshooting%2Fgunrebuild025.jpg&hash=d4f7c5a082925bd5434bc78b1c1fb30943919ddb)
karwelis
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I've been averaing about one year. Most are nothing to brag about but i enjoy myself. I've built six rifles and three pistols to date.
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Thanks to everyone for voting. I thought it would be neat to know what the number of guns the average ALR members built in a year. Unfortunately we have 150 signed on members and only 24 guys that have voted.
Ken
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I after a slow start, 3 rifles in 12 years, I believe the current build will take about a year and half of very part time building
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I'm still at the kit stage, however, the TOTW box of parts I just finished was not a kit as such. And, as I look at it, I would call it "home-made" rather than "custom-made", but the squirrels along the Blue Mt. in northern Berks Co. this fall will think it is the grim reaper!
I put together a Dixie Gun Works kit for my grandson, I sold one at Dixon's that weighed about as much as a plow, and I'm deep into a Brad Emig fowler kit that I hope to use this fall for deer and squirrels. I have the lock, stock, and barrel for a .54 cal. pistol, but a completion date isn't in the foreseeable future. :-\
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Here's apistol Taylor and I built- well, him mostly. I watched the building then finished it. Ha! - cool being a newbie.
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv638%2FDarylS%2F1e090fc8.jpg&hash=d0bc81189876b3fd9777c5858c38fb1fa0a12260)
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Started my first in 1977. Finished it in 2006.
Currently doing the final stock work (carving and prep for finishing) on number 2. Started July 2006.
Really speeding up!
Larry Luck ;D
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I'm more of a wannabe than a builder. I finished several rifles from in-the-white kits and built a coupla "Hawkens" from parts kits about 25 years ago, but nothing since.
I am in the planning stage of building an iron mouonted SW Va style rifle based on an original with ties to Washington County Mo, but I have absolutely no idea when it will be finished. I need to learn how to forge and engrave the patchbox, buttpiece, and triggerguard. In addition, the barrel and iron furniture wil be charcoal blued and the lock color case hardened so I'm planning on taking a coupla years.
I also have ordered the Lynton McKenzie DVD's on engraving. And while I don't have the talent displayed by most members of the forum, I might learn a few simple techniques.
Like the new forum, BTW.
J.D.
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I'm at 1 to 2 rifles a year ?? Maybe !?!
Helped build my first one from precarve and parts, traded labor for my second precarve and parts, finished it.
Finished an in the white set of parts, assembled a flint pistol set of parts to an in the white shooter and set it aside, started a rifle from the blank and put it aside after getting the lock plate and butt plate completed, started a set of parts for the Dad, short the butt plate, sights, and trigger guard from sighting it in.
I started this in 2006, and work a full time job as well.
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(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2FEnglish%2520fowler%2520kit%2Ffk5.jpg&hash=cf0f1866a3337b9fadfeaf616a6fb3ef74e84743)
This is the number that just left the bench. By the way it's for sale.... :P
I used to make 8 to 10 guns a year when I had a real job and built guns on the side. I do about 2X that now full time.
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8 to 10 with a full time job is pretty impressive in my book. Especially given the quality of your guns. My hats off to you.
Ken
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OK, I will stand up be counted and embarrass myself with my many builds. Someday, I will muster the courage to scrap a good piece of wood.
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I will build 3-4 per year. Most of mine are of the poor boy style. Not as labor intensive.
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I've only been at this for a little over two years. I've been shooting muzzleloaders much longer, but I'm really hooked on building. Last year I finished ten and have four done this year to date. I'm about 3/4 of the way through my latest. Like everyone else, family, work and life set the pace...
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Working on my first right now, started it in January and would like to be done to shoot her this fall.
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Putting together my first one by myself now.
Using a Mike Brooks fowler kit stock of English walnut.
It's the only pre-carve that has a high enough comb to be able to shoot with, comes without the lock area inlet, and the forestock is square up to the nose.
