AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Bob Gerard on October 13, 2025, 06:40:23 PM

Title: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 13, 2025, 06:40:23 PM

I wanted a rifled pistol for target shooting and I really like the fit of my “Sparrow” smoothbore that I had built from MBS parts last year. So I ordered much of the same from Ryan and requested the .50 rifled barrel. I just finished bluing parts and this morning. In a week or so the varnish will have cured and I will apply some wax, but it’s basically finished and ready to shoot now, so I will be sighting it in today or tomorrow
(https://i.ibb.co/fLFhgFW/IMG-6778.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z7XnjXr)

(https://i.ibb.co/W4VyZHsP/IMG-6779.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dwm2Ff7L)

(https://i.ibb.co/SXPfHMgq/IMG-6776.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JRK38GTX)

(https://i.ibb.co/F402N85d/Sparrow-2-d.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N2m5QW9G)

(https://i.ibb.co/xSJ4y5Vt/IMG-6777.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LznGMp4X)

(https://i.ibb.co/4g7RR678/IMG-6782.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VptYY7tg)

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: HSmithTX on October 13, 2025, 06:41:23 PM

I like that a lot Bob, really nice.

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 13, 2025, 06:54:06 PM

Thank you, HSmith!

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Angus on October 13, 2025, 07:28:28 PM

Looks great!

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 13, 2025, 08:26:39 PM

Thanks! First five shots test-firing at 12 yards with 25 grains and a .490 prb. I can work with this.
(https://i.ibb.co/qPQRJyZ/IMG-6784.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sMYFWmB)

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Rolf on October 13, 2025, 08:49:26 PM

Great looking pistol. Very clean lines.  I like it a lot.

Best regards
Rolf

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Daniel Coats on October 13, 2025, 09:35:26 PM

I like your pistol Bob but raise that target about 2 inches! ;)

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 13, 2025, 09:52:17 PM

Thank you Rolf and Daniel !
Daniel- I will try using heavier lead next time  ;D

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Steeltrap on October 13, 2025, 10:43:23 PM

Very nice pistol. Nice shooting as well. I love the lines on it. Great job!!

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Daryl on October 13, 2025, 10:59:15 PM

Very nicely built, Bob. Gotta love lightly swamped barrels. 8)

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 14, 2025, 06:19:39 AM

Thanks Steeltrap and Daryl ! I don't know the barrel maker but it is a nice one.

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: A.Merrill on October 14, 2025, 07:37:08 AM

Looks great.

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: 2 shots on October 14, 2025, 01:13:24 PM

 a beauty indeed. :)

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: bama on October 15, 2025, 09:31:53 PM

Looking good and shooting good, you can't beat that!  ;D

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: smart dog on October 16, 2025, 12:42:13 AM

Hi Bob,
You did very well indeed!  I really like the narrow lock panels and the shaping of the handle.  Those are not features easy to get right.  How well does it fit your hand? 

dave

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: Bob Gerard on October 16, 2025, 01:54:09 AM

Thanks fellas!
This was a really enjoyable build for me and with very low stress.
Dave- thank you- I have been far more focused on lock panels after reading and seeing all the advise in the forum. It’s where my eye goes first when looking at a muzzleloader now.
As to its fit- since this is my second of this model, I thought of how the first one held and that gave me guidance on this one: I thinned the grip and sloped it a bit more in the palm and did away with the more pronounced aprons at the base of the panels which allowed the grip to be even more comfortable. It points really well, good balance and seems to be pretty accurate.

Title: Re: Pistol project finished
Post by: smart dog on October 16, 2025, 02:46:33 PM

Hi Bob,
Let me share something with you although it won't help with this pistol but maybe a future one.  From my examination of British dueling pistols there is a design formula that seems to work for most people unless you have hands like Lurch.  If you draw a straight vertical line down from the top of the breech to the bottom of the handle and then another perpendicular to it going straight back from the breech to the distance of the back of the handle, they will outline an almost perfect square when the other connecting lines are added.

(https://i.ibb.co/whW5KJXL/Wogdon-square-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N2jcL1P3)

(https://i.ibb.co/mV5qHpV0/joe-manton-pistol.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XrxszHrD)

I call it the "Wogdon Box" and it seems to work for fitting the handle to most people. You just have to determine what the dimension is. Anyway, great job on the pistol.

dave