AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Contemporary Accoutrements => Topic started by: davec2 on June 24, 2022, 07:30:20 AM
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OK....so the little rifle for my grandson is finished.... https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=61759.0 .......Now I need to make all the "stuff" that needs to go with it and a wood rifle case. Today I started with trying to decide on a powder horn that is in keeping with the scale of the rifle. I had some horns I had made previously and a couple of raw horns about the right size. Here were my options:
(https://i.ibb.co/wWSh6dk/image-50402305.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3NpmhT3)
I decided the existing horns were not quite right so I started to look at the two raw horns and perhaps finish one of those for the rifle....
(https://i.ibb.co/Pm958XH/image-67232001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8KdjVvZ)
(https://i.ibb.co/WWsh8fG/image-67232001-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XZVQ0tj)
Of the two, I decided I liked the one with a little twist better and I spent an hour or so carving and staining the spout.
(https://i.ibb.co/9w2n2Lw/image-50377217.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yh5051h)
(https://i.ibb.co/c6ZSzpd/image-50398977.jpg) (https://ibb.co/x1BtVcQ)
Not sure if this will be the one, but I like it so far......
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Looks like a good clean start. Look forward to seeing where it goes.
Tim
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Looks like a nice "marriage" for the rifle.
John
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Your grandson surely adores his granddad 😍😍
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Could I ask how, and what you used to stain the spout?
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Thanks for the kind words....
Flintlock Hunter.....I stained the spout with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate and then gave it a light coat of tung oil. Works fast and is easy to apply. I did this with a Q tip.
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Trying to get all the parts of the powder horn done and then decide whether to mount the horn with silver or not...and then what to engrave on the horn....so many decisions...
Cutting out a piece of ebony for the base plug.....
(https://i.ibb.co/j6csb7d/image-50413313.jpg) (https://ibb.co/znyDQK1)
Turning the plug on the lathe. This will have a threaded cascabel in the base plug so I put the female thread in the blank piece of material first and then mounted it on a threaded rod to start the turning. One very nice feature of ebony is that it is so dense that it machines very much like horn or plastic....
(https://i.ibb.co/vx8kyRC/image-50451457.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d0yDCxs)
I will add some decorative features as soon as I have time, but the basic shape completed.....
(https://i.ibb.co/yB4fTQM/image-50403585.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cXYg5rp)
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Phenomenal !
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Very clean and detailed work sir!
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Finished up the spout stopper and the base plug. As usual for me, I threaded the base plug and made the cascabel removable for filling the horn. Although most of these that I make have wooden male threads, this one has a brass threaded sleeve and a hickory core. This was to strengthen the little cascabel. I am trying to decide if I am going to mount this little horn with sterling silver or not. All the main parts are made out of ebony.
(https://i.ibb.co/54djVbn/IMG-6504.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T2Z059b)
(https://i.ibb.co/qDRQD10/IMG-6505.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HKr8KgN)
(https://i.ibb.co/jfS7gT7/IMG-6506.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XLqmSbm)
(https://i.ibb.co/HP7sj9s/IMG-6507.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3F1qnPq)
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Really nice!
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I assembled a Dolep lock from castings recently for James Rogers and he offered to make a scaled down shot pouch for this little rifle in exchange. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to have one of his bags to go along with the rest of the "kit" for this rifle. We have discussed scale and this is what we think is a good size to go with the little horn and the little rifle......
(https://i.ibb.co/Y8G22zW/67815069644-630782-A1-064-D-4-AAA-974-E-4-E876000-F70-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xGQhhps)
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Great turning and file work. I like that idea of the brass threaded sleeve especially on a piece the caliber this one is/will be.
Tim
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Very cool set. Gonna be a dandy horn when its finished.
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Hello Dave, I'm not a expert on chemical products but I was reading in some article that potassium permanganate deluted with water giving a purple color, do I got that wrong?
