AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Pukka Bundook on November 11, 2017, 05:10:29 AM
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Well Gents, this was my latest build, last winter.
Original is a Tusco -Emilian snap Matchlock, built around 1525, in Northern Italy.
A very fascinating arm it is too, used by the Landsknecht in all probability.
I hope you enjoy the trip, as I took photos along the way and is meant to be entertaining.
I got a lot out of this build.
The original belonged to a good pal in Bavaria, some of you maybe knew him, Michael Tromner. (The Matchlock man)
Sadly, Michael passed away before his time. I really wanted to attempt a copy (or loose copy!!) of a few of his arms whilst he was still alive.
Anyway, here is the build of a gun Michael was as "Proud as $#*!" of.
Also very sadly, this piece was up at auction recently , so no longer in the Tromner Collection.
Here is a link to Michael's original thread;
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7542&highlight=Matchlock
(I thought you may need that thread, or you'd think I had maybe screwed up big -time on this one.)
I think the original gun is Fantastic!......wanted to build one a bit like it for years, for target and hunting.
Here is beginning of build.
Hydraulic drawn tube for the barrel, slimmed down in the waist and getting ready for tapers both ends.
This pipe was a bit hard, so sat atop the wood-stove in the shop for a year or two to anneal a bit. Didn't need that long but was waiting for me.
Hard, but my "draw-knife" (Converted reaper file) would shave off the excess metal when creating the barrel flats. Shavings came off as in the photo.
Then barrel after draw-filing and with priming pan attaches, then rear tube sight and such.
No power tools used that I can think of, except drilling holes in the barrel loop and tang....After the initial slimming on the lathe that is! :-)
Last pictures are the beginning of the lock and the stock.
The bore is about 14 mm, so ideal for the gun it is a 'copy' of. Tube was a bit smaller OD, but had to do.
More soon.
(https://preview.ibb.co/jhvHYG/DSCN1886.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d2QvLw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/nwSaLw/DSCN1888.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kPr20w)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jFBfnb/DSCN1891.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c35jDG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cgh9fw/DSCN1893.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dM1fnb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mq56Sb/DSCN1988.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d77Lnb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/imSaLw/DSCN1989.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ndvUfw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/efJ4DG/DSCN1990.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ivwrtG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/f7ot7b/DSCN1992.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dfCaLw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dhjBtG/DSCN1995.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kHz0nb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/f1Ppfw/DSCN1997.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gRGPDG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dOdt7b/DSCN2000.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fvDRSb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iHcmSb/DSCN2001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hsjBtG)
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That's some work on the barrel. Wow!
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More photos chaps,
My shop.
They say tidiness is the sign of a sick mind!
Various interests hanging on the walls... all half done..............
Stock roughed out.
I had to try and measure it on the computer screen, looking at the original photos, to get a feel of it. Very perplexing trying to get it to look right when all so odd really.
It is not a shoulder stock, neither is it a cheek stock. Fits best just touching the chest lightly in region of collar bone.
Bit painstaking getting the overall looks sorted.
The shavings of wood on the floor are the bits that didn't look like a gun -stock.
(https://preview.ibb.co/dt1Yqw/DSCN2002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gMMYqw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dO76Aw/DSCN2003.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d0yDqw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mWmNiG/DSCN2005.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gEQtqw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fUtPxb/DSCN2006.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h1UxHb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jEGYqw/DSCN2011.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ce2jxb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eiFRAw/DSCN2013.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g29mAw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cgMcHb/DSCN2015.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mCLtqw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jAemAw/DSCN2018.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h6BNiG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ffMNiG/DSCN2021.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gDxv3G)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ddfF3G/DSCN2022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kDv4xb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/kyFRAw/DSCN2023.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cjRoOG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iKiDqw/DSCN2024.jpg) (https://ibb.co/i3HHHb)
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Round three;
Serpent roughed out. BTW, the barrel has a rounded muzzle you may note. This was quite popular in the 1520's and '30's and was out of fashion by about 1540. I like that feature! :-)
Also of note is the short stubby barrel, (about 24") again popular in this period. (Candle-sticks, furniture, everything was short and blocky at that time.)
Making and fitting the guts in that lock -plate took some doing! The original plate is only 5/8" wide at the most. Did it in the end, after a lot of meddling.
