Flintlock Stock--Now What...?

[Carl Dumke]

Hello All,
Well this is different--and I am not sure I know what I was thinking, but here goes.  I am usually posting on the accouterments section and now have jumped into the deep end.  I have wanted to make a rifle for myself for a long time, but never really had the nerve to actually do it.  I am retiring from the military in December after almost 26 years and thought it is now or never.  I picked up a nice curly sugar maple stock blank from a gun maker at a flea market here in Ohio.  He stopped making guns a few years ago due to his cancer treatments.  He had several stocks in the works and I picked the best of the lot.  I have some time, but the big question is...so now what...where do I start?  I learned horn work on my own, but if I screwed one up, it didn't really set me back at all

Any direction ya'll can provide would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

[Keb]

What size barrel channel is it and how long of a barrel can you put in it?
Once you figure that out you need to settle on a style of gun you want to make. Rifle? Smooth bore? Flint lock? Then look at a bunch of images, handle some old guns or ask someone you know who owns old or contemporary muzzle loaders. Buy the "how to" book of your choice. Have a plan.
Then get the rest of the parts. Parts aren't cheap so buy what you think you will be using.

[Keb]

I forgot to add buy a bunch of tools and a good sturdy work bench with at least 1 vice. Saws, drills, files, rasps, etc.

[gunmaker]

Keb said it,  Get a good book or 2-3 whatever.  Read them and come up with a plan.  Draw it out on cardboard, you can copy Track Wolf parts to play "what goes where" in full scale.  A huge help in keeping 2 parts from trying to occupy the same spot.  Lot a folks to ask questions on here.  ....Tom

[WadePatton]

The wood, nice as it is, will limit your options being cut already.  Measure the RR channel to determine proper packin' stick size and that's going to be just under your caliber minimum.

I don't know what all styles/schools use the deep crescent plate, but mine does (TN).

Did the gunmaker tell you what his plans were for that stock?  

Some decisions have been established, many not.  A puzzle and you has to bring the rest of the pieces.  It'll be a blast if you're like me.  And a pain too.  But probably all worth it in the end.

I'm starting my next two, and finishing my 1st for the second time (was rushed to get to woods last year, fixing "rough edges" and "fat" wood).

Much Luck!

-also- try hard to find an active builder close to you.  Those can be fantastic resources if personalities mesh. If you didn't get contact info of the seller, try that.  He may be able to help when he feels good enough, and he will likely know any other builders nearby.

[T*O*F]

Some get overwhelmed when contemplating building a gun, but you need to change your mindset.  You are not building a gun.  You are completing a number of small operations.  Concentrate on doing each operation in a logical progression and do each to the best of your ability.  Put much thought into what you are doing with each step and why, but don't try to overthink it like many do.  Once you have completed each step, they will miraculously turn into a finished gun.

[jamesthomas]

Keb said it,  Get a good book or 2-3 whatever.  Read them and come up with a plan.  Draw it out on cardboard, you can copy Track Wolf parts to play "what goes where" in full scale.  A huge help in keeping 2 parts from trying to occupy the same spot.  Lot a folks to ask questions on here.  ....Tom

  What he said, I think the best book to buy for a beginner is "The Art of building the Kentucky longrifle" There is another one out there
 Called "The Gunsmith of Greenvile County" but IMHO it is a bit to technical for a first timer. Also have a good back, you will need it, mine told me to never work on one again.

[J. Talbert]

Some get overwhelmed when contemplating building a gun, but you need to change your mindset.  You are not building a gun.  You are completing a number of small operations.  Concentrate on doing each operation in a logical progression and do each to the best of your ability.  Put much thought into what you are doing with each step and why, but don't try to overthink it like many do.  Once you have completed each step, they will miraculously turn into a finished gun.

This is excellent advice.
This, along with some guidance, either from books or hands on, on how to proceed in a step wise fashion are key to a successful first build.

Jeff

[kaintuck]

Ahhhhh....welcome to the dark side.....

Tools, books, bench, good vise.....and time.

Barrel channel has been cut for what barrel?
Get a track of the wolf catalog, and match parts to wood size......

Marc n tomtom

[Osprey]

Carl, in Ohio I would think you'd be able to find somebody fairly close that builds, find them and ask for help and advice.  Wish you were closer, we've got a group of 8-12 guys that meet every week and build.  Watch all the videos and read all the book you can, but hands on, in person help is worth it's weight in gold.

[Thawk]

I just wanted to say congratulations on the retirement and I wish you the best of luck transitioning to the world of civilians..  Otherwise I concur with what the others said. 

[bama]

Congratulations on your pending retirement and your rifle project. Like the others have said you have a lot of decisions ahead of you. First is to determine barrel size, straight or flared. If is a straight barrel and 13/16 or under barrel channel I would pick a late period style rifle. If the channel is 15/16 or bigger I would go with a earlier rifle. If the barrel is tapered and flared then I would look at how wide the breech end is and determine the style, the wider it is the earlier the period usually although a good number of early barrels were re-used for later rifles.

Once you determine the general style then you can start thinking about the other parts to complete your project.

When in doubt ask here before you jump, there is a lot of knowledge on this board and most of the guys here are happy to help.

Good luck

[tbarnes66]

After completing 2 rifles, I highly recommend reading "The Gunsmith of Grenville Co" before doing anything else. IMHO The Art of Building the PA Rifle is too vague in many areas for some one starting out. While TGoGC  is sometimes technical, once you get to that part of your rifle build, just keep rereading till you understand.

Also, as was mentioned before, don't get over whelmed. Don't try to memorize the book and for now skip the parts that don't pertain to you. After you're finished and decided on what to build, then you just take one chapter, which is one task, one at a time and in the order indicated.

The first part of the book details the various schools to help you in your choice of styles and goes into detail as to the tools you will need.

My life was in sales & marketing with zero actual hands on experience with wood or metal and I have enjoyed the process immensely.

[JB2]

Golly!  That purty striped wood shore is enticin', ain't it!  It could definitely make an impressive rifle, but...Have you considered getting another 'plain' piece of wood to start with, and putting that one on a shelf for the next gun?  I know it adds up $-wise, but I think fancy wood is intimidating, 'specially for newbs like me!  I have a hard time using nicely figured wood in the wood stove when I cut it myself, and tremble at the thought of burning up wood I paid for.  Think of the last horn you made...could that have been your first horn?   

Like others have said, that partially cut wood can limit the style a little, especially if you're not sure what you want out of it.  Books, and lots of pics, and handling some other guns will help a lot.

I bought a parts set with some amazing wood, and knew almost right away that I wasn't up to the task.  I also knew if I did screw it up, I'd have a hard time forgiving myself, and might not build 'the next one'.  So I put the purty-wood gun on the shelf, and bought parts for 'the next one'.  Plain-er style, plain-ish wood, and a style gun that I knew I would be wanting down the line anyway.  I can mess this one up a little, and get in some much-needed practice with tools and techniques.  I know as long as it shoots like I want it to, I'll be happy.  It's a hunting gun, so it'll get broken-in, by my hand, and that will make me even happier with it.  YMMV!