AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: davec2 on August 30, 2020, 04:47:34 AM
-
Many years ago now I wanted to build two, three quarter scale flintlock rifles for my then two small daughters. I was buying stock wood and inletting services from Fred Miller back then and contacted him to ask for a piece of excellent maple thick enough to split in half lengthwise so that I could make two nearly matching stocks for the small rifles. He sent me a great blank which I subsequently band-sawed into rough shaped stocks.
Even before that time, some 20 years ago, I had purchased two Douglas barrels in 32 caliber. They were 13/16 inch across the flats. I cut the barrels to a length of 32 inches and then re-machined the octagon to just a little under .695" across the flats. I made breech plugs for the barrels and, somewhere along the way, found some very small butt plate and trigger guard castings that were close enough to use on these rifles.
I was obviously not moving at the speed of light (or even the speed of dark) but I kept thinking about what I might want to do as far as the little rifle design went. Finding a lock the right size was an issue. I originally purchased two of the “Becky” locks and spent a good deal of time polishing and tuning them. But before I finished with the polishing, I discovered Stan Hollenbaugh‘s locks. Stan had a standard size rifle lock and then a smaller size lock, that I liked much better than the Beckys, and that he was producing at the time... so I purchased two of those.
As these things work out, all of that thinking and gathering was more than 15 years ago now. Also as these things happen, both of my girls are grown and have left home....the youngest is a country singer in Nashville and the oldest one, married and living in New York, just recently had our first grandchild. As they taught me during my plebe year at the US Naval Academy, “time, tide, and formation wait for no man.” Time had truly gotten away from me in the maelstrom of making a living, and life in general, and I never did get a chance to finish the little rifles for my own daughters.
So now, almost two decades further on, I am starting in again. With my grandson only four months old right now, I figure that I might get this done in time for him to use it as a lad. More specifically, at my age, if I miss the boat this time, the opportunity will have passed forever as I am rapidly running out of "air speed, altitude, and ideas !" For those of you who care to follow along, I will start in on at least one of these little rifles (I may do both at the same time.... but perhaps not) and post the progress here.
-
Flank speed Dave. I'll be following the build with great interest. Tim
-
So here is how the project stands right now.......I sent the two stock blanks and barrels to Dave Rase not long ago for barrel inletting and ram rod drilling. One stock has been further trimmed to remove excess wood and prepare for the butt plate installation. The following photos show the parts on hand and I am in the process of making ram rod pipes for 1/4" ram rods, muzzle caps, side plates, patch boxes, etc., etc.
(https://i.ibb.co/LRNTpTs/IMG-0516.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4t1bNb0)
(https://i.ibb.co/DbWt8XX/IMG-0512.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GJp0tww)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZJSHQj1/IMG-0513.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fS983gG)
(https://i.ibb.co/Qp79QN6/IMG-0514.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WGNn5yc)
(https://i.ibb.co/GdWKRQc/IMG-0515.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Fh5Sz4g)
(https://i.ibb.co/61CzRtt/IMG-0521.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KLvdjss)
(https://i.ibb.co/WVYkdWn/Scaled-Barrels1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NTH9k6x)
(https://i.ibb.co/JF0Ywm9/Scaled-Barrels2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/prGHBbS)
(https://i.ibb.co/pnQqp6s/Scaled-Barrels3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3kvKH58)
(https://i.ibb.co/BVPwshb/Scaled-Barrels4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1fnb2C1)
-
Dave,
Standing by to see this twin project get off the ground. Looking forward to your step by step build of these little jewels as you have with so many others. Good luck!
elkhorne
-
Dave
Nice rifles
I will follow your work, have fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNUzUheaxKk
-
I've always wanted to build a small flintlock like those you are building. I think they are so neat. One of these days maybe.
-
Look forward to following this and seeing the completed guns/pieces of art, which I'm sure they will be. Bookmatching the stocks is a Really neat touch.
Tim
-
Another great follow along project that I will look forward to. PM sent your way Dave.
-
Dave, good luck with this special project.
Here’s one that I finished around 1997, and my two boys got to share when it still fit them.
(https://i.ibb.co/3rVZXh0/EEBE3-C87-8-D4-A-422-C-9059-31-A3946-AB73-E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Vjb4yBv)
(https://i.ibb.co/6DbKNFW/2-D5-F3931-3891-4761-929-D-8-E08960-F4734.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qm9Hxpr)
(https://i.ibb.co/Vp72St1/8-B8303-DC-563-B-4-E40-8-B15-7-FA0-ED69-AAFC.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6J3gPmM)
Loosely patterned after a Valentine Fondersmith rifle.
Jeff
-
Dave,
Are those Ditchburn locks?
-
We will have to come up with a scale and powder measures that handle micro-grains.
That is some serious curly stocks you've started on, should be magnificent small arms. Literally.
-
Smallpatch.....No, the locks are made by Stan Hollenbaugh.
J. Talbert......great looking little rifle !!! Thanks for the pictures
-
Dave,
Yep that’s the Ditchburn lock. Great little locks.
-
What a wonderful project with a rich history. I’m following your progress with interest sir
-
how does the size of those locks compare to a small Siler or Queen Anne?
-
Where did the small trigger guards come from?
-
Justin,
Here are a couple of pictures of the lock I am using compared to others......In the first photo, the top lock is a Becky, the second is the one from Stan that I am using on these little rifles, the next is a Bailes, the next a late Ketland (modified), and the last one is a small Queen Anne. The second picture compares Stan's lock to the small Queen Anne directly. I don't have a small Siler handy.
(https://i.ibb.co/NTVr0Zd/IMG-0525.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bbWF4zM)
(https://i.ibb.co/yR8QMH4/IMG-0526.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xsM7cxF)
577SXS,
The small trigger guards were from TOW (TG-MD-1-B). I'm not sure where I got the small butt plates.
-
Work on this project is starting out a little slower than I expected....I'm recovering from a recent medical treatment and not quite up to snuff yet. Nonetheless, I am doing some planning. With almost all of my previous builds (except for the recent Kibler kit assembly ;)), I usually hand make a good portion of the required peripheral components from scratch (i.e. patch box, toe plate, side plate, muzzle cap, barrel lugs, etc.) but will use, as often as possible, commercially available parts. However, this time, because of the scale of the rifles, I will need to make all of the required parts. So right now I am gathering materials for the following:
patch box
patch box catch
patch box springs
muzzle cap
front sight
rear sight
ram rod tips
ram rod pipes (3)
side plate
lock bolts
tang bolt
thumb plate
trigger plate
trigger
barrel lugs
toe plate
In the next couple of days, I will start in making two sets of these parts.....it will be easier if i do all the parts for two rifles at the same time. More soon.
-
Speedy recovery Dave!
I know these will be spectacular when done. 8) ;)
-
Hope your recovery is both speedy and complete, Dave. Little rifles are indeed, interesting.
-
Scott & Daryl....thanks for the good wishes. The really good news about radiation is that now, when I'm in the dark, I don't need a flashlight.....I can just open my mouth and see where I'm going.... ;) :o
OK....so I felt good enough to try to figure out how I wanted to make the little ram rod pipes for a 1/4 inch rod. I had some thicker walled brass tubing with a 1/4 inch ID so, instead of making the pipes out of sheet, I thought I would make them from tubing and silver solder on the tabs and the skirt for the rear pipe. This was just a test piece. I ground a form tool and then turned the decorative collar on both ends of the pipe. Tomorrow I'll file five flats on the center section and see how it comes out. If I like it, this might be pipe #1 of 6.
(https://i.ibb.co/VCqJWSS/IMG-0529.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qgr7Mss)
(https://i.ibb.co/tps5rDD/IMG-0531.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7tWFmKK)
(https://i.ibb.co/L6v4xTz/IMG-0534.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GkFgWZv)
-
Finished the prototype mini ram rod pipe.......
Silver soldered on the tab:
(https://i.ibb.co/YXFPMVz/IMG-0535.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hcJLjTP)
(https://i.ibb.co/S6BvhWs/IMG-0536.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yNqswGf)
Filed the flats:
(https://i.ibb.co/GRYtph4/IMG-0538.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0r4F2wR)
-
That little cutter is pretty cool.
Tim
-
Trying to keep my energy up by concentrating on these little rifles......The butt plates and trigger guards are rough sand castings and take a lot more file work than an investment cast part. Not done with either yet but made a fair amount of progress. Really not up to starting to inlet parts yet, but will start with the lock as soon as I can. Slow progress is better than no progress... :)
(https://i.ibb.co/nf9m6D6/IMG-0549.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bLTmQrQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/znXJ1mq/IMG-0548.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7Yn4HSs)
(https://i.ibb.co/n741CQK/IMG-0550.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D9mMpwj)
-
Don't know why but I can't get the pictures to show up in the above post......will try again later ????
There they are !!!!
-
YOU....You're good....you're very, very good...
-
The heat went down from 113 yesterday to 101 today. The shop is a cool 97.....so I went out and decided to make one of the miniature muzzle caps I need for the little rifles. Here goes......
First step, cut out a piece of 0.032" thick brass sheet and anneal
(https://i.ibb.co/pfKD2Th/IMG-0605.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gSW1y84)
Second, do an initial form around a piece of EMT tubing
(https://i.ibb.co/VxSv23S/IMG-0606.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZS8hWN8)
(https://i.ibb.co/rpjgDfV/IMG-0607.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WzhQmpL)
Next, refine the curvature as the cap rolls in to contact the barrel sides. This is done with a nylon hammer and a steel mandrel.....