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Hawkeye,
You have it correct but wrong at the same time... ;) Potassium permanganate is a very strong oxidizer (you can make some fairly strong explosive and incendiary compounds with it.... ;)). When dissolved in water the solution is a very deep royal purple. However, when applied to organic material, it turns the surface of that material various shades of brown....like my little horn surface. I have some maple gunstocks that I stained with it. I built a matching pair of long rifles for my Dad and I when I was a senior in high school. It is not light fast though and the gunstocks are a fair amount lighter now than they were a half century ago. Nitric acid (Aqua Regia in Latin) is also a strong oxidizer....and it has the same effect on organic materials. Hence its use to stain stocks. It can be used alone for a lighter red / brown color or, with dissolved iron in it, a darker brown. The application of heat accelerates the reaction of the acid and / or iron nitrate with the organic compounds in the wood and it is far more light fast than the permanganate. However, the potassium permanganate solution works almost instantly and with no need for heating. The tip of the little horn may fade some over time, but with a light coat of tung oil it will last far, far longer than I will... :)
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So very beautiful...
Dave, what is a good source to get Nitric acid from? I think it would be a good thing for me to try out.
Thanks,
Bob
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I get it 2.5 liters at a time from these guys. You can buy smaller quantities but the hazmat fee is the same so I get the larger amount.....but then, I use a lot of acid... ;)
https://www.laballey.com/products/nitric-acid-solution-67-of-lab-grade?variant=7219028459579
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Thank you for the explanation Dave, interesting to know
Hawkeye
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In what parts potassium - to water it's should be deluted?
Hawkeye
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Hawkeye,
To stain the tip of a horn dark, I use a "saturated" solution....in other words as much permanganate as will dissolve in the water. But I also do not mix very much for the tip of a horn. Perhaps a tablespoon of water and then as much permanganate as will dissolve, which is not much. I do this in a glass beaker and then leave the beaker open on my bench. The water will evaporate and the permanganate crystals will remain in the beaker. They can be used again... ;)
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Thanks Dave!
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Traveling at the moment but had a chance to start a few other items I am considering putting in the wood case along with the little rifle.....
Ebony short starter (the ram rod is only 1/4 inch in diameter so this seemed a prudent accessory).....
(https://i.ibb.co/yyJq8Zt/IMG-6518.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HzQqrb6)
Oil bottle.....
(https://i.ibb.co/Z66vdH7/IMG-6517.jpg) (https://ibb.co/277Rq8H)
(https://i.ibb.co/H2ktfbr/IMG-6516.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CtTb3Yn)
.32 caliber bullet board (also made out of ebony)....
(https://i.ibb.co/xhPnnbS/IMG-6522.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4W9bbLZ)
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Absolute Elegance.
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Everything Elegant. First class in all respects, even something as simple as a Bulger says top shelf. :)
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I decided to mount the little horn with sterling silver. Worked on the band for the base today. After forming the band out of sheet (by using a paper, pattern that conforms to the horn), I started with silver soldering on the upper and lower decorative edges.
I do the first solder joints in sections between alligator clamps.
(https://i.ibb.co/YySmqc9/IMG-6677.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JyTVMvL)
Then I go back and fill in any areas that I did not get on the first pass.
(https://i.ibb.co/1zpvZgx/IMG-6678.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TWnvcf5)
Here is the band after the last pickle in diluted hydrochloric acid......
(https://i.ibb.co/rvhRtfQ/IMG-6680.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LvyXPh0)
Polished a bit.......
(https://i.ibb.co/ZmZTKNg/IMG-6681.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9tMY2G4)
Added an attachment ring. Trial fit on the little horn. Now to make the forward band......
(https://i.ibb.co/mFkXjfQ/IMG-6682.jpg) (https://ibb.co/yBtY9HL)
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WOW...
Tim
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CRAZY NICE.
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This kind of work makes me sick. Sick with envy........