On the cocked picture, you can see the toe of the scear sticking through the lock -plate and holding the serpent cocked.
Wood coming along.
Can anyone ID the wood? Heavy it is and very dense. Lovely stuff to work with.
As the original shows a few ntool marks, I left it with the draw-knife marks showing a little. Used a scraper but not much sanding. Went silky smooth with no wiskering.
I enjoyed making that wee underside butt -trap. :-) This might sound bad, but I Like this little gun! LOL! (Vain beggar eh?)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jW96cb/DSCN2025.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mw2gAw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fRnsHb/DSCN2028.jpg) (https://ibb.co/etBKxb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gTHsHb/DSCN2029.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b4CRcb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iQociG/DSCN2030.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bDhgAw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/d9CRcb/DSCN2031.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iYHsHb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dAziOG/DSCN2033.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fhZHiG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ex7Rcb/DSCN2034.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cPXsHb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jr6Kxb/DSCN2035.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bGrV3G)
(https://preview.ibb.co/guPTqw/DSCN2036.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cfngAw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ftS3OG/DSCN2037.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ebHRcb)
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Last round I think;
Trigger-guard screwed on, as I hated to nail it on like original in case I needed it off again.
Trigger took a bit of sorting, as I'd never made a lock with a horizontal scear before. Works nice though.
Small acorns on lock and trigger, as per original. I Did consider fluting that barrel, like original, but backed down! :-)
No ramrod pipes, just wood holding rammer in place. Ticklish drilling the rammer hole with no forestock as a guide.
Wood stained with Aquafortis and nothing else. I like the colour. :-)
First target shot, offhand at only25 metres. The balls had glued themselves into a loading block, been there maybe 15 years or more!..Didn't help I don't think.
A patch went through the hole on left with the ball.
Accessories. You may notice the Yorkshire witch-post crosses on them , and the gun breech. Only found in Yorkshire, apparently. Same as me at one time.
Goat priming horn has ivory teeth. :-)
Very sorry this wound out this long. a few more to follow then I'm done.
Richard.
(https://preview.ibb.co/ks5hiG/DSCN2038.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nKgzVw)
(https://image.ibb.co/nCjKVw/DSCN2042.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cJbBcb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/i6boOG/DSCN2043.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ezgzVw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hCMNiG/DSCN2046.jpg) (https://ibb.co/coHv3G)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fBDrcb/DSCN2047.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dWuKVw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eONTOG/DSCN2052.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cTd2iG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/kZWzVw/DSCN2053.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nNXTOG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iHAF3G/DSCN2060.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m7vRAw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fqbYqw/DSCN2062.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eKkhiG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gFFRAw/DSCN2063.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fDXjxb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mmA4xb/DSCN2064.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mXTrcb)
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Now that's WAY cool!!!!! Great workmanship as well!
Curtis
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Overtime.
Last ones and then I'll not haunt you anymore.
That's it. all done.
I enjoyed every minute of it.
Oh, At present there are 2 store-bought wood screws in him. They're the only bits that aren't home-made. They'll be replaced when I get at it.
Also!...I found out that the original name for these is "Svamples Lit" in Swedish,.....................Mushroom lock! I tried him with tree fungus and he still goes like lightning. Faster than a flint. (Heading for cover! LOL)
Seeing as they were called "Mushroom lock", I can now see one with mushrooms inlays of stag-horn! No use, I just Have to build that one! It Has to be done. :-)
Richard.
(https://preview.ibb.co/mQPHiG/DSCN2066.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fOk1Aw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dTnsHb/DSCN2067.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iq8ciG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/nhOoqw/DSCN2068.jpg) (https://ibb.co/moN3OG)
(https://preview.ibb.co/bRs3OG/DSCN2073.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eOLCHb)
(https://image.ibb.co/fAPHiG/DSCN2074.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fpZHiG/DSCN2077.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ddPuVw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mrgxiG/DSCN2078.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dO96cb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hnwxiG/DSCN2079.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kOzuVw)
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Fasinating build! I really enjoyed the barrel work. Thank you for posting.
Best regards
Rolf
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Very nice Richard!! I love those early barrels and I enjoy seeing all the variations of stock architecture during the 15th-17th centuries. The link is wonderful. How did you attach the pan? We had Bolek, who is a Polish master of wheellocks and matchlocks, show us a method in which the pan is dovetailed into the barrel.
dave
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Cool thread ;D
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Hate to say it but I'm more interested in that Viking sword,forge that blade yourself?