(https://i.ibb.co/FDf3pqm/IMG-0608.jpg) (https://ibb.co/87Rsk4N)
The lips of the cap were left intentionally a little long, so here they are trimmed to proper height
(https://i.ibb.co/T8jQ0wq/IMG-0609.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qsqHgDF)
The height is checked on the barrel (upside down from where it will be installed, but a good place to check at this stage in the fabrication process)
(https://i.ibb.co/PZHbfKy/IMG-0610.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0jbWdTL)
After cutting a small piece of brass for the front of the cap, both pieces are cleaned of oxide and surface dirt, fluxed, and set up for silver brazing
(https://i.ibb.co/GPBYZ5r/IMG-0611.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tCkj0J1)
Here I have cut a couple of small pieces of silver braze alloy and will melt them into a ball and pick them up while still molten on my soldering point
(https://i.ibb.co/cxgQN5p/IMG-0612.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Km0W9ZQ)
The parts are heated to brazing temperature from the outside and then I have placed the solder on the inside of the joint. It runs immediately and the second piece of solder insures that the entire joint is complete.
(https://i.ibb.co/HrqrrWP/IMG-0613.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FBzBBSY)
After brazing, a quick pickle in dilute hydrochloric acid to remove scale and flux residue
(https://i.ibb.co/5sK7gD1/IMG-0615.jpg) (https://ibb.co/frDczRX)
A quick inspection of the joint shows it to be tight and completely brazed
(https://i.ibb.co/N629M4c/IMG-0617.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tMpq9dV)
(https://i.ibb.co/MgNFwnC/IMG-0619.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Cw0RCBH)
Most of the excess brass on the face piece is clipped of with tin snips
(https://i.ibb.co/LnnvG1x/IMG-0620.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XSSVwt7)
A few file strokes and the face piece is brought to near final contour
(https://i.ibb.co/S3YSNNG/IMG-0621.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kr4n66S)
Now I smoked the end of the barrel and put the cap in place so I can tap on the face piece with the nylon hammer
(https://i.ibb.co/0sjfk2x/IMG-0623.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tLMbSK9)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZNps3Sk/IMG-0625.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Bw5DmGS)
The result is a smoke print of the muzzle on the inside of the cap. The barrel flats are beveled slightly at the muzzle so the print is a little undersized but it will allow me to get very close before the final fitting.
(https://i.ibb.co/JR6qJLJ/IMG-0622.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kgbJCnC)
Most of the face piece brass is cut away with files and some back and forth check to get a tight final fit
(https://i.ibb.co/8rsBDNx/IMG-0627.jpg) (https://ibb.co/McShDZ1)
Final check on fit and the completed tiny cap
(https://i.ibb.co/Mnjp48R/IMG-0628.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F6fJMsB)
(https://i.ibb.co/J3jYC3v/IMG-0629.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rd2Bvdx)
-
Just?? OH WOW!
A master at work.
-
Went out and did the second cap......(before I forgot how I did it..... :o)
(https://i.ibb.co/pbmWMx6/IMG-0631.jpg) (https://ibb.co/djhbVrs)
(https://i.ibb.co/Jz3DJm5/IMG-0632.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RCjRwYz)
-
By the way, I forgot to mention how I cut away most of the material in the front face of the cap before filing the final contours. This hand nibbler is one of my favorite tools for removing excess sheet material quickly and without distorting the workpiece. It cuts out a notch about 1/4" wide and 1/16" deep with each squeeze of the handle and it will cut mild steel up to 18 gage (0.047" thick). I shot a very short video of nibbling sheet brass but I don't know how to get it into the post here... Anyway, here are some pictures and a couple of links. (You can also find these used on eBay.) I use this all the time to trim away the bulk of excess material on inlays and patch box components very quickly, and then finish up with files, when I don't want to take the time to use a jeweler's saw. For those who may be interested.....
(https://i.ibb.co/sg0R87H/IMG-0635.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4F6thkd)
(https://i.ibb.co/ysmZNpK/IMG-0636.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5cXS1kC)
(https://i.ibb.co/QdSpCB0/IMG-0637.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tXjQxfR)
https://www.eis-inc.com/nibbler-tool/p-adel-n?cid=paidsearch_shopping_google_brand_adel-tool_snips&gclid=CjwKCAjwtNf6BRAwEiwAkt6UQgSci9jdtNaXlRUQYhpgKCrdV0SyPXdG83V42ecupjPbXfWSlYtfPBoCjekQAvD_BwE
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/12-10500.php?gclid=CjwKCAjwtNf6BRAwEiwAkt6UQgDk2GRGH2anEOAqx7kfjboXbnRad7ZJSAi9-_02ClZTOog1-H2tRhoC4W4QAvD_BwE
-
Nicely done, Dave.
Thanks for documenting and sharing - it's interesting to see other folk's work methods
Sheesh, now I gotta get a nibbler - Thanks a lot! ;D
-
Richard,
When I did the little rifle for you, I had to rebuild the muzzle cap like this.....and you're welcome on the nibbler.. :o......you can never have too many odd ball tools... ::)
Also hard to believe that was 5 years ago !!! https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37317.0
-
Dave, wishing you a speedy recovery! I enjoy seeing your work and how you solve some of the more tricky problems that arise from time to time.
Cheers, Richard
-
Very nice illustrated tutorial; thanks! Be well...
-
Have not felt all that well, but did manage to draw file the little barrel...
(https://i.ibb.co/jhsyTVy/IMG-0646.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Px0cNTc)
Then got the barrel tang installed and inlet into the stock...
(https://i.ibb.co/Qc3ycYL/IMG-0647.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GJ4zJCy)
And started on the lock inletting....
(https://i.ibb.co/bLVZ0wf/IMG-0651.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2PrQ9Vb)
-
Finished the lock inletting.
(https://i.ibb.co/0Z1Q7Kt/IMG-0652.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Npf7vrS)
(https://i.ibb.co/sPkFTgb/IMG-0653.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KGR9t5b)
(https://i.ibb.co/PZDvWrz/IMG-0656.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bgbMv6R)
Polished the lock parts.
(https://i.ibb.co/YdwC0xb/IMG-0654.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VC51ws3)
Then made parts for the trigger assembly. Made the trigger plate, shortened a cast trigger I had, made the "U" shaped frame for my usual metallic trigger pivot, and silver brazed all the parts together.
(https://i.ibb.co/ynbtJJW/IMG-0659.jpg) (https://ibb.co/99C6jjs)
(https://i.ibb.co/9WwPKvq/IMG-0660.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nj3pd0D)
(https://i.ibb.co/Tqyf8q2/IMG-0664.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mFpjqFT)
Got the trigger assembly inletted into the stock.
(https://i.ibb.co/9gp3Q40/IMG-0665.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W5HpmzX)
Getting ready to install the little trigger guard.
(https://i.ibb.co/RcgwvTh/IMG-0666.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9Wp58Hw)
-
Nice clean work Dave.
I pray you are feeling better.
-
ScottH,
Feeling better.....not up to full power yet, but better. Thanks
-
Nice work, as always Dave. Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Fantastic wood to metal fit on you inletting - I'm not just a little envious. :)
I remember your posts on your drop-in Trigger Group from the Kibler Build.
I think I'll try that on my next single trigger.
I recently acquired a Bernzomatic Mapp/Oxy mini rig that should help - altho' my brazing skills are lacking.
-
Richard,
Thanks. I know that a lot of people have trouble with soldering / brazing......it just takes a little practice...and some simple rules:
1. Clean....clean....CLEAN !!!! All surfaces to be joined
2. Flux (appropriate for the temperature involved)
3. Heat the heaviest part first and get both parts up to brazing / soldering temperature as evenly as possible
4. Apply the solder or braze material in the joint away from the torch flame and AFTER the workpieces are hot enough to make the solder flow
5. Draw the braze material around the joint (if required) by moving the torch.....the braze / solder will ALWAYS flow toward the highest heat
If you spend an hour practicing brazing with a few scraps of steel or brass, you will have no trouble from here on out. :)
-
Richard,
Thanks. I know that a lot of people have trouble with soldering / brazing......it just takes a little practice...and some simple rules:
1. Clean....clean....CLEAN !!!! All surfaces to be joined
2. Flux (appropriate for the temperature involved)
3. Heat the heaviest part first and get both parts up to brazing / soldering temperature as evenly as possible
4. Apply the solder or braze material in the joint away from the torch flame and AFTER the workpieces are hot enough to make the solder flow
5. Draw the braze material around the joint (if required) by moving the torch.....the braze / solder will ALWAYS flow toward the highest heat
If you spend an hour practicing brazing with a few scraps of steel or brass, you will have no trouble from here on out. :)
I'ts been 5 years - When can I stop by for a visit and hands on lesson?
Habit Burgers are on me ;)
-
Richard,
As soon as I have regained a little more ......well......"uuumph".....I'll give you a call and we can get together. Would be happy to show you how I do the brazing....
Best
-
Richard,
As soon as I have regained a little more ......well......"uuumph".....I'll give you a call and we can get together. Would be happy to show you how I do the brazing....
