late lancaster final shaping.

[uplandhunter]

can I see some pics of a finished late lancaster? I want to see how much wood is left around the barrel channel on a finished late lancaster. thanks!!

[rich pierce]

look at originals here
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=343.0

[uplandhunter]

I only found two top down views and they were not very good. so does any one want to take a few new pics???

[rich pierce]

I don't think this dimension is all that much school-specific (The final shape, and therefore the apparent thickness, is). The maximum thickness of the wood along the sides of the barrel in the forearm is determined by the thickness of the lock bolster because the lock panels must drop down some to stand proud of the forearm.   After that, there is some wiggle room for thickness.  1/8" is about where I'd end up I guess but I don't start there.  I saw it with at least 1/16 extra left on for squaring and for early construction stages like drilling for nails for the thimbles and underlugs.  Then I plane it smooth and even with a little extra left on to be removed during final rounding.

[Mike Brooks]

What is "late"? 1870?

[JTR]

No picture, because I assume you know the shape.

On a Casper Fordney, mid way down the barrel, the barrel measures .880" and the forearm 1.140". So the forearm is about .130" thick on either side of the barrel.
On another rifle, the barrel measures .876", and the forearm 1.052" That's only about .088" of wood on either side of the barrel.

John

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Right.  So on one, the wood is over 1/8" thick along the barrel mid way, and on the other, it's less than 3/32".  So, you can see that there is no hard and fast rule here.  You may be making it more complicated than you need to.