AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Mike Brooks on September 08, 2014, 09:40:19 PM

Title: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 08, 2014, 09:40:19 PM
I started this gun 15 years ago when I bought the barrel from Benny Coogle. It sat around for years in the corner untill I found the lock for sale on this board. Sometime later I had Fred Miller inlet the barrel. I had probably 3 stocking sessions over the years with this gun finally finishing it last month.
 The barrel is 6' long, 11 bore, and 1 3/8" at the breech. I made the butplate which is 6" tall X 2" wide. The lock is a rifle shoppe lock, english ca. 1690.
 The gun is 7' 5 1/2" long and weighs 11 lbs 6 oz.
 The guy holding the gun is a bum that lives in my barn....
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F328%2520HVF%2F025_zpsaf9d9762.jpg&hash=b5f1964636d646491d9af868669b776a96ca0b8a)
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Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 08, 2014, 09:43:21 PM
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2F0703%2FGunmaker%2F328%2520HVF%2F030_zps9328203e.jpg&hash=eeddc6dbaa9c65bd0e7afb3e46aa4233659f4078)
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Fur sale BTW ;)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: tallbear on September 08, 2014, 10:27:21 PM
Love it Mike!!!!!!!!! What would be cooler than to take this down to my blind for duck season here in New York!!!!!Great piece!!

Mitch
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: bama on September 08, 2014, 11:29:21 PM
I agree with Mitch, nicely done Mike and I also love the color. Mitch I bet you cold knock em out of the stratosphere with that baby.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Joe S on September 08, 2014, 11:31:34 PM
Very cool!  I have an HV Fowler of my own in the works, so I’m not interested in your gun, but I may be interested in the barn bum.  Is he for sale?  Does he eat pigeons? How about mice?  Does he stink?
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: chrisdefrance on September 08, 2014, 11:53:32 PM
What gage is that bum... er  barrel ?
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: smart dog on September 09, 2014, 03:20:34 AM
Wow,
Did that "Bum"build this gun?  Who is he?  He must be the "Magic Gunmaker".  Mike, please let him know that we think highly of his work.  I have a Berks County gun that I am about to expose that is inspired by this "Bum".

dave
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Majorjoel on September 09, 2014, 04:02:41 AM
Very nice Mike! As for that bum... I always thought he was taller.....;D
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Keb on September 09, 2014, 04:00:48 PM
Awesome! BTW, I have a clown living in my barn.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Hawken62_flint on September 09, 2014, 04:03:12 PM
Terrific as always---I assume you made the ramrod.  What did you make the ramrod from--obviously a tall tree or very large sapling.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Robby on September 09, 2014, 04:04:20 PM
As always, a believable gun, beautifully done!!
Robby
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Acer Saccharum on September 09, 2014, 04:08:39 PM
On original guns, it's not uncommon to find that the fore end is a separate piece spliced on. Must be a practical matter.  ;)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 09, 2014, 06:55:55 PM
On original guns, it's not uncommon to find that the fore end is a separate piece spliced on. Must be a practical matter.  ;)
That's a fact Jack. This one has a one piece stock.......try to find one that curly, that long on the cheap. ;)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Jim Kibler on September 09, 2014, 07:42:56 PM
In my experience most spliced fore ends I've seen spliced have been on burl maple stocks.  There's a practical limit to the  size of burl pieces that can be obtained.  These splices are commonly made by a tapered cone and matching socket type joint. 
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 09, 2014, 10:25:51 PM
Terrific as always---I assume you made the ramrod.  What did you make the ramrod from--obviously a tall tree or very large sapling.
I make all my ram rods from splits I take from an 8' hickory log the saw mill gave me a few years ago. I'm down to only 3 more split blanks...I'm not looking forward to the hammer and wedge routine again, but a guy has to do what a guy has to do.
 I should mention that there are 21' of relieved upper and lower forestock moldings on this gun. Three freakin' days of relieved forestock moldings was plenty. ;)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: JTR on September 09, 2014, 11:58:32 PM
That's a fine looking gun!