Best
Like Wimpey and Homer, 'free burgers' always provide me wth a little more "uuumph" :)
Looking forward to fun times in the future.
-
davec2. Sir, I received a "ADEL TOOL CO." nibbler today. I ordered from E-Bay, 3 day delivery. Looks to be very little. Gave the tool a try out on my 18 gage down scrapes. Works great. Thanks for sharing this little gem with ALF members. Have a great week. AJ.
-
With the trigger and trigger plate installed, I could get the tang bolt hole drilled and tapped. Here I am using a long 6-32 tap. I didn't take pictures, but I also got both lock bolts drilled and tapped.
(https://i.ibb.co/YtqVT5P/IMG-0667.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hKtT1GL)
The barrel is so slender that I had to think about how I wanted to do the barrel lugs. I decided that, instead of the dovetail routine, I would just make up some tiny brass lugs and solder them to the barrel. I made them up out of 0.016 brass sheet, folded them, silver brazed the joint and then trimmed them to final size.
(https://i.ibb.co/DDScJgj/IMG-0670.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fYP6gGT)
(https://i.ibb.co/s1xB4LP/IMG-0671.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gWqn8s7)
After trimming, I tinned them with Hi Force silver bearing solder (a fair amount stronger than lead solder but only melts at 475 F) and then installed them on the barrel.
(https://i.ibb.co/XxbLRfK/IMG-0673.jpg) (https://ibb.co/r2m0rKz)
(https://i.ibb.co/93zzrmh/IMG-0674.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6JVVWc8)
(https://i.ibb.co/vDG715Z/IMG-0672.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3kqD1XB)
Will get them trimmed up and clean up before drilling them through the stock......And I may have a problem here. When I had Dave Rase inlet these barrels for me, I asked him to keep the web between the ram rod and the bottom of the barrel about 3/32" (0.093"). They actually came out a tad thinner so that doesn't leave me a lot of room with a 1/16" pin......we'll see how it plays out.
-
So I was preparing to drill the barrel lugs and realized that with a web of ~0.090", and with an additional 0.016" thick lug soldered to the bottom of the barrel, if I used a 0.062 pin, that would leave a lug web of .012"....if I hit the drilling right on the nose. I decided I needed a little more lee way, so I used an 1/8" end mill and notched the lug base and barrel steel back about 0.030" and then drilled the holes for the pins. Came out OK. Will need to do something similar with the ram rod pipes.
(https://i.ibb.co/44gr4JL/IMG-0680.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qmFQmx8)
(https://i.ibb.co/DbGS2CT/IMG-0678.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qn0PQsV)
Began setting the butt plate to place... and got that chore finished......
(https://i.ibb.co/6vVrQrV/IMG-0682.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XyNjHjN)
(https://i.ibb.co/wd9GHN0/IMG-0683.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hgPQ5R7)
Started a little shaping of the stock.....somewhat premature in the build to jump into removing this much wood but I was anxious to begin establishing contours
(https://i.ibb.co/GRqBMwL/IMG-0686.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BB9d6Dx)
-
looking very nice Dave.
Are you working on just one, or both rifles at the same time? :D
-
ScottH,
I just have the energy to work one at the moment. However, if I have to make parts (like the muzzle cap) I am making two sets so that the second build will go little faster.
I got a little more done today. Got the trigger guard installed....
(https://i.ibb.co/b3drF5K/IMG-0687.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0XJfKyG)
(https://i.ibb.co/dkgtQbP/IMG-0689.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vLYhJs3)
(https://i.ibb.co/17gdNDD/IMG-0688.jpg) (https://ibb.co/S5jdghh)
-
Spent some time today making the sub scale ram rod pipes. Machined all the tubes (per a previous post) and then silver soldered the mounting tabs. Here are the pipes being pickled in dilute hydrochloric acid.....(There are 6 pipes because I made two sets)
(https://i.ibb.co/nfhzLf5/IMG-0693.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1KH8mKw)
While thinking about how to form the skirt for the entry pipe I looked up and on my bench were a half dozen 30-06 brass cases. So the idea struck to just try using part of a case as the skirt...
(https://i.ibb.co/ggy2w5z/IMG-0694.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LpSF6Ln)
I soldered the cut up case "skirt" to the rear pipe and it looked OK....
(https://i.ibb.co/HxP0j2K/IMG-0695.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4YScHfF)
Finished set of pipes......
(https://i.ibb.co/LkP6NdH/IMG-0696.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NV3pT2b)
Picture with a regular size rear pipe just for comparison.....
(https://i.ibb.co/nCmy70f/IMG-0698.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BN3JyPj)
Start of the inletting of the rear pipe.....
(https://i.ibb.co/yYBgQNY/IMG-0699.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qWFmrDW)
-
Ram rod pipes are all installed, so I started in on cutting out a side plate. Doesn't really need to be that thick, but I had a piece of 1/8" brass plate, so I used that......I need to counter bore for the lock bolts (and then make the lock bolts) but I will start inletting the plated next.....
(https://i.ibb.co/M1sjXbz/IMG-0715.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QHfq5ZW)
(https://i.ibb.co/SRfRmVb/IMG-0716.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KFKFsVd)
(https://i.ibb.co/5FRHGjN/IMG-0717.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X8CRj5h)
With the ram rod pipe drilling completed, there was no longer any utility in keeping the fore stock square. I band sawed off a lot of the excess wood and then started to shape the full length with my miniature spoke shave (one of the handiest tools I have ever used to shape a stock.)
(https://i.ibb.co/pzT3Pb9/IMG-0709.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QNV6cp1)
(https://i.ibb.co/6n8Q1Jc/IMG-0710.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M2fdG5y)
-
What an inspiration to see this kind of work.
Creating family heirlooms
-
Dang Dave, you roll....it would have taken me this long to get the BP and TG filed. Beautiful side plate.
Tim
-
Started on the cheek piece side of the butt and then transferred the shape of the lock panel (with a sheet of clear plastic) to the opposite side of the stock.
(https://i.ibb.co/tDKBqZk/IMG-0750.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gJ9ySvH)
(https://i.ibb.co/DkZ4zq7/IMG-0753.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nfFr6WD)
Did most of the concave shaping of the cheek piece with a larger rasp but then, digging around in my bench drawer, I came up with a barrel inlet rasp I bought from Frank Mittermeier Inc. while I was at the Naval Academy in 1973 (another long story). I got a kick out of the "4th Class" postage......28 cents...Insured no less !!
(https://i.ibb.co/18hKY4V/IMG-0752.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Qrzn7xB)
(https://i.ibb.co/2kpwp9x/IMG-0755.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZMb3bj5)
(https://i.ibb.co/wW9cZy6/IMG-0756.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DCxrP4K)
Then I broke out my homemade molding tool (https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=57657.msg576909#msg576909) to run a concave edge, and then a parallel bead, along both sides of the forearm. With this tool the moldings come out perfectly straight, even in depth, and it took all of about 10 minutes to put the molding on both sides of the ram rod groove.
(https://i.ibb.co/pnkDhqv/IMG-0757.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0QzNs5j)
(https://i.ibb.co/f4bTTfM/IMG-0759.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m6mPPkJ)
(https://i.ibb.co/2S18jrZ/IMG-0760.jpg) (https://ibb.co/w7FJKqc)
(https://i.ibb.co/XkFgV4f/IMG-0761.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R4Qm7SG)
-
Nice work. Looking to seeing the finished guns. Where did you find that V shaped burr?
-
Thatcutter might be from a power checkering tool. Dave thanks for posting this as it comes at a very opportune time as I need to make on for my Chambers English rifle. Nice looking work!
Cheers Richard
-
"V" shaped burr is available from Rio Grande, Gesswein, etc. It is not from a checkering tool.
-
Well....it has been several months now since I started working on these little rifles. In the meantime, I have been recovering from radiation treatment, building a new shop, traveling across the country to New York (at Christmas) to meet the new grandson I am building this rifle for, putting up with all this pandemic lunacy out here in the asylum they call California.... etc, etc. But finally I am in a position to start up again. I will take some pictures tomorrow (when I have light) and carry on with this half scale rifle build.
-
Dave I have been following this
since the start. Glad you are doing better. This has showed me a lot on how to do stuff. Very much appreciated.
I have a granddaughter who has taken an interest in my Black powder guns. SO guess I better get to it.. Thanks for showing us. Oldtravler
-
davec2,
I’ve built several for the grand kids. After I built the first one, I decided to build much simpler ones…… they just grow too quickly, and soon they don’t fit anymore. Now he’s 6’2” and 190lbs.
Here’s the first one.