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You are a very interesting man with unusual interests and incredible talent! Couple questions. What is the stock wood? Got pics of the inside of the lock? How big is 14mm in American?
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Hi Mike,
It is 55 caliber. Also Mike, if you go to the link Richard provided it has inside photos of the original lock.
dave
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Hi Mike,
It is 55 caliber. Also Mike, if you go to the link Richard provided it has inside photos of the original lock.
dave
Oh sure, now I'm supposed to pay attention too..... ;)
Thanks for pointing out the link, missed it completely. Pretty interesting lock.
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Great project and great craftsmanship.The German team in Canada back in 1987 had
a few match locks (Luntenschloss) and shot them in a special match.One man from Japan had
one as well.International Muzzle Loading Shoot in Kitchener Ontario,September 1987.
14MM is almost 9/16 in American.
What part of the world are you in??
Bob Roller
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Well Gents, I'm pleased you like it.
I just get a rush out of playing with old stuff. :-)
It's hard to get something altogether wrong if we do real obscure type stuff LOL! (As in, who'll know anyway. :-) )
Answers if I can;
Smart Dog,
The pan is merely soldered in place.
Yes Bolek is Brilliant and did it right, dovetailed in , usually from the rear is correct. As the farm keeps me far too busy, I had to figure where to take some short -cuts, as I wanted to try a snap-lock and didn't have one.
The pan won't just fall off. :-) (English doubles still have the ribs soft -soldered in place and stand a terrific amount of use.)
That's my defense anyway. :-)
Joe S,
No, The sword blade I did not make.
Made shorter, but not a sword blade. Have made a few hilts, copies of Viking age and Anglo-Saxon, & Migration....Iron Age.
Mike,
No idea on the stock wood! Hard as Hades, and carves like soap. Polished straight from the chisel. Was told it was very hard old Cherry from the Canadian left coast. Weighs up at Least as heavy as maple.
Will take photos of the lock guts and mortise when I get at it.
The 14MM was the rough bore size, but after fine -boring a bit, it now takes a .60 cal ball as a roll -down fit.
Bob R,
You do nice lock work!
For the last 34 years I've lived in western Canada , in the Alberta parkland/ foothills. Used to live and farm up in Yorkshire England before that.
(https://preview.ibb.co/iaVhYG/DSCN1694.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cK8Efw)
(https://preview.ibb.co/b9vGtG/DSCN0095.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m33Qnb)
Swarf from fine-boring,
A-Saxon, Gilling -West sword hilt. (Yorkshire sword, found near where we used to live.)
Blades by Vladimir Cervenka, Czech republic and a grand maker.
Thanks again gents,
Richard.
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Hi Richard,
I bet many original pans were brazed on rather than dovetailed. Bolek's method is one way and yours is another. Very nice gun.
dave
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Richard, That is a VERY COOL! piece . Your talent is evident. Nice workmanship!! Thanks for sharing your build. I DO LOVE DIFFERENT!! Thanks Nate
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WOW- from the first picture to the 5th with finished barrel! You are a master with a file!
That's quite a gun!
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Thank you so much for teaching/showing what can be accomplished with a 'draw knife' working steel. Now it seems obvious where the idea for the first power shaper came from.
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Thanks chaps, for the very kind replies.
The first barrel I used the "draw knife" on, was a homemade "Southern" rifle. .44 cal home -reamed and rifled job.
Wanted flats on it and wondered how to cut them by hand.
Draw -knife worked wonderfully, but I didn't need the fire on whilst I was doing it!
Could put a flat on in 20 minutes with that softer steel. (43" barrel) I swamped it, but should have swamped more on that one. Heavy still at a tad under 10 lbs.
Lost a lot of pictures through computer fries. Never get around to backing them up.
Was also going to say I didn't measure the flats for the octagon on this one, just eye-balled them, as originals are Not clinical, and clinical doesn't look right.
Very best,
Richard.
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Thank you so much for teaching/showing what can be accomplished with a 'draw knife' working steel. Now it seems obvious where the idea for the first power shaper came from.
DDoyle,
I could do a few photos showing the 'draw-knifing" a bit clearer. I don't know if anyone else has tried this or not, but it does work.
