AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: mountainman on August 16, 2025, 11:04:45 PM
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I had shared this on Facebook, 2024 but I haven't shared here.
A copy of a J.P. Beck that I recreated, Thanks to Becks Flintlocks who has helped me very generously with dimensions and some of the parts, that I received from him especially the lock that he also remodified, that was Chambers ( Dale Johnson ). The wood blank, and the brass castings were from Allen Martin. The original was pictured in the book of Pennsylvania Longrifles of Note by George Shumway and J. Rex Reddix.
The customer was very happy and he even danced a little jig. This was a very fun build in studying the characteristics J. P. Becks work, I learned a lot and thanks to all you builders who has steered me in this path, I'm still learning and probably always will.
(https://i.ibb.co/vx6RtbzQ/PXL-20241018-195003837-PORTRAIT-ORIGINAL.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SX4GL2vd)
(https://i.ibb.co/RkmBKSVn/PXL-20241018-195204007-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LXWJyP2w)
(https://i.ibb.co/nqtcwzCL/PXL-20241018-193413650.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TDd8wmLg)
(https://i.ibb.co/m5HcsFFS/PXL-20241018-195108593-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fdCxRGGQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/bM6Hr1BS/PXL-20241018-194805448-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W4HDcnyb)
(https://i.ibb.co/NgSSYpjM/PXL-20241018-194122644.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Xf88Jpsq)
(https://i.ibb.co/DDzFNVf3/PXL-20241018-193236208.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mCbKmD5Q)
(https://i.ibb.co/twDC72Hr/PXL-20241018-195315013-PORTRAIT-ORIGINAL.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LD1pLg07)
(https://i.ibb.co/xKM6gL63/PXL-20241018-193814207.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mrH4yT4S)
(https://i.ibb.co/TxDr5GYD/PXL-20241018-193225324.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sdptr4bp)
(https://i.ibb.co/21yMWK6g/PXL-20241018-195200452-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pBxKbXPJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/C3fhhmCh/PXL-20241018-193534890.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nNFzz6dz)
(https://i.ibb.co/pDZtWwf/PXL-20241018-193335721.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qG9t0jN)
(https://i.ibb.co/hJLVw63B/PXL-20241018-194712794-PORTRAIT.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tTQDFGVq)
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Very cleanly done. I like it a lot.
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Agree, looks like clean work and I like the satin finish as well.
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Very fine!
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That’s a beautiful rifle. Great job. I’m sure the customer was overjoyed and will be a lifetime keepsake.
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Nicely done my friend!
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Very nice. I like the way you scrubbed down the barrel while leaving some areas of brown. Nice touch.
Whetrock
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Right on architecture, carving design, and execution.
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Beautiful
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Well done, Dave. That will be a sweet shooting rifle.
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I think "Dave" is actually named Steve.
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SORRY Steve. My bad.
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Thanks all of you for your kind remarks, I appreciate this and it means a lot.
No problem here Daryl!! I understand this could be confusing, I added a profile pictures in hopes it would help!
Thanks for the heads up on this Whetrock.
I think "Dave" is actually named Steve.
Sure would like to meet the other mountainman :) His has 70 included with his profile.
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Very nice Beck!
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Yes indeed, a very nicely done Beck.
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Thank you "gusd" and " bama"
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Outstanding.
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Outstanding work. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
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Nicely done! Thank you for sharing.
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Thank You! Bob Hill, and LT Grey
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Like I said before, you executed this project beautifully. One of the nicest ones I’ve seen when it comes to attention to detail.
Keep up the great work fella!
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TAKE A BOW!
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Mountainman,
Can you show us a closeup photo of the lock? And also comment on how it is modified in comparison to the regular Dale Johnson lock?
Whetrock
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(https://i.ibb.co/FNP3Lgb/760-L-19closeup.gif) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://i.ibb.co/8DWTgSXw/PXL-20241018-193151383.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QF2zv1XV)
Like I mentioned above, I had acquired this lock from JD Beck, or Beck's Flintlocks who already had remodified this Dale Johnson lock.
The key differences was
1. The finial on the frizzen spring, that either was reforged or added to the spring.
2. The sear spring screw hole was concealed.
3. Although barely noticable, The tail end of the lock was slightly reshaped.
Since the making of this rifle, and at the Kempton Gunmakers Fair this year, I noticed that Barbie Chambers actually came out with a secondary Dale Johnson lock that has a blind sear screw hole.