(https://i.ibb.co/Wt3n9ss/BD4-C330-B-6-A54-4299-8-DD4-B3-A0-D4-A34374.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2N6q255)
(https://i.ibb.co/92qYXDj/7-EECB95-D-71-B0-4-ECD-A28-E-C82923-D0-E48-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VDvBy18)
(https://i.ibb.co/FkvxTKC/06073-DF8-798-E-47-DB-9-DF5-EFDCAEED5-EE6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XfB2RbM)
(https://i.ibb.co/M816bxP/21-EE205-B-4142-49-F2-A32-F-5-BDFA404-DFAA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DGMpNHw)
(https://i.ibb.co/BTN2P29/B2-F4-F79-C-B807-472-D-AE8-D-FC5-A1106-F7-B6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MP6khkm)
(https://i.ibb.co/jJfsJPc/C63-E2-B81-5559-45-A8-867-C-04-DA1-E9-FF15-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g49h4L5)
(https://i.ibb.co/zZrkNy9/5-A2914-A8-A8-B0-4-AEB-BC6-E-823-C99-AB28-BF.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QMf5X2S)
(https://i.ibb.co/3NXf0H0/23208898-35-B5-49-D5-824-E-A19-ABF337134.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gT1vDCD)
-
Small Patch,
What a great rifle !!! You are right about them growing too fast. I am already planning an intermediate size rifle for my grandson that he can have when this one doesn't fit him any longer... ;)
What caliber is this one of yours ? And what barrel length ?
-
OK....to start in again, here is the little guy I am building the rifle for. He is busy learning to drive right now but shooting will come next....
(https://i.ibb.co/C79bc6K/IMG-6193-Original.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2tMv9S3)
I started building this rifle in a tiny space in the garage (where I have been working for the last nearly 40 years) but have now transitioned to my new shop space. I finished the out building more than a year ago but have had to take the time to transition to the new space and try to get things organized. Here is the outside......
(https://i.ibb.co/fXZc3Pw/IMG-8494.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MgKXz30)
Some inside shots......a little messy, but then I'm working in it now...
(https://i.ibb.co/C9DcXpg/IMG-2727.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GMN61fy)
(https://i.ibb.co/yhN9VZK/IMG-2730.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YDNCb1J)
(https://i.ibb.co/D45qg8s/IMG-2731.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7v29NR8)
All the benches are set on steel tool room cabinets so I finally have a place to keep all the hand tools in some semblance of order....
(https://i.ibb.co/yY6Stg2/IMG-2729.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xf1HWzZ)
And I always wanted one of those really cool, wooden, machinist's tool chests. I had a fair amount of walnut handy, a couple of days to kill, and a table saw. So I made this one for myself...
(https://i.ibb.co/4g3mfqn/IMG-2732.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mFgDBjV)
Now....to get going again on the little rifle.....
-
Just to show the scale of the rifle, here are some shots next to one of my full scale rifles......This is pretty much where I left off working on it last September
(https://i.ibb.co/P4RqYvJ/IMG-2743.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gwGk7LQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/qrQvJNZ/IMG-2746.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wzmfcSv)
(https://i.ibb.co/L9CH75t/IMG-2745.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ssFzYHw)
Today I started in finishing up the contours on the forearm and butt molding with a tiny scraper.....
(https://i.ibb.co/crKSPzg/IMG-2742.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BCH5m8z)
(https://i.ibb.co/BqH14j3/IMG-2741.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NZg41pC)
(https://i.ibb.co/4M1BQTY/IMG-2740.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bLbpfB2)
And I got the nose cap put to place....
(https://i.ibb.co/wJRyy9x/IMG-2725.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0Bcqqgd)
(https://i.ibb.co/rxWpPJf/IMG-2726.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c6m85dX)
-
Davec,
Don’t remember the profile, but was originally a .40 cal Rice barrel, “A” weight, 42” long. Jason cut 3” off the breech, and 1” off the muzzle, to make a super light weight little swamped barrel.
-
Health first , last, and always. I pray all is well, or at the very least better. Thank you for continuing this thread. It has been a wonderful Friday morning sipping a cup of coffee and reading the entire thread just now. Considering this project as an heirloom for your grandson ( grandsons?) , I did forget why two were being built, the thread alone expresses your loving thought for these children. Wonderful stuff Sir. I took some notes and will find one of those little spoke shavers to purchase. I should have mentioned sooner I'm retired, ergo the exceptional morning reading this fine thread. Best of luck!
-
Really nice. I going to build one of those little guns someday.
Sam
-
Awesome work shop and build!! Thanks for sharing.
Anthony
-
RedriverII,
Thanks for the note....and glad I could provide some entertainment for your morning coffee. I was originally building two for my own daughters but, as the post explained, life got away from me and they are both now in their thirties. So I am working on the two; one for the one grandson I have....and a spare for the next grandchild that might come along ;)
Hopefully I will have this first one done soon and can start on the second before I forget how I did things... :o
-
Hi Dave!
Nice to see you are 'back at it' ;)
I really like your new shop addition...
I have room in the back yard for a Shed/Shop, but (sigh!) finding the motivation to actually do the work is becoming more and more elusive.
All the best and kindest regards.
Richard
-
Richard !
Thanks for the note. I hope all is well with you. I was sitting at the bench today trying to decide on a patch box design, engraving designs, carving motif, etc for this little rifle. I think I am going to use a combination of the carving I did for you on the small rifle I finished for you and the engraving designs I used on the larger rifle pictured above in this thread to show scale. The full size rifle is one I made with a walnut stock a few years ago....and i decided today I like the engraving enough to duplicate it on the little rifle. But I like the carving I did on the rifle for you more than the carving on the walnut stock. Hopefully it will all come out OK.
For those following this thread that are not familiar with the two rifles I am talking about here. This is the walnut stocked long rifle thread:
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=30985.0
And this is the little rifle I helped Richard with a couple of years ago:
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37317.0
-
The shaping of the stock is generally done so i wanted to make and install the last of the metal parts before starting the carving. As mentioned previously, I will take designs from rifles I have previously built so I started here with a full size print of a patch box from a previous rifle and then scaled it down to fit this little rifle. I cut out the printed photo of the patch box and then rubber cemented the paper to sheet brass. The parts were then cut out with a jeweler's saw and the details cleaned up with needle files and a dental hand piece. I will make the hinge as a separate piece and then silver braze the hinge to the door and top piece. The parts are almost ready to inlet except for contouring the ends where they meet the butt plate and bending them them to fit the shape of the stock first.
(https://i.ibb.co/ypg8Fb7/IMG-2798.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gdtDZBh)
(https://i.ibb.co/7SV55k0/IMG-2797.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mRtwwNP)
(https://i.ibb.co/p4bSDR4/IMG-2799.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QYp4BCY)
(https://i.ibb.co/ZmSMsNG/IMG-2800.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fv9xRQq)
(https://i.ibb.co/CvQkdcZ/IMG-2806.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZKxnsjP)
-
Made a set of form blocks this evening and contoured the brass pieces of the patch box to conform to the stock shape.
(https://i.ibb.co/RcN05hC/IMG-2821.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XtDswyz)
(https://i.ibb.co/mttW0hZ/IMG-2822.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RPPwNQr)
-
You do wonderful work, Dave. And your kids and grandkids will have something to remember you by, and hopefully pass it down along the family line.
And viewing your little line-making tool, I do believe your inventiveness knows no limit.
Glad to see that you are recovering from your health difficulties.
-
Gorgeous work Dave, wish I had a uncle or grandfather that could fix this for me 😭
-
Making a patch box hinge for a normal size box is, if done in the traditional way, fairly time consuming and a little complicated. Several years ago I made a hinge by a different method and silver brazed it to the box parts. Although not formed from the parent material of the box lid and finial, it looks to me a lot like some box hinges that were separate and then riveted to the box parts on some original rifles. Be that as it all may, I decided to do the brazed method on this little box.
The lid is 1 inch wide and I had a small brass hinge just that wide as well. To insure that the lid and the finial are just as strong as if made from the parent material, I elected to hard silver braze the pieces and also make sure that there was an excellent fit between the hinge halves and their respective box pieces. Since both the box lid and finial had been contoured to fit the shape of the stock, the hinge had to be shaped to match the curve in order to get a tight braze joint. Here is a shaped half of the hinge and a photo showing the tight fit up to the box lid......(When I have to shape small parts like this with a file, I usually super glue the part to a small block of wood to do the work as in the picture here. Once the file work is finished, heating gently with a torch easily releases the part. I do the same thing for a lot of my engraving.)
(https://i.ibb.co/sPT2X2s/IMG-2846.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VNFtktM)
(https://i.ibb.co/4VxL1mn/IMG-2847.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RDWKjvk)
Then the hinge halves are silver brazed to their respective parts.....
(https://i.ibb.co/GPc3hz4/IMG-2849.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bdzRfcM)
(https://i.ibb.co/XSSydB4/IMG-2850.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V22HhyN)
(https://i.ibb.co/5WmdxRs/IMG-2851.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vxpbvjL)
The box lid and finial are reassembled with the hinge pin.......
(https://i.ibb.co/mDZsZYN/IMG-2852.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vwy5yrX)
The box parts are drilled for the attaching screws and mounted in place for the start of the inletting......
(https://i.ibb.co/qNCYsb2/IMG-2853.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ByG2Z8Y)
-
For anyone interested, here is a re-post from an old thread on patch boxes from 4 years ago....it is easier to see how I do this on a full scale patch box rather than on the half scale one....(Original thread https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=42363.msg415586#msg415586 )
"My personal take is that the guys who built these things 200 years ago were....a) very clever.....and b) made their guns the best way they knew how. I try to do the same while keeping within the framework of building an 18th century rifle. As for patch box hinges, I have bent them, but only at the edges....I always keep the center / working part of the hinge straight. The following has become my favorite way to do this after seeing a photo of an original with a separate riveted on hinge.
