Recent Posts

71

Black Powder Shooting / Re: Ignition speed and offhand shooting with flintlocks

« Last post by Habu on April 24, 2024, 11:49:21 PM »

The Manton rifle I fired at Tom Dawson's farm 50+years ago was as fast as my caplock Whitworth which had a top of the line Brazier lock.I dry fired that lock one time and the sparks were WHITE hot and sizzled in that tiny pan.I have yet to see ANY modern lock including mine that could do that.Some were better than others but not ONE up to the old Manton.Has ANYone in our time ever tried to see what those antique frizzens were made from??

A while back I picked up an orphan lock signed by Staudenmayer, one of Manton's apprentices.  Lock is roughly 4" long, semi-waterproof pan, no safety, so I figured it was off a pistol.  With the right flint it will throw white hot sparks that dance briefly in the pan.  Anyhow, the frizzen is made of very fine grained wrought iron, with a laminated striking face about 1/16" thick of what appears to be crucible steel.  Judging by a file test, the face is hardened to just under RC 60.   

Based on some experiments done with a friend who is trying to make copies of the lock, I suspect the frizzen may have been tempered using some type of interrupted quench.  Using a 1095 face, martempering has given similar sparking characteristics.  On the other hand, it may be that we were just more careful with heat-treating that test frizzen vs our usual methods. 

72

Items for Sale/Wanted / .54 Rifle FS Donation To Benefit The ALR

« Last post by Jerry on April 24, 2024, 11:11:19 PM »

I am listing a .54 cal. rifle with one half of the sale price going to benefit the ALR. It is full stocked in walnut with brass mounts. Hooked breech. 13 1/4” LOP. Total weight is 8.9 lbs. The 41” octagon to round barrel has a double wedding band. I can split shipping costs. $1600. Thanks, Jerry

73

Gun Building / Re: Follow along as Wallace Gusler builds a new Rev War syle rifle

« Last post by Dennis Glazener on April 24, 2024, 11:07:43 PM »

This is the second bunch of photos that show the progress of the gun.
Dennis

74

Gun Building / Re: Miniature flintlocks

« Last post by Mike Brooks on April 24, 2024, 10:42:09 PM »

It takes a very talented maker to make a fully functioning miniature long rifle. Most I have seen are very well done and demand as much or more money than many of their full sized counterparts being made by some well known builders. Most that don't appreciate the value of these or taking the time to build them are the ones not talented enough to do this kind of work. It's a labor of love and a display of talent that is above the average builder. If I ever get a chance to own one of Mr. Gerald Neaves miniature rifles, I will not pass it up. What a talent

Sort of a back handed slap there.....

75

Gun Building / Re: Ok why.....

« Last post by Hungry Horse on April 24, 2024, 10:12:36 PM »

 What an advantage on the firing line, you can’t tell me event old veterans of the range wouldn’t have one eye on this one. I remember when old Turner was advancing the idea of venting the drum on percussion rifles in the Dixie catalogs, to make the ignition faster. That was like drawing two extra aces on the firing line. Plus you could claim anything, because nobody was watching the targets.

Hungry horse

76

Black Powder Shooting / Re: percussion caps

« Last post by Kurt on April 24, 2024, 09:51:15 PM »

Bigmon, thanks for the tip on Dunhams, I picked up some CCI #11 there today. $13 a tin. Thanks again.

77

Gun Building / Re: Ok why.....

« Last post by ScottNE on April 24, 2024, 09:40:34 PM »

Aside from the hole, those inlay bands are pretty nice looking, interest subtle contrast.

78

Gun Building / Re: Miniature flintlocks

« Last post by bama on April 24, 2024, 09:31:19 PM »

It takes a very talented maker to make a fully functioning miniature long rifle. Most I have seen are very well done and demand as much or more money than many of their full sized counterparts being made by some well known builders. Most that don't appreciate the value of these or taking the time to build them are the ones not talented enough to do this kind of work. It's a labor of love and a display of talent that is above the average builder. If I ever get a chance to own one of Mr. Gerald Neaves miniature rifles, I will not pass it up. What a talent

79

Antique Gun Collecting / Re: Why I love Auctions That List Guns by the Name on the Lock

« Last post by JV Puleo on April 24, 2024, 09:21:35 PM »

I've done all my recent buying at auction. I especially like items that are misidentified. That fact is, I know more about the stuff I'm interested in than any auction house and I often find things that don't sell for what I would value them at because far too many people actually rely on the auction description. If you have to rely on  the auction house's description you shouldn't be bidding.

80

Antique Gun Collecting / Re: Joseph Golcher Flintlock Lock

« Last post by cshirsch on April 24, 2024, 09:09:11 PM »

Great lock!  Good idea not to use it.  It needs to remain in it's original condition.  Great piece.  Here's a photo of the original left hand Golcher lock in my collection.  I used this lock to make the molds for the castings used on the lock shown in another post. Never mounted on a gun and polished bright from the factory.  Chris Hirsch  https://www.texasguntrade.com/parts.htm