If I get it finished this year then I can say I build one a year. ;D
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I have been averaging 2 rifles a year for the past few years. I hope to accomplish more, but I seem to be constantly working on work and my house. Life in general seems to get in the way.
Marc
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I've only built 2... first one almost 20 years ago and finished #2 early this year. I have #3 started.
-Ron
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Built more LRs when I had a fulltime job...seems when I retired ,the motivation also "retired". Presently do 2-3 LRs /yr. and could build more but seeing I struggle w/ the art work, have a constant struggle between getting more done vs my inate "fussiness" and at 76 have developed macular degeneration in the right eye which is, by far, less of a deterrent than the other 2 previous "excuses". Am thinking of building "plainer" LRs which can be just as attractive as the more embellished ones and which would enable me to "produce more", but then the thought comes to mind...at 76, numbers don't really count for too much......Fred
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I had 8 mos. in my last rifle, No. 2. However, that was a little over two years ago. I have the barrels and parts for 3&4 but haven't really gotten started :(
Kevin
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Right now I am building 3 tenn's one york co. and an English sporting gun.
Will I get them done this year maybe I got to be in the right frame of mind to work on any of them. I have always built that way but I build just for me so time is not important.
Ephraim
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I am trying to finish my first real build, been a looooong time in the process!
BillP
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While I was in the barrel business I had very little time to build guns, even tho I liked doing it. I didn't really keep track
of how many I did in my spare time, but, after I retired 10 years ago, I made a list of all those guns I had built, as well
as I could remember. Since retirement 10 years ago, I have built about 50 guns, and finished No. 74 back in May. The
crazy thing is, I still enjoy it. I'm going over to the shop tomorrow and help a friend who has put one of our old Isaac
Haines kits together......going to help him with some final shaping, and when he has the final sanding done, we're
going to give it the Nitric acid stain treatment.....sure do like the colors you get with it.......Don
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Sometimes your old guns turn up in surprising places - like the KRA show.
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Eric...yea, I forgot about one of my early guns that showed up at the KRA. An early Jager, built about 1979, shortly
after getting into the barrel business. I think it was number 5. An old gent had it laying on his table, I looked at this
thing and it looked strangely familiar. I picked it up and sure enough, there it was and still in good shape. Just like seeing an old friend.........Don
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5-6 a year since I retired 5 years ago. Before that about one a year for 25 years.
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Don't really know how many I built. I took a 15-20 year break between my last and what I am doing now. I would like to keep it at one a year and do better work at this time. Used to get ideas that I could make one that don't miss before the summer shooting season and hurried more than I should, also built some for others which I will not do again as it darned near spoiled the hobby. Currently working on two smoothbores as I sold my last one. I have made about 5 smoothbores now in addition to several rifles. One big thing that slows things down for me is the cost of parts in addition to time and interest. Another is that I like to make a lot of the components. Now time to pursue improvement on engraving and do some checkering.
DP
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I have built either 19 or 20 since 89. Nearly all from a blank with channel and hole.
Fowlers, So Mt., full stock Hawken, Jaeger, 2 Schuetzens (His and Her) and last but not least Chunk Gun.
I must admit I'm no carver and no engraver. I like to build (winter time hobby) but must admit also I still like to shootem more than build 'em!
This rainy holiday got to be a drag, no shoots and the neighbor lady isn't around ;)
So I started to inlet the bolster and tang on a smoothy today. Should keep me outta trouble!
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I am trying to build a rifle for each of my grandsons and I like to use a blank and mostly handtools .Modern tools and me don't get along real well in building them.To easy to screw something up in my case.Two grandsons have Lancaster school ,another a southern mountain simlar to a Bean and one with parts I had laying around that I call from the Reform School .My nine year old grandson asked me what I was doing this last winter when he was down in my shop and I told him making a rifle for one of my grandsons his reply well grandpa when you make mine remember that I'm right handed but left eye dominate! Eric D. Lau Riverdale Mi