I make the hinge (as wide as the patch box door) from two pieces of 1/16 inch thick brass plate and two lengths of 3/16 inch (or even smaller) diameter brass rod, each the full width of the hinge. I put both pieces of brass rod in the lathe in turn and drill a 1/16 inch hole through them lengthwise for the hinge pin. I then silver solder the two rods to the two pieces of brass plate. Then I cut away alternate pieces of the brass rod to form the hinge knuckles. All of these parts are nice and straight, so this work is easy to do.
Independently, I bend both the patch box finial and the door to match the contour of the stock as closely as I can. Now, I file the plates on the hinge sides to match the contour of the underside of the door and the finial. The hinge looks like this at that point......
(https://preview.ibb.co/eHo0mk/IMG_2336.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gpOY6k)
(https://preview.ibb.co/jAcRRk/IMG_2333.jpg) (http://ibb.co/ch6aK5)
At this point, the hinge halves can either be soldered to the door and the finial or they can be riveted. Both are traditional methods. Now I have a door and a finial that are curved to the stock but a perfectly straight hinge. But it looks like its curved somewhat because the surrounding brass is. If you want the hinge to look even more like it is curved, file off a little of the brass hinge knuckles on both ends. Here it is just before assembly......
(https://preview.ibb.co/cPmaK5/IMG_2332.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gWfPCQ)
And here is the finished patch box......"
(https://preview.ibb.co/bZgxXQ/IMG_2343.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hykPCQ)
-
Holy Crow Dave! That box is Beautifully done.
Tim
-
Wow is right! That is a beautiful patchbox!!!
-
Late to the party on this one…, great, GREAT stuff all the way through! Fantastic resource for both beginning and experienced builders. Thanks for posting, Dave! Best,
Ed
-
Hi Dave,
That is a great way to make a patch box. I think I am going to adopt that method because it will be a lot easier and produce better results. Thanks for sharing Dave.
dave
-
David, This has become my "go to" method of patch box hinges. All the box parts are curved like they need to be, but the hinge is nice and straight. Ed, and others, thanks for the compliments. Sorry that this is taking me so long to get finished.
More patch box work......with the box parts made and contoured I started in on the tedious job of inletting. First I inlet led the hinge so the box door and finial sat flat on the stock. Then I screwed down the finial and side plates where I wanted them and started the cutting in around the parts.
(https://i.ibb.co/vktCTzp/IMG-2855.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZxZRFT5)
(https://i.ibb.co/gTPM5rg/IMG-2856.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KqLjM5y)
(https://i.ibb.co/t46GTF4/IMG-2866.jpg) (https://ibb.co/G0D64N0)
With all the parts inlet, I wanted to get the door latch made. I cut the standard square hole in the end of the door and made a latch post from an 8 penny nail. With the latch post peened in place, I drilled out the mortice for the catch spring and made up the spring with a brazed on screw tube to hold it in place under the butt plate.
(https://i.ibb.co/JtBxmGB/IMG-2864.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9g8wc18)
(https://i.ibb.co/WFFtgM1/IMG-2865.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VDDm2z8)
(https://i.ibb.co/KzntQxd/IMG-2863.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bRt4y5T)
-
"(When I have to shape small parts like this with a file, I usually super glue the part to a small block of wood"
Do you use an accelerator when you do this?
Thanks, Tim
-
Tim,
Yes. I glue the part to a block of wood and then give it a quick shot with a spray accelerator. Works great.
-
Yesterday's post showed part of the patch box latch and spring. Here is the complete assembly. I will install a push rod from a button in the toe plate.
(https://i.ibb.co/xztwbTM/IMG-2880.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KVpBgv9)
I also decided to add an ebony face onto the cheek piece as I did on the copy of a Jim Chambers rifle I built a few years ago. It looks weird now but the other rifle looked fine after the maple was stained to its final color.....and....if I decide I don't really like it as I am getting close to finishing the rifle, I can cut it right back off.... ;)
(https://i.ibb.co/KNXZC8b/IMG-2882.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LQ8w4sY)
(https://i.ibb.co/XsY8YTz/IMG-2883.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z82m2Ch)
PS....Here is how the copy of Jim's rifle came out with the ebony face on the cheek piece.
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37186.75
-
Had some free time today so I finished the toe plate, push rod, button mechanism to release the patch box lid. Also made up the door spring and got it installed. The door snaps closed nicely and pops open with a satisfactory spring up. Done with that. Next step on the patch box is to pull is off the stock and engrave it.
(https://i.ibb.co/m6gJ9QL/IMG-2885.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Rzd23Lx)
(https://i.ibb.co/D8N8Ymg/IMG-2916.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vQbQhfv)
(https://i.ibb.co/SwYzD44/IMG-2917.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b5wkjMM)
(https://i.ibb.co/47K2bSF/IMG-2914.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c1kwW8y)
(https://i.ibb.co/qJyFK6W/IMG-2915.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GHx3ymt)
(https://i.ibb.co/m0XkS9w/IMG-2913.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5knm2ry)
And then I started the carving.......
(https://i.ibb.co/LNr2hs4/IMG-2906.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9ZhC3dR)
(https://i.ibb.co/xhFP8hM/IMG-2920.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sjWkJjF)
-
With your crisp work, you must be one of the masters of tool sharpening. Beautiful Dave.
-
I just received an email from a friend concerning the work on this little rifle.....he asked if I had passed away and if that's why I wasn't making any progress..... (wise a$$)....So no, I haven't passed away..... yet.....(no one gets out of this life alive though... ;)) I have traveled to see my Mom who is 96 and is doing as well or better than I am. It's been too long since I had kissed her cheek and made her laugh. I'll be back in the shop soon to finish up the carving and engraving on this rifle for my grandson.
-
Good on ya, Dave. We need to kiss our momma cheek as often as possible. My mom is 88, and still very active.
I just turned 69 yesterday, we have had a great life together.
I am the first of 6.
Great work on the rifle. I like your patchbox job.
Best regards, my brother.
Dave F 8) 8)
-
Well....it's been another couple of months since i worked on this little rifle. I have had the time, but not the inspiration. I suppose it is the gunmaker's equivalent of "writers block".....when you know you want to do something but your not quite sure where to begin. I did not know what I wanted to carve on this small rifle...or what i want to engrave. So I have waited until the spirit moved me.
After many sketches (and subsequent erasures) on the stock, I came up with a theme I have used before, modified some for the reduced scale of this rifle......The start of the carving....
(https://i.ibb.co/9tqDg61/image-50460161.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cLNB30Z)
(https://i.ibb.co/Fb4kVk0/image-50405377.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d04sgsL)
The execution thus far....not complete but well on the way. Good or bad, I'm committed now (.....or perhaps I should be "committed")
(https://i.ibb.co/vxPcfLD/image-67216385.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PZhrJ1t)
(https://i.ibb.co/m6SHfDD/image-67203329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/72bGsYY)
(https://i.ibb.co/RjTWqB5/image-50402817.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0sy3xFw)
(https://i.ibb.co/rwZBTBY/image-67187969.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bKr4q4T)
-
Special stuff, davec2. :o ;D ;D ;D
-
Dave,
Glad to see you’re back at it. I’ve hit those dry spells myself a number of times.
Current progress is looking good.
Good luck on the rest of it,
Jeff
-
As usual it looks great. :) I really like your patch box latch spring set up.
-
Thank you !
Smylee, yes, that particular patch box latch arrangement has become my "go to" design. Easy to do. Can be set up so the release button is in the butt plate return or in the toe plate. I do the circular inlet under the butt plate with a Forstner bit. Takes 30 seconds. Parts are easy to make and, if the latch gets hung up in some way, simply removing the two butt plate screws gets you into the mechanism to fix whatever the problem is.
-
Your scrollwork and tang carving are beautiful Dave. Dang shame you couldn't find a decent piece of wood to work with. ;)
-
I received an email asking me how this little rifle compared to a full size rifle. Here is one of my rifles with a 42 inch barrel compared to this rifle.......
(https://i.ibb.co/h1Fprmx/image-50336513.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dJ4nX5s)
-
Dave, I always enjoy looking at your work. Extremely crisp edges, elegant lines. One might think you had done this once or twice before, even.
No one gets out of life alive is my standard reply to people who go the gym almost religiously, or who live their life in fear of one thing or another. I consider myself lucky to have lived to 76. I recall that at the age of six, sitting for breakfast and reading the date on the newspaper. I commented to my Dad that I would be 55 at the turn of the century. He replied that, yes, I would be. And I returned with, "That doesn't matter, I'm not going to live that long anyway."
And having two open heart surgeries, the first the day before Kennedy was shot, I AM totally surprised I have lived this long. A new adventure every year or so has really kept me young.
Back to your work - you do inspire me, and many others, to emulate your style and comprehension of lines.
-
Just keeps getting better. That is a smart patchbox latch design. Your carving is crisp and clean as usual.....as well as artistic. You never cease to amaze. God Bless, Marc
-
Craig,
I took the oath of office as a Midshipman in the Navy on the 6th of July, 1972 in Tecumseh Court at the US Naval Academy. As I did, I had a premonition that I would not live to the age of 29. The thought stuck with me and almost came true on several occasions as I served in various locations around the world. But however it happened, the premonition did not come true. I can honestly say that I never had any fear. I have been convinced since my early youth that I would never live one minute longer or one minute less than God intends for me to live...no matter what I did. And that faith has always eliminated any fear of death. As the poet Macaulay said,
“Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the Gate:
To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods”
Off topic here, but I understand what you sent....about being lucky and / or blessed...and about new adventures..... ;)
Merry Christmas !