Tried a rasp, & a surform and picked up an angle grinder and put it down again. the latter would have warped the steel.
Had a good Ohio Tool Co drawknife on the wall, and tried it gently. It cut, so made one out of a worn out file.
Richard.
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That's a really cool piece. What's the shooting stance like? Is it shouldered or held away from the shooter?
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Impressive! I doubt there's hardly anybody making guns like you! What sparked your interest in these "older" guns? Really don't hear of or see much about them let alone making them.
You and I live not so far apart. Just wondering if we may have crossed paths at and archery shoot by chance?
Awesome stuff happening in my back yard ther 8)
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Single Malt,
The stock is held so that a corner off the butt just about touches the chest near the collar-bone. Quite heavy so very comfortable to fire.
Face Can lightly touch the stock as well but not made with that in mind. We have to go forward a few years before the first cheek stock was made.
Hippy,
Reason for doing older stuff? Started with sidelock ejectors and box-locks, soon migrated to hammer guns, (still love nice ones!) drifted back to percussion, (same as hammer guns, still love 'em!) Then flint, then matchlock .
The Only way forward is backwards. If you see what I mean.
Made bows , spears and all. I suppose in the end I'll wind up sharpening my teeth... :-)
Actually it was another English bloke who got me onto matchlocks . Mentioned it in the other M-lock thread.
Maurice Taylor...
Another Yorkshire-man, who wrote an article in M-Loader mag (I think) in the early 90's, about archaic locks, and said quote,"For reliability, the palm must ever go to the matchlock". That was it, I Had to make one to find out.
Maurice has used his for chasing goats up and down the Nelson Range of NZ for years, that and Snaphance, English dog-lock wheellock and every other odd and unusual variety.
I have a couple of Indian Toradors I'm getting into shape as well. Very different again, but they work.
No, I never have got to an archery shoot over here, just shot on the farm. If not too far away, it'd be a pleasure to meet you though!
Richard.
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Mike B,
You asked for a picture of the Lock work (Such as it is!), and the mortise.
Here you go.
As you can see, I used old scrap. It's iron, so the lateral scear slides very smoothly even if rough looking.
(https://preview.ibb.co/ksW1Q6/DSCN2357.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mQ7ak6)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gOL6sm/DSCN2359.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fi2ak6)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ho6CXm/DSCN2360.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bP2msm)
(https://preview.ibb.co/f8ZzCm/DSCN2361.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cKpo56)
You can see homemade screw on a couple of pictures.
Best,
Richard.
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Well, that's pretty dad gum cool! I have built a dog lock years ago with a horizontal sear, they wok better than you would think.
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Mike,
If you have photos of the doglock, I'd like to see 'em sometime!
I really fancy making this one;
(https://preview.ibb.co/hytta6/wm_1850933.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bZoRv6)
Looks like an easy lock to make!
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I didn't make the lock, just assembled the gun. Making locks is way above my pay grade.... ;)
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Any chance the stock wood is arbutus? Your description of it's working qualities matches my experience making stuff with it before it became illegal to cut. (thanks vancouver winter olympics- nice legacy)
I keep an eye on the floatsom and slash piles looking for a piece big enough for gun work. Any Spanish Armourer or English blacksmith slave in the employ of locals here would have had a hard time finding anything better. I think a restocked russian trade musket with arbutus wood would be the hieght of cool.
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DD,
I looked up arbutus/madrone and it may well be.
I didn't look up its weight, but this is equal to maple (at least) I'd say. awful heavy.
The wood I used showed no burl, but have off-cuts from other projects that look exactly like the wood pictured below, particularly in grain pattern. Wood seems to go from a yellow-ish to a pink to a brown. Old wood that has oxidised is quite brown. It is also rife with cracks...Knarly old stuff. See block on page 1.
(https://preview.ibb.co/gRpdsm/Madrone_Burl_12_2_14_c.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bu1DQ6)
I have photos of another gun stocked in this wood, but it is not of the correct period to show here. I Do have a small pistol flask I made from same wood, please compare it to the madrone sample blocks and tell me what you think.
Sorry the flask is incidental in the photos!
(https://preview.ibb.co/gbcbdR/DSCN0958.jpg) (https://ibb.co/htmDQ6)
(https://preview.ibb.co/kNsWCm/DSCN0966.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n2B2JR)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gWAwdR/DSCN0968.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bzNWCm)
Very kind of you to enlighten me about this wood.
