RCA # 19

[J.D.]

I'm not sure where this thread should be posted, so if the moderators feel that it should be moved, please do so.

The Tim Murphy thread started the wheels turning as to what type of longrifle might typify the guns carried by Morgan's riflemen.

While looking through both volumes of RCA, I happened to look closely at # 19, again.  This is a heavily Germanic piece, but the lines and architecture speak to me.

Back in the late '80s, I contacted a fairly well known local, budding, but very good gunmaker to commission him to make a reasonable copy of this piece. he refused to build such a "boat paddle" because he didn't think it was a good, representative piece. He said that he "wouldn't put his name on something like that." He went on to say that he could just hear a master telling an apprentice" Ya, you go ahead and make it that way." said with a thick German accent. He continued to say that the reason that this piece has survived in such good condition is that it would be very uncomfortable to shoot, so it was stuck back in a corner, somewhere out of the way.

Maybe my perception of this piece is flawed, but I really don't think so.

I'm curious as to what the membership thinks about this piece because I have placed in on my to do list. I like the lines, but would it be a comfortable piece to shoot over an afternoon or to carry for several miles through hills and hollers of southern Missouri? I think it would make a dandy hunting, trekking, reenacting piece, but what say you?

God bless

[rich pierce]

I'm building one.  The architecture is great for shooting, similar to an English sporting rifle in drop, etc.  Most early guns have great shooting architecture. Mine is .54, rifled.  Need to find time to finsih it in between making flints.



Carving isn't that deep- raking light.

[Bill of the 45th]

Rich, you got the profile right on, J.D. the main reason it's that thick boat paddle profile is because it's a Pecatonica pre carve that John Schreit forgot to remove enough wood from.  For real, it's that for the large bore, .60 cal, it needs that much meat for proper proportion  for the big barrel, and to handle a heavy load.  I think it's a beaut, and I love the incised carving.  I'm thinking of using it on the early Carolina smooth rifle I'm finishing.  I would think there's a number of builders that would take the rifle on, especially because of it's historical significance, as the earliest dated gun.

Bill

[rallen]

J.D. I'm with you on RCA19. I would love to add that to my collection. As a big fan of Reading guns, if that's what it really is?, they are wonderful to shoulder as Rich said.  I own copies of RCA 20, 21.  If you compare 19 to 20, the dimensions are very similar. 20 is probably my favorite gun.  The 12 15/16" trigger-pull is going to put the barrel in a nice position in relation to your hand and weight distribution. For me, those early Reading guns just feel right. The 37-38" barrel is going to make for a nice handling gun.  19 has a more pronounced cheek-piece which is not necessarily a bad thing. It may make the gun more pleasant to shoot.  It does that for 21. In the pictures, it looks like it is a nice, slender gun. Wonderful early piece.
Ryan

[B.Habermehl]

Having seen the Schriet rifle in person down at Reading,  It's not as big and bulky as you would think. It's slimmed out as much as you could get having a barrel as large at the breech could be. He did not leave any extra wood. The biggest mistake we recreators make is not removing nearly enough wood.  BJH

[J.D.]

Rich, you got the profile right on, J.D. the main reason it's that thick boat paddle profile is because it's a Pecatonica pre carve that John Schreit forgot to remove enough wood from. 

Now that is funny. I can relate to leaving too much wood on 'em.

Rich,
That is nice work. I can't wait to see the finished piece.

Which lock did you use for that early piece?

 I remember seeing a similar buttpiece offered by one of the suppliers, but I don't think that it was wide enough for this piece, so I'm wondering where you got that buttpiece? The guard looks uncannily like one of Reaves pieces?

I am thinking .60 cal, C wt,  full octagon swamped, 38" barrel to mount on the boat paddle stock. IMHO, that is some stylish boat paddle though. 

I have always liked that piece, but the gunmakers comments caused some reservations as to how comfortable it would be to hold and shoot, so I do appreciate everyone's comments.


 God bless

[Stophel]

Really, boat paddle?   I always found it relatively slim for such a gun.  And a most excellent example of an apparent 1760's gun.

I guess better a boat paddle than a hockey stick.

 

[rich pierce]

JD, the lock is a Chambers Germanic with some of the banana curve removed.  Got that trick from Acer.  The barrel is profiled off the original by John Getz but is rifled, .54.  The guard is a butchered-up Reeves Marshall guard.  The stuff is so soft and pliable it can take a lot of reshaping with annealing between workings.  The buttplate is from a Reeves fowler or musket pattern and I peened it out to be longer, cut it off square, and reshaped the tang.  Now you guys have me fired up to finish it.

[J.D.]

I just happen to have a Marshal TG and a blob BP, bought from Reaves for another future project, so I might have to move this one ahead of some of the others on my wish list. Now all I need is a nice piece of walnut, a lock, a barrel, and some small assorted hardware. 

And yes, Chris, I do feel more comfortable with a boat paddle in my hands as opposed to a hockey stick. 

God bless

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Looks like this one might be asy to make a sheet brass buttplate for??

[Michael]

Boat paddle??

I sure like mine, it is my favorite deer hunting rifle. The short barrel makes it handy to use on the mountain where I hunt. I did put a sling on it to free up both hands when dragging a deer back to the truck!

I think the butt piece may be from a French trade gun.

Michael

[Mike Brooks]

Looks like this one might be asy to make a sheet brass buttplate for??

yep, easy. That's what I always  say when I make a sheet brass buttplate like that one.....

[Cody Tetachuk]

I guess better a boat paddle than a hockey stick.

 

Well now that would depend on whether the water is frozen or not!.

[alex e.]

I have a copy of #19 made by Ron Luckenbill[a pretty good one i might add,He did a great job on it .I'll try to post pics of it if I can find some,or take new ones unless Ron can post a couple.
For me it is the most naturally holding gun i have ever had.and in the short few years I 've had it ,its taken plenty of game.but I did go with a .62" rifle barrel though.

The buttplate is definitely French styled  but the engraving does not seem to be.
for some reason that gun always stood out to me even  long before  I wanted one.

Composite guns do something for me. I guess its wondering what their story is...