measument

[DB]

How much wood is typically left under the ramrod hole in the forestock?

[flintriflesmith]

A lot of modern builders use 1/8 inch as a rule when trying to make a slim looking forestock for a flint rifle. A heavy percussion period target rifle could be 3/16 or more.

[Dave B]

It would seem the average would be about  3/16 but when looking at a whole bunch of Originals Yesterday I was caught by the varius depths of the muzzle caps under the bottom flat of the barrel. If one were to be reproducing a copy of say a Kuntz his cap depth if you will is deeper than say  Lancaster. The first photo is of a Kuntz (Lehigh) the second is of a John Noll (Chambersberg) I believe. the third one I want to say is also a John Noll piece and lastly a Indianna Rifle by W Everson




This last on e has 1/4" as the depth of the ramrod to barrel thickness. It is going to be an important factor in how you shape out your forearm to know what web space will get you where you want to end up architecturally.

[flintriflesmith]

Dave,
You are absolutely correct that originals vary.

However, I believe measuring at the nose cap can give a false reading because some nose caps appear to flare away from the barrel. I believe a better reading is to take the rifle apart and actully measure using something like these double end calipers.

http://www.flintriflesmith.com/ToolsandTechniques/inside-out_calipers.htm

Pull the ramrod on a really slim early rifle and you will sometimes see the top of the loops exposed in the bottom of the groove. Those makers were pushing the limit of making the fore stock as slim as possible---usually they have the ramrod in less than half its diameter and the wood on the side flat of the barrel below the center line.

[Dphariss]

I sawed right to the bottom line  (the pencil line not the Sharpie    )  before drilling.
More than 1/8 is not needed.
Dan