BTW, I Did see some slabs being sold, that would be big enough for any gun-stock. If interested please let me know and I'll look it up for you.
Thank you again,
Richard.
Edited to add more photos of this same wood;
(https://preview.ibb.co/h4DKhm/DSCN1866.jpg) (https://ibb.co/geMi8R)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jGAzhm/DSCN1867.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cgvAoR)
(https://preview.ibb.co/mDgi8R/DSCN1872.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dzr5Nm)
Does it look like arbutus to you, DD?
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Good Golly, that pistol by Lowe is a real gem!
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MIke,
:-)
Is there a place on this forum to show pistols...it being a long-Rifle forum?
If so I could put up some more photos.
R.
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Pistol Picture are allowed if they are muzzel loaders. I make mostly pistol and have posted them here. I'd love to see Pictures of Your pistols.
best regards
Rolf
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That is a magnificent pistol!
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Glenfiddich, or other single malt,
Will post for you an Mike soon. Has provenance as well, ;)
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Dalmore is very nice, quite pleasant indeed.
18 yr. old.
Glenfiddich18 yr. old is very nice as well as an
everyday drink as it is much less expensive.
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Talisker, Daryl..... :)
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That's only 38 pounds at the Whiskey Exchange! From a site!
"Balance is what makes Talisker 10 so good. It's smoky, but not like an ashtray. It's sweet, but not too sweet. It's peaty, but you can still taste the underlying honey and malt. And the finish (long & peppery, fading into clean pure maltiness) is unique and satisfying. It's both heavy and light at the same time. I love it."
I'll ask the wee lass at the liquor store if she can obtain a bottle for me.
Here it is, $94.99 in BC Liquor stores.
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Richard,
I would not bet my (non-existant) reputation on it and I would not even bet on it but I would 'believe' that it could be arbutus in the below picture, I am just not that good at wood id unless it has it's skin on, leaves and a park board sign LOL.
All the pieces I carved were small diameter stuff that grew straight outa rock so the grouth rings were alot tighter but the color and behavior seem spot. I can believe that on the more southerly gulf island it would grow that fast. You mentioned cracks/checking. IIRC Taylor built a long bow possibley from arbutus which was rife with short checks and repaired them with thin crazy glue (or what ever wood workers call it). He reported that the checks stayed checked with the glue even after much use.
Thanks for the offer on helping to track down a blank size piece but I have been a bit spendy as of late and not sure my banker will allow any more spec purchases-
(https://preview.ibb.co/mDgi8R/DSCN1872.jpg)
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So, Daryl and D, you are in BC eh?
Why don't you come over for our annual shoot in June? ( Alberta.)
Rob & Ian drive over from the left coast.
If you PM me, I can give you links to it.
PS, Daryl,
If anyone would like a whisky and want to pollute it with other stuff, you don't give them Talisker! ;)
DDoyle,
Thank you for your thoughts on the wood. I don't know How wood that has such wide growth rings can be so heavy and solid, but it is.
No sweat on the wood, It may be expensive anyway. :-)
R.
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TKS for the invite, Richard - there is a definite possibility for that trip. It's in between Steelhead and Salmon.
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Richard: where precisely is the shoot? I'd be interested in attending too?
Taylor
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Richard;
You might be interested to know that Some of the high end gun manufacturers that list their few wooden stock rifles as stocked in hardwood are using California madrone. They autoclave it, which helps the checking issues, and makes it very free machining. I stocked my first tradegun in madrone, and everybody thought it was cherry. It lends itself to the redder color spectrum, but can be made to look like black walnut as well. Cali’Co hardwoods in Windsor California, used to cut a lot of it. I have a SMR blank bandsawed out of Madrone on the bench that will get the walnut treatment, if I ever get around to finishing it.
Hungry Horse
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Wow, neat piece.
dave
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Thanks for the info on the madrone, H-H. Whether my wood was madrone I don't know, but it is Heavy. Seems Much denser than cherry. I like it.
Just made daughter a peg -loom. Only oiled, but it looks beautiful grain! (Natural wavy-sided plank)
PPatch Dave,
Glad you like him! :-)
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When you work it does it have a strong odor. Madrone doesn’t have a lot of oil in it, hence not much odor. But myrtles odor is very strong, and it is much heavier than Madrone. Both make fine stocks.