But I always thought you were the little guy in the avatar picture though,,,,,,  :D

John
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Tommy Bruce on September 10, 2014, 03:20:05 AM
Pretty @!*% sweet Mike!  Rates right up there with my new type G  ;D ;D
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Kopfjaeger on September 10, 2014, 03:36:51 PM
Now that's a long barrel.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on September 10, 2014, 07:32:11 PM
I wish I had money!
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Telgan on September 10, 2014, 11:06:13 PM
Wha'd ya use to age up that bum? Nice patina ya got goin there. Seriously though - Very, very nice piece.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Canute Rex on September 11, 2014, 01:08:56 AM
I understand that a mixture of bacon grease, tobacco and cheap whiskey was the traditional finish for bums.

How common were ultra-long barrels like that in ordinary gauge/caliber? I have seen punt guns that were like shoulder stocked cannons, but the bore on this one is more in line with something that you could actually shoulder. Although, I can't imagine shooting this one without a rest. Can you wing shoot with it?

It's a remarkable piece of work - congrats.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Tom Currie on September 11, 2014, 01:39:42 AM
Really cool Mike. Congrats to that bum in your barn.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mike Brooks on September 11, 2014, 04:04:40 AM
I understand that a mixture of bacon grease, tobacco and cheap whiskey was the traditional finish for bums.

How common were ultra-long barrels like that in ordinary gauge/caliber? I have seen punt guns that were like shoulder stocked cannons, but the bore on this one is more in line with something that you could actually shoulder. Although, I can't imagine shooting this one without a rest. Can you wing shoot with it?

It's a remarkable piece of work - congrats.
Grinslades book is full of guns like this. They were common in the Hudson valley. It is intended to be shot from the shoulder at waterfowl sitting on the water. It would be a tough gun to wing shoot with. I have had alot of luck wingshooting with a 48" barrel but it was with a 6.5lb gun not 11 1/2 lbs.
 This particular gun balances at the swell at the rear ram rod pipe.
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: smokinbuck on September 11, 2014, 11:56:23 PM
Mike,
Great looking gun. Ken Netting built a similar one for me, with a 6' barrel, that is 7'4" overall. Mine is a plain gun in 20 gauge and weighs in at 11#. Glad to see someone else is also a little bit crazy.
Mark
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: TPH on September 12, 2014, 04:38:13 PM
As always, Mike.... NICE! :)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: IKE on September 12, 2014, 06:56:36 PM
NICE JOB!
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: axelp on September 12, 2014, 10:51:02 PM
I know a guy that is about 6' 6" tall that would fit that gun pretty well. 

Very nice. But the Bum looks over fed. He must be sneaking into your hen house.

K
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Darrin McDonal on September 18, 2014, 09:54:53 PM
Mike I just don't know why, by the first thing that popped into my head was " Paris gun" or Big Bertha. Minus the rails of course but a slightly more portable version indeed.
Darrin
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Robert Wolfe on October 01, 2014, 02:53:34 AM
I'm thinking he's pulling our leg on the length of that gun. The bum is a midget and that's really a "canoe gun." We all know Mike loves canoe guns....
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: Mick C on October 26, 2014, 11:09:41 PM
I started this gun 15 years ago when I bought the barrel from Benny Coogle. It sat around for years in the corner untill I found the lock for sale on this board. Sometime later I had Fred Miller inlet the barrel. I had probably 3 stocking sessions over the years with this gun finally finishing it last month.
 The barrel is 6' long, 11 bore, and 1 3/8" at the breech. I made the butplate which is 6" tall X 2" wide. The lock is a rifle shoppe lock, english ca. 1690.
 The gun is 7' 5 1/2" long and weighs 11 lbs 6 oz.
 The guy holding the gun is a bum that lives in my barn....

What an amazing fowler!  It reminds me of the one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  One of the days, I very much hope to have have the pleasure/honor of adding a Brooks to my small but fairly select collection.   :-)
Title: Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
Post by: thecapgunkid on November 02, 2014, 11:48:17 AM
Nice butt, with definite Freudian implications.  If I remember correctly there used to be several of these in Ticonderoga, the Fort William Henry museum before its fire, Johnson Hall, The Herkimer House and in a lot of the historical houses in the Hudson Valley.  Yours'd fit right in behind the glass.  Have you shot it?