which flintlock building book to buy?

[WadePatton]

16 days of activity-one year ago...

is that
a
flash in the pan?

er what.

this thread should be required newb reading. 

[Ephraim]

I would go to a CLA. gun show take a note pad a camera and a ruler and listen to the men that know.
Ephraim

[Swampwalker]

It'd be interesting to see what he came up with, if anything.

[AeroE]

I'm going to add my two cents in case it helps the next person that reads this thread.

Don't be put off by the McRory or Dixon books based on a quick scan of the contents.  They both are full of information.

The Modern Kentucky Rifle by RH McRory is $9 at Track of the Wolf.  According to my second hand copy, it sells with a full size print that I don't have.  It's a little bitty book that reveals every step, but the quality of the photos inside are poor.  This is where The Gunsmith of Grenville County really shines for a beginner, especially one that is not familiar with the nuances.  In any case, it's worth every cent, and them some.

I flipped through copies of The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle many times before buying a copy at Dixon's Gunmaker's Fair.  I just couldn't see that this book could be of much help before then.  I read this one carefully upon returning home, and I'm glad I bought a copy.  This is another book worth it's cost, about $22.

I also have copies of Recreating the American Longrifle, Building a Kentucky Rifle which accompanies a video, and How to Build by Cowher, Hunley, and Johnston.  I think that every one of these books is worth owning, and I'm picky and not inclined to give a good review of a dog.  Every single one of these books either provides information missing from the others, an alternate solution to the various tasks, or a piece of insight missing from the others.   I don't have the Ravenshear books, which is probably a failing I should correct.

[docone]

The modern Kentucky Rifle book, comes with a full size rifle, and full size pistol.
It is a good book. Well done.

[the dude]

Hey Friend, You are not tooo clear in your enquiry, in that, do you want to learn how to make a lock itself - in flint, or do you want to learn how to make a gun, which just happens to have flint lock ignition.  If you want to make a gun, my book, the Gunsmith of Grenville County, I can recommend, or even, Recreating The American Longrifle, which I co-wrote.  If you want to make a lock from scratch, search for THe Journal of American Armsmaking Technology, now out of print (like my book), but there is an excellent article in one of the volumes on forging a lock from scratch.  Regards,   Peter A. Alexander

I have been looking for " the Gunsmith of Grenville County". Where is it sold for under $100.00 And has it been reprinted ?