Hungry Horse
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H-H,
I don't know about odour as I lost most of my sense of smell in a sinus op. years back.
I can smell petrol and ether, and sometimes spaghetti sauce! That's about it. It doesn't smell like any of these is all I can say. :-)
I'll look up myrtle though.
One point though;
I don't think much wood comes any heavier than this. Is it possible that this BC grown wood, If madrone, grows slower and denser than the California variety?
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Madrone is not all that heavy, and rarely has as much figure as the examples you show. This leads me to believe it is myrtle. I’m not sure Madrone is all that common up north. I know it is related to manzanita, and I don’t think manzanita likes the north country.
I have seen a late percussion target rifle ( from Oregon of course)stocked in myrtle, but don’t recall ever seeing an original muzzleloader stocked in Madrone.
The plant manager for Cali’Co Hardwoods in Windsor Calif. sawed some longrifle stocks from a giant Myrtle (in Calif. we call it pepperwood) that fell during a storm, some years ago. That tree was a corner marker on a Spanish land grant. He offered to sell me a stock from it for cheap, while it was still on the lowboy, in the yard. But, when they quarter sawed it, it was mostly presentation grade curl. He offered it to me at wholesale price, but it was still too rich for my blood.
Hungry Horse
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Richard,
Were the winning bidder on the original? I saw this on Hermann Historica in November, then your post of the recreation, wonderful!
Bruce
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were you the winning bidder?...sorry the fast fingers missed the edit...
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Bruce,
Winning bidder? heck no!
Actually this piece belonged to a good friend in Bavaria. I had wanted to try something after this style for some time, and sadly, Michael passed away before his time.
His collection it was promised would be kept together, but very sadly some of it came up for sale as you saw.
I can not judge the man that Michael left it to, and who promised nothing would go to auction. It cold have been due to death duties or other hidden expenses that some of the collection was sold, I don't know.
If I had had the money, it would have been wonderful to acquire the original.
I am still thinking of cutting the zig-zag patterns into the barrel, but it seems so "wild" even now, that I am still undecided!!
Any thought on this?
Thanks for your comments and best regards,
Richard.
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Richard,
A great piece, it is unfortunate that the original collection had to be dispersed; but as you said, the details are unknown...
As to your recreation, it is so close to a bench copy it might be nice to add the zigg/zags and the fluting towards the muzzle...a unique piece for sure!!
Best regards,
Bruce
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Richard,
Thanks for a very enjoyable build thread. I really enjoyed how you copied that ancient matchlock with the snapping lock, very ingenious and effective. I had visited the Viking Sword site previously looking for info on Spanish miquelets, the site is a wealth of information. I had never been interested in matchlocks much prior to your post. Thanks again, Mike
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Thank you Mike and Bruce.
Mike,
There's just something about a gun that is so primitive. :-)
Makes a flintlock seem like a Rolls Royce! Having said that, they fire so awful Fast, that it's hard to put them down....Can't quite define the appeal.
Bruce,
Thanks for your thoughts on the zig-zag pattern. I wish you hadn't mentioned the fluted muzzle though! LOL!
I thought about trying it, then got real comfortable Not thinking about it! ;)
Best regards,
Richard.
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Richard,
So are you still experimenting with these archaic arms?!
Bruce
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Bruce,
I don't know how you came across this thread again recently, but yes, the interest is still there, and Thank You for asking!
In another thread I Did finish the barrel with the zig-zag pattern and flutes.
Time is always short, but I did get another barrel pretty well made in the winter, V similar to this one, but sans zig-zags etc.
Also a smaller dia. barrel for a lighter version for maybe my daughter. (To be decorated with mushrooms!) ("Swamples lit", remember)
Also have a few old matchlock barrels to stock up, either Torador/toradar style, or possibly one English and similar to one owned by Henry V111.
Time is the thing..
Thank you for your interest Bruce.
Richard.
PS, here is a link to the finish'd barrel thread if it escaped you...
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=50712.msg502907#msg502907
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Richard,
I have thought about that snap matchlock often and the bench copy you created; one of those things that just sticks in the recesses of the mind i guess! I'd love to see you create a Swedish/Norwegian flint-snaplock (Baltic lock) in your spare time ;-))
Bruce