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Beautiful, creative and exquisite execution. Your work is in a class of its own.
Dennis
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Finished the forward sterling silver band......
(https://i.ibb.co/CzTRGkw/IMG-6683.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kxWNCRG)
(https://i.ibb.co/Cs3Qd73/IMG-6685.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bRMXhBM)
(https://i.ibb.co/sFVv6wK/IMG-6684.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xM7Sfj1)
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Just for size comparison....The bottom horn is a bit overly large. The one in the middle is about normal size. And then there is the top one for use with the little rifle.
(https://i.ibb.co/48D6hG3/IMG-6686.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jyxcn2s)
They all need some scrimshaw now.....
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Holy smokes that’s wonderful. Something befitting Royalty. But then again , even more special, for your grandson 🥰
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Amazing work. Really nice to see the investment!
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Some of the most exquisite items I've ever seen on this forum or anywhere else. You're good enough to be scary...
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Those silver bands always bring to mind Nordic horns. Like Vikings drinking. Super cool in the best way.
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Excellent work, Dave. It's always a pleasure to see. Thanks for sharing.
Bob
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High -level work, thanks for posting.
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Great work Dave...thanks for sharing the photo's ...very inspiring!!!!!!
Mitch
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Dave, Daddy Dear, do you remember all those years ago when you adopted me? Waiting for my "Little Rifle"... I wish!
Folks, if you are going to mix acid and water, PLEASE remember to Always Add Acid! IOW, if you are diluting the acid, say 3:1 (water:acid), put your water in first, THEN add the acid. Same thing with a strong base - add the base to the water.
If you add the water second, you will get a severe exothermic reaction, possibly spattering the acid into your eyes, on your arms, etc.
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To all....thank you for the kind words...and I learn a lot from all of you on this site....lots of techniques....lots of tips & tricks....lots of design ideas that I shamelessly copy...;)
And Craig.....no....I don't remember the adoption... :o But I do remember that your advice about acid and water is good. When I was a kid working in my Father's dental lab and pickling gold crowns in hydrochloric acid, I was always told the acid was like goldfish. You add the goldfish to the water. You don't pour water over a goldfish. ;)
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Wow... Rockets, rifles, and accoutrements... Is there anything you can't do?
Beautiful work on everything. Thanks for sharing
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HighUnitas,
Thank you.....but there are a ton of things I can't do very well or at all....and quite a few things than many others can do much better than I can. But all that inspires me to try harder. If I don't learn something from someone over the course of a day, it wasn't a very successful day for me. By hanging out on this site I can insure that I have a productive day just by reading all the posts from all the very generous, very knowledgable, and very talented contemporary artisans. :) ;)
P.S. And if you want a detailed list of things I don't do well, my lovely wife will be happy to supply one... :o
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Hi Dave, I feel much the same way. I enjoy all of my hobbies very much, but I think what I truly love is learning a new skill, or learning how to do them better.
I'm excited to see the box you build for these rifles.
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Boy, you just get scary-better with every post. Make this puppy into a book of pictures, please...
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Busy these days.....haven't had much time to work on any of this. However, James Rogers just sent the little kangaroo leather bag he made to go with my grandson's rifle. I can't tell you all how perfect it is !!!! ( As is all of James' work :) ;) ) I need to come up with a strap for the little horn and do the scrimshaw work yet. For scale, here is a picture of a bag James made for me (also of 'roo leather) with one of my horns and one of my rifles. Also shown are the little horn, the new little bag, and the scaled down rifle. The second picture is a closer view of the beautiful little bag and the little horn.
When I opened the box that James sent the bag to me in, my wife immediately asked if I could hire James to make another copy of the little bag for her !!!!
Thank you again, James !!!
(https://i.ibb.co/VvR56sF/IMG-7162.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TH6dysQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/5Bs70N9/IMG-7163.jpg) (https://ibb.co/18RSgDn)