AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Sidelock on October 27, 2024, 04:19:23 AM
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Recently completed this reproduction of a Clark County (Kentucky) school rifle. Shelby Gallien in his last book on Kentucky Gunmakers, identified a distinct sub-set of the Lexington School amongst a group of gunmakers in Clark County, just east of Lexington. This rifle follows closely the work of one of those Clark County School builders, Leonard Harmon. Mr. Harmon’s original rifle is featured in Shelby Gallien’s Kentucky Gunmakers Epilogue and appears on the dust jacket of that book.
Particulars on this one: the heart of the piece is a Rice Premium Golden Age B wt. barrel in .50 cal. X 42” Lock is a Chambers Late Ketland, double set triggers are Davis, butt plate and guard of commercial castings, all other brass and fine silver furniture is shop made. Over all length of the rifle is 58”, 13 ˝” length of pull to the trigger, finished weight of the gun is 8 lbs.
Stock is nicely curled hard Sugar Maple harvesting in Michigan. It was finished with a wash of tannic acid then two coats of some aqua fortis. Stock was filled with Tried & Trued Varnish Oil and finished with a few coats of Chambers Traditional Stock Finish. Barrel is rust blued using Mike Lee’s #3 Slow Rust Blue, all other metal parts were left polished.
A few points that made this build a little more interesting than usual. As this rifle was only recently “discovered” and documented by Mr. Gallien just in the past couple of years, I suspect this is the first reproduction of this piece. More than that, this rifle was built in Clark Co. Kentucky only a few miles away from where the original was probably constructed. Thanks for looking!
(https://i.ibb.co/4gHDNtT/IMG-4849.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k6trcB8)
(https://i.ibb.co/8rmj1Hx/IMG-4852.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T4wH9s0)
(https://i.ibb.co/LQ4HPZb/IMG-2675.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Q8stcKz)
(https://i.ibb.co/MZX77bG/IMG-2673.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rFWHHgc)
(https://i.ibb.co/CB74ndH/IMG-2661.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dB2XQ95)
(https://i.ibb.co/5cSJdSg/IMG-2664-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2KCpwC1)
(https://i.ibb.co/6t71Nzy/IMG-2666.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dpwL7Ff)
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Looks like a lot of Sheetz Virginia influence on this one.
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Purty spiffy! 8)
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Very nice work. I appreciate you sharing pictures. And it's nice to see a rifle based on a Kentucky builder.
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Good job. Fine looking rifle.
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An ambitious project you knocked out of the park John! Did the comb inlay get engraving?
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Greetings,
JR this is a great project with the right blend of Silver and Brass furniture and inlay. For me the lines are perfect. Keep up the great work. Hank
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Great looking rifle John. Very well done 👍
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Thanks for the kind words on the work here - the client who ordered this project was really happy with it too. Mike - in keeping with what appeared on the original, no engraving is added on that silver extension of the butt plate finale along the comb. Engraving on the original piece was very basic.
(https://i.ibb.co/chVDJcZ/IMG-2667.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d4xGB0V)
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"... in keeping with what appeared on the original, no engraving is added on that silver extension of the butt plate finale along the comb. Engraving on the original piece was very basic."
I appreciate that you kept to the original design. It is easy to decide to "decorate" or change a piece a little here and there, only to discover in the end that you have changed the feel of it, to the point that it no longer strikes you the way the original did. I've done it. I suspect a lot of guys on here have done it. I think this rifle will age very well and will be an heirloom for generations to enjoy.
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Very fine reproduction! Love the result of the dyes and finish.
JR, you have knocked it out of the park!!
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JR, That shows really well... you did a fine job with the rifle. Your architecture and inletting are top notch, as well as the engraving and finish. It's good to see pics of the rifle again and I'm glad you posted it here!!
Curtis
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Wow! Beautiful job! That sure is a nice looking Rifle
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That's a beautiful rifle!
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Very nice work! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Richard
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Not my usual cup of tea, but I do see and appreciate some real fine workmanship there!
Thanks for showing
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Definitely a really eye-catching build!
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Very nice workmanship in all areas. Inlay work is outstanding and I like the finish.........
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Beautiful work
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Fine work. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
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I had a another builder request something that only other builders would be interested in, a shot of the release mechanism. This is a simple spring loaded pivot that was hogged out of a hunk of 1/4" cold rolled. Thanks again for the compliments on the rifle.
(https://i.ibb.co/0K7qRDM/IMG-4833-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tzGBTms)
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Neat, clean craftsmanship.
Can you also show the inside of the box with the buttplate on? Just curious to see how you handled the lid spring, etc.
Thanks for the time you are giving us in posting the photos.
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(https://i.ibb.co/ww5P1mN/IMG-1852.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b2cCn9g). Inside the patchbox shot.
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Truly beautiful work.
Best regards
Rolf
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That is a beautiful build and I agree that it is great to see a Kentucky school.