And thanks, Marc....you are kind.
-
Beautifully done.
Tim
-
Thank you for taking the time to photo and document this.
-
You make a great teacher, Dave. I'm learning a lot reading your posts. Thank you for taking the time.
-
Started the engraving yesterday. As usual, it takes me a while to get back into engraving when I have not done it for a while. Is I start with the parts that are most easily re-worked or replaced if i mess them up completely......Started with the trigger, trigger plate, and side plate.
(https://i.ibb.co/WPHMF6H/image-50421761.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pR1MZx1)
Was confident enough to go on to the rear ram rod pipe......
(https://i.ibb.co/3dpTBvP/image-50422017.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V9gL2xk)
-
You havent lost your touch Dave. I really would like to know how those " lightning bolts " on the rear pipe are cut and what size graver you use for them.
-
You obviously haven’t lost your talents; layout and execution beautiful
-
Thanks.....but not as good as it has been. I'm a little rusty.
-
Toe plate and patch box button engraving.......
(https://i.ibb.co/86NrpgP/image-50427137.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PwFcnG1)
-
Looking good Dave.
Can I ask what tool and technique you use for your nick and dot border?
Your consistency is impressive.
Thanks
Jeff
-
Simply breathtaking!
-
Beautiful work.
-
Thank you all for the kind comments.
Jeff, On the nick and dot I roll a flat engraver. I cut a straight boarder line with a standard 90-degree graver. Then I switch over to a flat graver. I do the spacing by "eye" putting one corner of the flat in the cut line, I drive the graver in along the line but with the edge tilted up at an angle to the work surface. As the graver is driven forward, I roll the flat into the work and then back out again resulting in a little cut triangle. So I am rolling the flat into and out of the original cut line and proceeding along the direction of the border rather than at 90 degrees to it. I use the same flat graver to do the dots....and the same motion.....just very tiny and, obviously, with the point opposite the nicks. So I do the whole border with just two graver shapes.....90 degree and a flat. The intervals I do by eye. Mine are not all that consistently spaced when I blow the engraving up on the screen. But it looks OK at a distance.....I think... :o
And by the way, Smylee Grouch, the sun burst pattern is done the same way. I lay out and cut the outline of the rays with a 90 degree square graver. Then switch over to the flat graver and roll it in and out as I proceed along the ray. The little triangles done on the opposite side are done exactly the same and just cut between the opposing nicks. It took me a while, for both boarders and the sun burst , to learn how to cut the nicks and dots in either direction. I try always to orient the work so I can cut from right to left, but on the close side I have to roll the flat graver away from me and on the far side I have to roll it toward me. I am still not as consistent as I would like, but like all skills, it only comes with practice.
Hope this helps.
-
Thanks for those tips Dave. I can see some practice plates being done before I get to the real deal. :)
-
"looks OK at a distance", you say - looks bloody marvelous to me.
Well done.
-
Dave,
Thanks for the info.
I think your consistency and spacing hold up quite well, even under magnification. That’s what prompted me to ask the question.
I have used the same method, just not quite as well. ;)
Thanks again,
Jeff
-
Continuing with the engraving on all the brass parts.......
Patch box lay out.....
(https://i.ibb.co/pzDHKTy/image-67216641.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xjvngbH)
First cuts on the box finial.......
(https://i.ibb.co/7yz2Y4K/image-55415491.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4NfPmdp)
This is a sterling sliver piece that will be mounted in the center of the patch box door.......
(https://i.ibb.co/TTRDMmS/image-16854017.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CtvpKhZ)
And a little engraving on the butt plate return and toe.......
(https://i.ibb.co/6HBNRY0/image-16879105.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D9pLD4f)
(https://i.ibb.co/QmjyZH6/image-16810753.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ysBHDk8)
-
Finished the patch box engraving......lock, muzzle cap, and trigger guard to go......
(https://i.ibb.co/zJJvWRK/image-50444545.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k11CV8Y)
(https://i.ibb.co/4Jrg7dk/image-50361601.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZND1Vm9)
-
WOW! Times several.
-
Stunning, Absolutely Beautiful. I would have trouble even drawing a single scroll like on the finial much less a mirrored image, won't even mention engraving it.
Tim
-
I really like it. The style and execution are super. Maybe some English with some John Noll thrown in.
-
Dave, that’s just awesome buddy.
Bob
-
Beyond words. That is just amazing in every way 🌟
-
That box is special…, great job!!! Best,
Ed
-
Thank you for the kind words.....just don't blow the engraving up too far on the computer. It looks best at arms length... :o ......and Happy New Year to all !!!!
New Years Day I had nothing more exciting to do than work on this little rifle some more. I managed to finish the engraving on the trigger guard and muzzle cap. The center of the design on the muzzle cap is where the copper rivet will go to secure the cap to the stock....
(https://i.ibb.co/hLSHckW/image-50355713.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2WTPSwt)
(https://i.ibb.co/S5VRV8L/image-50389761.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fqr4r5c)
(https://i.ibb.co/W6Txw22/image-50381825.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c1mgHrr)
-
WOW! That’s some beautiful work there
Anthony
-
Got the muzzle cap installed with a copper rivet.....
(https://i.ibb.co/fq2zJNg/image-50384385.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FmKLpYr)
Carved and cast a miniature sterling silver thumb piece......
(https://i.ibb.co/SPzydHJ/image-50414849.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9N7gVBG)
This is where it will go....
(https://i.ibb.co/KGMHxV8/image-50443265.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PY78G1V)
Machined a 4-40 threaded attachment and silver soldered it to the thumb piece (sorry these photos came out fuzzy.....I just got a new iPhone 13 mini and it takes lousy close up pictures !! My old SE did MUCH better >:( >:(
(https://i.ibb.co/pzk56RM/image-50444033.jpg) (https://ibb.co/J7SgWyG)
(https://i.ibb.co/PzFw0fY/image-50777089.jpg) (https://ibb.co/G3ncNbJ)
-
Simply outstanding.
-
One for the history books!
A pure art form right in front of us, just breath taking to look at.
-
Hi Dave, can I assume that the 4x40 screw goes through the wrist from the trigger guard inlet ?
-
Smylee,
Yes, there is a 4-40 screw (that I need to make yet) that will pass through the wrist to hold the thumb piece in place
-
Had some time to work on the lock engraving today. I think I am done.....I just need to re-harden the frizzen. Sorry again about the lousy pictures....I need to sort out this new phone thing.... >:(
(https://i.ibb.co/mG5hHHF/image-50412801.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W6vBccp)
(https://i.ibb.co/DRmqTmv/image-50397953.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d5XhxXV)
(https://i.ibb.co/dGyKydG/image-50458881.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SRpvphR)
-
First, here are some better pictures of the lock engraving.....Even though I can't use it as a phone, my old iPhone still works better as a camera than my new phone !.....I just have to plug the old one into my computer to off load the photos.
(https://i.ibb.co/0qXkjSP/Lock-Engraving-Owen-Rifle-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v1BbxG2)
(https://i.ibb.co/G7m5qJC/Lock-Engraving-Owen-Riflejpg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b1tKk3N)
Then I got the engraved patch box back in place and the catch / release mechanism fine tuned....
(https://i.ibb.co/tcXG7Fd/Patch-Box-Engraving-Owen-Rifle.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1K6gDjS)
And then one of those unexpected things happened that adds a lot of unexpected work to the project. While I was putting the tumbler back in place through the lock plate, I felt something in my hand that I thought was bench debris. But when I looked, it was a piece of metal that looked remarkably like a piece of the tumbler half cock notch !!! Sure enough, the tumbler had a piece broken off. >:( :( :-\ I have no idea how that happened ??
(https://i.ibb.co/dk0g2C9/Broken-Tumbler-Owen-Rifle.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CV527Cd)
I will attempt to TIG weld repair it, but I don't hold out much hope. The fall back is to machine a new tumbler from 1144 stress proof steel. One of those things that happens and needs to be repaired, but certainly will slow down the completion....che sera, sera !
-
I'd contact Stan and get a replacement tumbler. That looks like a bad casting break.
-
Hi Dave,
It can be welded and then case hardened and tempered. I've done this several times with L&R and Pedersoli locks on which the tumbler castings were a mess and in one case a swivel breech mechanism of Water's design that the flint at half cock notch did not permit the frizzen to close. I had to build up metal on the tumbler to create a new half cock notch. It worked fine after hardening and tempering. One thing that I urge you to do is if you weld the tumbler and then heat treat it, also heat treat the sear at the same time with the same regime. That insures the sear and tumbler are the same hardness and one doesn't wear the other.
dave
-
David, you do the most wonderful engraving that I've seen. To be enjoyed for years to come.
Sorry about your tumbler break.
