A few weeks ago, I finally got a piece of walnut, and combined with a lock and barrel from a previous project that just didn't pan out, I now have all the primary ingredients for an early "black rifle" closely modeled on the "Old Holston Gun."
What I don't have are a lot of pictures - I have the two Muzzleblasts articles by Gusler, and of course I have seen the pictures of Ian Pratt's lovely interpretation that are posted on the Contemporary makers blog, but I was wondering, before I start drawing plans, if there were any more pictures published, or if anyone had some photos they are willing to share. The cheekpiece is a bit of a puzzle - are those moldings along the edge? They look as if they are underneath the cheekpiece, and it looks like the front part of the cheekpiece is has a chunk missing (can't see anything wrong from the top, though). I am also not sure what Gusler means by "relief fluted" in reference to the molding along the lower edge of the butt. Also, the top of the forearm seems to drop down towards the muzzle, so that it is covering half the barrel flat right at the breech but only a third or less at the front ramrod pipe, but I am not sure if that is an original design feature or only due to warpage of the forearm.
If anyone can shed some light on these things, I'd much appreciate it.