You still have the option to buy one with the 2 screws showing, or buy one now with the one screw.
I had used Dale Johnson Lock on other builds as well, where the modification was even more noticeable.
For example here is one I did for a Jacob Dickert Lock.
(https://i.ibb.co/yCGxJbx/PXL-20230726-234847680.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4L90x50)
On this particular Lock what I remodified was
1. The plate was thick enough that I removed the little moulding slashes, that gives it more of a flat plate appearance, and then I reshaped the bevel on the outside of the lock.
2. I created a blind hole for sear spring screw.
3. I reshaped the pan bridle.
I did not reshape the finial of the frizzen spring on this particular lock. One thing I noticed on different pictures it seems like the frizzen spring finial are not always the same on the Dale Johnson locks.
The first photo which I got off the Internet you'll notice the spring is different from the last photo that I put on, and they were both The Dale Johnson locks.
Hope this answers your question.
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Yeah, very helpful. Thanks for including the image of the unmodified Dale Johnson lock.
Dale told me that Chambers sometimes use Siler frizzen springs and sometimes use springs from other Chamber's locks. Some have the screw going in from the outside, and some from the inside. Perhaps Becks also made changes to the frizzen spring options?
I didn't know that Chambers also provides a plate with a blind hole.
Your work on the Dickert is very nice. Thanks for posting that.
Whetrock
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(https://i.ibb.co/S4ZL2QSz/43319-500x500.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
Thanks Whetrock!
Thanks for making a note of the difference between the 2 frizzen springs, one has the head of the screw on the outside, and the other from the inside. I'm assuming JD Beck had gotten the one with the internal screw. I'm not sure if those on the outside are still available or not, but it seems like what is on the market for the most part is the ones that are internal So here is another picture I got off the Internet, of another unmodified Dale Johnson lock with a different frizzen spring, the internal one,
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Like I said before, you executed this project beautifully. One of the nicest ones I’ve seen when it comes to attention to detail.
Keep up the great work fella!
Thanks JD Beck I appreciate it! And THANKS to you for all your help with all the dimensions, and also including some parts as well!!
Also Thank you LongShot!!
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Wonderful rifle!
Well done, Jeff
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Thanks Jeff!
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I complemented you earlier on architecture and carving earlier now lets make you even better. The beavertails are off. They should be pushed into the lock mortice more . Study originals here . Easy to miss. The TG is to heavy looking. And the finish looks dead. And it's not that a heavy , shiny finish is better. It's worse. All good originals had a varnish finish. So do that slowly until you have a solid finish and every pore is filled. THEN bring it back with rottenstone and oil and a hard toothbrush and scrub. Never use a cloth except to clean it up. Then use a clean toothbrush to get the stone out of every nook and cranny. Repeat until you've got it. A little furniture polish will give a slick and finished touch. Very little.
I think this is the difference in your case between a really nice rifle and a masterpiece. Didn't mean to be to critical but you have real talent.
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I complemented you earlier on architecture and carving earlier now lets make you even better. The beavertails are off. They should be pushed into the lock mortice more . Study originals here . Easy to miss. The TG is to heavy looking. And the finish looks dead. And it's not that a heavy , shiny finish is better. It's worse. All good originals had a varnish finish. So do that slowly until you have a solid finish and every pore is filled. THEN bring it back with rottenstone and oil and a hard toothbrush and scrub. Never use a cloth except to clean it up. Then use a clean toothbrush to get the stone out of every nook and cranny. Repeat until you've got it. A little furniture polish will give a slick and finished touch. Very little.
I think this is the difference in your case between a really nice rifle and a masterpiece. Didn't mean to be to critical but you have real talent.
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Hey thanks for the heads up on those details B Shipman!
I went back and looked at the pictures, and I saw right away what you refering to about the beavertails being stretched out too far from the lock area, I'll make a note of that for future reference.
Triggerguard too heavy.
Right before I took those pictures, I applied paste wax to the stock without buffing, and I'm sure that contributed to the dead finish look. I have never used rottenstone either, I have always just used 0000 steel to buff between coats. That being said, I would love to learn more about the finishing process from a master builder, maybe I'll get a chance to talk with you at the show in Carlisle.
Thanks so much for bringing that to my attention!! Onwards and Upwards!!