-
Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous. :o 8)
(https://i.ibb.co/RhqkYFL/Patch-Box-Engraving-Owen-Rifle.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k3ts57Y)
-
Although I have plenty of other parts of this little rifle to keep me busy, the broken tumbler sitting on the bench kept silently mocking me. I wanted to at least get as far as trying to add back enough steel by welding to see if the original tumbler was salvageable or if I had to plan on making a new one from scratch. I set up to TIG weld the missing steel back in place and it went very well indeed. I was afraid that the weld would need to fill in some or all of the fly notch, which on this lock is on the plate side of the tumbler, and would complicate the the final reshaping of the tumbler. I was able to add plenty of steel and not distort the fly notch at all.
(https://i.ibb.co/ggRm4G6/image-50441217.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NYytTX7)
-
Work, medical issues, house repairs, and an opportunity to actually go see the little guy I am building this rifle for have all encroached on the time I have had to work on it. But I will have the time to finish fitting the weld repair on this tumbler today and will then re-heat treat the tumbler and the sear.
Here is an updated photo of the recipient ......he is twice the size he was when I started this rifle for him. The race is on !!!
(https://i.ibb.co/FD2C6zF/Owen-March-2022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qrKVBpv)
-
The word "Exquisite" comes to mind. ;D
-
Glad to see you've got him enlisted in the correct Service already! We Navy guys have to stick together. Dad took the same oath of office in the same place as you, but in June of '44. I came along 15 months later, and was baptized and christened in the Academy Chapel. He was off doing peace-keeping stuff in Japan as Supply Officer for a flotilla of Fletcher class destroyers. Had a lot of good tales to tell, and of course I grew up travelling to all sorts of interesting places. Then I went into the Navy June 16, '64.
-
That is going to be a very special rifle for a very special young man. Congrats to both of you. :)
-
Craig.....Great story !!! I had no idea. And really cool that you were Christened in the Academy chapel....always one of my favorite places at the Academy. But then, what's not to love about a beautiful cathedral surrounded by cannons !!!!
Today I had the opportunity to re-contour the "blob" of weld metal that I had to add to the tumbler to repair the broken half cock notch. I had to re-fit the sear, the fly recess, and the fly a bit as well. Here is the result.....
(https://i.ibb.co/wS6BJDf/image-50433025.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HtgBNmj)
(https://i.ibb.co/LC53f1d/image-50412545.jpg) (https://ibb.co/THLs5tM)
Since the new metal was not high carbon, I needed to case harden the area of new weld metal. However, I didn't want to add more carbon to the rest of the tumbler, so I covered all the rest of the surface with an anti-scaling compound I get from Brownells. I use this also for re-heat treating frizzens after engraving to keep the surface from acquiring any fire scale. Here I am painting the compound on the tumbler except for the weld repair area.
(https://i.ibb.co/5B67wSb/image-50462209.jpg) (https://ibb.co/m6Gxg2f)
(https://i.ibb.co/Y09DMFq/image-50396929.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6Xhvx7f)
Letting the compound dry in the sun for a few minutes.....
(https://i.ibb.co/8MyWKzQ/image-50398977-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p2Ht0Wk)
I don't have any pictures of the the next part of this procedure but I used a propane torch and Kasenit to case harden the weld repair area. When I do this for screw heads and triggers, etc, I quench the part in brine water from a bright orange heat . After that I do not draw / temper the part because it only has a surface case on it and the core is still soft. In this particular case, the majority of the tumbler is made of high carbon steel and, when I quenched it, it became hard all the way through. So it needed to be drawn back some. (I think the part originally broke because it was not drawn sufficiently.) To do this in a little more controlled fashion, I put both the sear and the tumbler in my melting furnace and slowly brought the temperature up to 565 F letting the parts soak at that temp for about a half an hour. At Dave Pearson's suggestion, I did both the sear and the tumbler at the same time so that they will be of equivalent hardness when done.
(https://i.ibb.co/7VMX54q/image-67239425-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DkctypZ)
The tumbler and the sear out of the furnace......
(https://i.ibb.co/PhFqp3X/image-50444033.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BZc0DdW)
The reassembled ...and now working again lock......
(https://i.ibb.co/Ytc25vX/image-50422017-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/55rTQqk)
(https://i.ibb.co/Q9S1F3c/image-50431745.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2qVf716)
I also had a chance today to make and install the tiny rear sight.....I will post pictures of that tomorrow....
-
Worked on making the sights today. This is the fairly tiny rear sight filed out of block of steel.....
(https://i.ibb.co/b3K5yQb/image-50746625.jpg) (https://ibb.co/26k3LWZ)
Then I silver brazed a front sight blade to a brass dovetail base I filed out of sheet.....
(https://i.ibb.co/K2KK30L/image-50740481.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v3XXKwQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/DDCTqjb/image-50415361.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fYpLcTS)
I am very nearly done with all the metal work and carving (one more silver inlay in the cheek piece and a little more engraving on the barrel breech). After that is the wood finishing. So I have started trying different stains on one of the pieces of wood I sawed off the forearm. Hard to tell in this picture, but I have tried several stains and none of them appeal to me so far. Looking at the bare wood, it has a very tight, almost miniature curl that I thought would look great on a scaled down rifle with just the usual iron nitrate stain and heat blush....It doesn't....the curl I can see in the bare wood doesn't show up very well at all after staining. Then I tried the tannic acid trick before the iron nitrate.....no joy. The curl just doesn't show very well. Then I tried a bunch of other Laurel Mountain and other stains singly and in combinations....no luck yet.....Not sure what I will try next...???
(https://i.ibb.co/mF60p60/image-67228673.jpg) (https://ibb.co/93shPsh)
-
I will be away from my shop for a while so I wanted to get the last inlay / metal work done before I go. I had debated putting my grandson's name on the cover of the patch box or not, but then decided I would add it to the cheek piece as a sterling inlay. So I settled on and oval and engraved his name and a bit of boarder decoration. I have done a similar one on another rifle I gave to my brother-in-law several years ago and it has it's share of difficulty. I didn't want to engrave the silver already installed in the cheek so that meant engraving it first and then contouring and installing it after the fact. As a consequence I could not finish wood and metal together to get a perfect fit. I cut out the silver oval, engraved it, spent a long time contouring it to match the wood, and then started the inletting. Not finished. but here it is so far.....
(https://i.ibb.co/yYbhBcJ/image-67232513.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2sf8Y1B)
I could have made it out of thicker silver, inletted it into place, finished wood and metal together, taken it back out, polished the metal, engraved it, and then put it back in....but I didn't.... :)
-
Ah, this is a wee Baehr gun, eh?
-
FINE craftsmanship and that is a fine looking little boy.We have a great grandson that is about that age'.His mother is our oldest (29)
grandchild and it dawned on me the her father Eric,OUR youngest son and HE is a grandfather X 3 thanks to his daughter. Fossilization
is here for sure!
Bob Roller
-
I am back from my travels to Tennessee (what a beautiful place !) and am now back at work.... mostly ???. However, I did have some time today to try a few additional staining techniques on this little rifle. I am getting close to that stage of the work. Looking over the trials I did several weeks ago, I thought that I would try the Henry's roofing asphalt but mixed with trichloroethylene instead of just mineral spirits. In addition, working on the slender slab of wood I band sawed off the fore end of the little rifle was not my best option. Since this project started off as the construction of two identical little rifles, I had asked Fred Miller to find me a piece of stock wood I could split in half lengthwise. He did and I did, so these next couple of experiments were run on the twin "other half" of the same piece of stock wood. Here is how today's work turned out......
First, this is a photo of just the plain wood wetted with mineral spirits to accentuate the grain somewhat.....you can see it looks to be a great piece of maple with a sort of miniature curl (another thing I had asked Fred for since there were to be scaled down rifles....
(https://i.ibb.co/841gBQK/Owens-Rifle-wood-with-just-mineral-spirits.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JFDjdSB)
This next shot shows the comparison of three versions of staining. The middle swatch is Henry's mixed with trichloroethylene alone. The left most swatch is Henry's diluted in trichloroethylene and then swabbed with Trans Tint Honey Amber applied full strength. The right most swatch is swabbed Honey Amber full strength first and then the Henry's trichloroethylene mix applied.
(https://i.ibb.co/dcCZH6w/Owens-Rifle-Honey-Amber-Henry-s-in-tric-trials.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hMQ0THJ)
This is a close up of Henry's mixed with trichloroethylene alone....just a plain brown but it does show the curl.....
(https://i.ibb.co/rsKnc8W/Owens-Rifle-Henry-s-in-tric.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hfxpZQq)
This is Henry's diluted in trichloroethylene and then with Trans Tint Honey Amber applied full strength
(https://i.ibb.co/C1rH9QP/Owens-Rifle-Henry-s-in-tric-then-Honey-Amber.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bWfKvXb)
This last one is Honey Amber full strength first and then the Henry's trichloroethylene mix applied.
(https://i.ibb.co/zVcX6Wy/Owens-Rifle-Honey-Amber-then-Henry-s-in-tric.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F4v5HkS)
Sorry for the "not so good pictures" (my new phone really doesn't do close ups worth a darn). I can't really tell the difference between the Henry's with Honey Amber first or second, but I think I like the combined color... and it does show the curl fairly well.....Not sure yet. I may try a few more options before I make up my mind.
-
A little engraving on the barrel breech and muzzle is the last of the metal work to be done on this rifle with the exception of polishing and hardening all of the screw heads. Here is the progress I made last night on the breech and breech plug. Some final shading to go and I need to finish the beaded boarder on one barrel flat but then its on to a simple muzzle decoration....
(https://i.ibb.co/xqPBr2R/image-50400257.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0y86znd)
-
Oh Dave - absolutely wonderful work.
BRAVO!
-
Really incredible. How long have you been engraving and building rifles?
-
Ok....I can see from these photos I have some clean up / correction engraving to do.....but here is the final engraving on this little rifle.....
(https://i.ibb.co/chSh5yj/image-50380289.jpg) (https://ibb.co/whFhHdf)
(https://i.ibb.co/DM9CH4L/image-50365441.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GMW247F)
(https://i.ibb.co/R3NJyTJ/image-50372609.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v3hMY4M)
(https://i.ibb.co/yRKNN1w/image-50422017.jpg) (https://ibb.co/thnHHt7)
-
Working for a living has been getting in the way of progress here.....yet again ! I have been out at my Mojave Desert rocket test facility for many days and have not had a chance to try to get this little rifle finished finally (or work on the many other irons that I have in the fire). But the beginning of the final push has begun with staining and the first sealing coat of Sutherland & Wells polymerized tung oil mixed 50 / 50 with gum turpentine. These are not good pictures but will give you some idea how things are starting to look on the stock. The barrel still needs to be polished out some and then finished using the "browned-blued-browned-rubbed back a bit" technique that I like. And then I will start on the wooden case and accessories to complete the rig for the little guy.....
(https://i.ibb.co/j8Q4RNv/image-50457345.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rQzysjG)
(https://i.ibb.co/W52MXkH/image-50391553.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6wWTSHy)
-
Dave, I plan on getting your daughter to adopt me, then you will be my Grandpa and can make ME a rifle! Littrle bit larger scale, though.
You have maintained beautiful workmanship and design throughout this project, and your grandchildren and THEIR grandchildren will enjoy it for a long, long time.
-
Dave, great explanation of your engraving techniques; I can picture exactly what you described and your results look great, those tiny deviations under magnification are a part of the soul of bespoke work.
I only regret how busy you'll be since we're all planning on finding some relative of yours to adopt us.
-
Craig & DavidC,
Thank you for the kind words. I have built and given away several rifles to family and friends over the past decade (many posted here on ALR ...but others not)....and I have been commissioned to build a few for others. None fall into the category of what I would consider the quality of the guns built by the builders I most admire. Many of those builders have posted on ALR and it has been through their talent and generosity with their time that I can do as much as I do. Sadly, some have "shuffled off this mortal coil", as Shakespeare might put it. Others have never posted here (or anywhere that I know of) but I have seen their work and strive to emulate their mechanical skills and design artistry. I owe them all, and many others here on ALR, a huge debt of gratitude for suggestions, instruction, and encouragement.
The guns that I have built and given away, or done for pay, have been the very best I knew how to do at the time I did them. I know my skills are better than some, but I also know that they are no where near as good as many others. And I also know my knowledge level is severely lacking. Here, with this little rifle for my grandson, I have again done my best. But most importantly to me, I hope that along with the little rifle will go a sense of history......particularly American history.....how this nation came to be.....how important and miraculous it is that the men and women who established and preserved this nation founded a Republic that has allowed so many for so long to live in a state of freedom unknown through almost all of human history. My life has been but a link in a chain. My father taught me most of what I know from working with my hands to the patriotism that led me to serve the nation in a Navy uniform for a quarter century. My daughters, and now my grandson, are the next links in that chain. More important than the carving and engraving or the barrel or the lock or the wood that went into building this little rifle is my hope and prayer for my grandson's part in preserving our true history and this Republic......
-
Craig & DavidC,
Thank you for the kind words. I have built and given away several rifles to family and friends over the past decade (many posted here on ALR ...but others not)....and I have been commissioned to build a few for others. None fall into the category of what I would consider the quality of the guns built by the builders I most admire. Many of those builders have posted on ALR and it has been through their talent and generosity with their time that I can do as much as I do. Sadly, some have "shuffled off this mortal coil", as Shakespeare might put it. Others have never posted here (or anywhere that I know of) but I have seen their work and strive to emulate their mechanical skills and design artistry. I owe them all, and many others here on ALR, a huge debt of gratitude for suggestions, instruction, and encouragement.
The guns that I have built and given away, or done for pay, have been the very best I knew how to do at the time I did them. I know my skills are better than some, but I also know that they are no where near as good as many others. And I also know my knowledge level is severely lacking. Here, with this little rifle for my grandson, I have again done my best. But most importantly to me, I hope that along with the little rifle will go a sense of history......particularly American history.....how this nation came to be.....how important and miraculous it is that the men and women who established and preserved this nation founded a Republic that has allowed so many for so long to live in a state of freedom unknown through almost all of human history. My life has been but a link in a chain. My father taught me most of what I know from working with my hands to the patriotism that led me to serve the nation in a Navy uniform for a quarter century. My daughters, and now my grandson, are the next links in that chain. More important than the carving and engraving or the barrel or the lock or the wood that went into building this little rifle is my hope and prayer for my grandson's part in preserving our true history and this Republic......
Amen! Well said!
-
"The guns that I have built and given away, or done for pay, have been the very best I knew how to do at the time I did them. I know my skills are better than some, but I also know that they are no where near as good as many others. "
David, everything I see from you looks top-flight to my eye. It shows a lot of talent, patience, practice and skills.
God Bless, Marc
-
Wood finishing progress to date.......
(https://i.ibb.co/ynQ64kQ/image-50388481.jpg) (https://ibb.co/27kvZMk)
(https://i.ibb.co/zsrktL1/image-50398721.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8M0hQRJ)
-
Curl of the stock, inlay, and carving showing very well.
-
Those are certainly looking great!
Lucky Grand Kids!
John
-
Finally finished......a long road on this one.....but finally done....well....except for the case and the accoutrements.... :)
To show scale again....one of my full size rifles and this little one......
(https://i.ibb.co/jWK5CbR/IMG-6387.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b2h34QJ)
This also gives a sense of how slender the wrist is........
(https://i.ibb.co/104B9dc/IMG-6406.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6yqG41Q)
More photos....sorry for the quality. Photography is not in my "wheelhouse" as they say....
(https://i.ibb.co/yQ1zt2M/IMG-6388.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TgSQ6yn)
(https://i.ibb.co/8PdNL0J/IMG-6389.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SVd54P2)
(https://i.ibb.co/qnjRTsf/IMG-6390.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3sd0gNq)
(https://i.ibb.co/jw5pSk9/IMG-6391.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LgPG3dD)
(https://i.ibb.co/hBY71hR/IMG-6392.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R3jv4Zp)
(https://i.ibb.co/LvcsBPq/IMG-6393.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pnMkNPs)
(https://i.ibb.co/PmJbdGZ/IMG-6394.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TvJnsMB)
(https://i.ibb.co/JCWnRRW/IMG-6395.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9Gmn99m)
(https://i.ibb.co/xF8SHvw/IMG-6396.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2ZY7N2R)
(https://i.ibb.co/PwjjzyF/IMG-6397.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wMggrqB)
(https://i.ibb.co/C8shjBS/IMG-6399.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V9p2FVk)
(https://i.ibb.co/qLHFqq6/IMG-6403.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ymzBvv2)
(https://i.ibb.co/dkXdssr/IMG-6404.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HGRWLLV)
(https://i.ibb.co/xhHZsj3/IMG-6407.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TcLyT8r)
(https://i.ibb.co/6mr2gHb/IMG-6408.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R9Y1z3P)
(https://i.ibb.co/kH0YpY3/IMG-6409.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qy9bzb0)
-
Truly top tier work. Thanks for letting us ride along on this build. :)
-
Now that is a masterpiece! ;D
-
Dazzling. Your work is something we would see in a world renowned fine art museum.
-
Beautiful work as allways. Thank you for posting.
Best regards
Rolf
-
I'd really love to see a photo of an adult shouldering one of these, just for the fun of the comparison. Really fine work.
-
The more I looked at the "finished" little rifle the less I liked the browned barrel.....don't know why. It just didn't look that good on this one. So I removed almost all of the brown with 320 paper and then blued the barrel. Since I had not antiqued the brass very much (it will acquire its own natural patina over the next several decades) the barrel looked to "rustic". I like it much better now.
(https://i.ibb.co/sypNMzj/image-50406145.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LnDc2HS)
(https://i.ibb.co/Q9Xh3K8/image-50373377.jpg) (https://ibb.co/31kV9Cf)
(https://i.ibb.co/f4BV678/image-50361345.jpg) (https://ibb.co/18hYyxs)
-
Oh by the way....DavidC....here is a picture of me shouldering the little rifle. To get my head down to the sight plane I need to get my "snot locker" almost jammed into the trigger guard....and I will probably loose some eyebrow hair when the pan ignites. The pull is only 10 5/8 inches. Nonetheless, it will be 'doable" for me to shoot it. ;)
(https://i.ibb.co/vm6h8YY/image-50389761.jpg) (https://ibb.co/K7pDHww)
-
Very nice work. And it is unbelievably tiny! It looks as if you've photoshopped it into the picture of you shouldering it.
Congratulations. I'm eager to see the case you build for it.
-
That is a beautiful rifle; I envy your skills.
-
All the other stuff I need to make for this rifle.....
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=72134.0