First Build

[Daveco]

Well, this is pretty well the finished product. As some might remember it started out as a pre-carve that was inlet for a small Siler and with some suggestions from some of you fine folks I whittled and hacked away and fit a Late Ketland to it instead. With  all of that coupled with my lack of experience this is what it is now:





And here's a pic with the bag and horn that I put together to go with it


The barrel is a Rice .40 Cal 42", Davis Triggers from a kit, Chambers lock, and the most of the rest came from Track- except the stock which came from Log Cabin. (I'll own up to the side plate  though) For the stock, I put on 4 coats of Aqua Fortis and topped it off with Tru-oil. On the metal, I used Plum Brown and then Aqua Fortis after scrubbing it back with steel wool.   
I'm going to try and shoot it in the next week or so to see what it'll do. Squirrel season is in now and early muzzleloader deer season comes in the middle of October. I think that it'll be great for 20 or 25 yard shots. (Recurve range)
 I know that there are a lot of mistakes, but I would appreciate any comments and pointers- don't waste your whole day on it though! Having never studied one of these rifles up close or even held one like this it's all just how I "think" it should be... I spent a lot of time in the Virtual Library and searching for pictures online.  I've got another blank stock and a .40 cal Colerain barrel ready to start on sometime this fall on the next one- that will NOT be a precarve.
David W.

[PPatch]

Looks real good from this distance, I know you'll enjoy shooting it next week. If there are any areas of the gun you want folks to remark on take some close-ups of them. Work out some loads for it, btw, she ought to shoot well far beyond 25 yards.

It would be good if you could get to look at and handle a few originals, perhaps attend one of the muzzleloading events around the country. I'll tell you something about that too; make a list of the features you want to give some attention to when in the presence of those originals. It helps you remember what you came to observe. Then while the experience is fresh make notes and perhaps do a few sketches to aid your memory later. Of course photographs help too but something often happens with pictures in the sense that they don't truly represent the item being photographed, drawings really help though. Good luck with the squirrels and deer - have fun!

dave

[Meteorman]

Better than my first!!
Better than my second, come to think of it...
And my third... Oh forget it....

Take a long hard look at lock panels on guns from the pros.......how they seem to emerge gracefully from the base stock wood.  Especially on the tops and bottoms of the lock panels - generally no tight radius from stock to lock panel surface.
Think about forming your lock panels with a rasp or larger half-round file only - that prevents the tight radius that leads to a "stuck on" panel vibe. 
I really had to gaze long and hard at some actual rifles before it kinda sunk home with me.
My work is nowhere near the quality that most here produce, but here's a pic of what I'm talkin about.  And probably not talking about very clearly....
Great effort in any case, first or otherwise. 
You should be proud of it!
... and enjoy  shooting it.
/mike

[Daveco]

Great advice gentlemen! Thanks!
  And I absolutely see what you mean Meteor Man- compared to those mine look like they were glued on.
 PPatch: I would love to get my hands on or even up close to some originals or some well built contemporary rifles but just don't see it happening any time soon. (And I was thinking about effective range on deer when I mentioned the 25 yards.)

[frogwalking]

How did you create the flash hole?  Did you use a flashhole liner or direct drill it?  This one issue can be troublesome.  Also, I recommend that you have a bullet pulling screw that fits on the ramrod, the ramrod end is pinned to the ramrod, and you have assured yourself that your cleaning jag fits and works properly before you shoot.  I clean a flinter with pinned barrel using TOW's flintlock cleaning device, but always have to grind or file off the end to make it work properly.

Don't be too quick to use the file when sighting her in.  I prefer a stainless steel rod, but had to use the hickory ramrod on my .32 last week and it worked fine.  (my range rod is too big to work on the .32.)  You will love the .40 caliber rifles, .40 is the best.

[Daveco]

Yes, it's direct drilled. I just de-burred the inside of the flash channel and put a very slight chamfer on the outside with the point of a small center drill. I figure that if it won't fire dependably I can always add a liner later. In fact, I bought a couple of liners with my first parts order and then decided that I'd try my luck without first. I've already pinned the end of the ramrod and still need to turn 10 thousandths or so off of my cleaning jag. It fits pretty tight with thin material but still too tight for the t-shirt cleaning patches. I'm glad to hear that somebody uses one of those cleaning devices that Track sells. They look like a good idea, but I haven't ordered one yet.

[whetrock]

David,
your rifle really is an excellent first rifle.
Here are a few links re panels on flint rifles of the north east TN style.

Charles Bean.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Charles+Bean+Tennessee+Rifle&view=detailv2&&id=282A9AF57B437E2F0859ABCD8ACB06E93B2146F3&selectedIndex=0&ccid=
GPvMy0WB&simid=608036961724268555&thid=JN.UOb2IZpzQ8tvGl%2fvC9W9Cg&ajaxhist=0

Elisha Bull.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Bean+Rifles+of+Tennessee&view=detailv2&id=282A9AF57B437E2F08592EA858FD6010D894FFCA&selectedindex=2&ccid=
p5QRQZ7O&simid=607989721376949693&thid=JN.7DYY9rIAHGeR%2Bx4KLhSqbw&mode=overlay&first=1

[moleeyes36]

(And I was thinking about effective range on deer when I mentioned the 25 yards.)

David first off, that's a nice rifle.  My personal preference for a target rifle is a .40 caliber, but don't sell the .40 short for deer hunting.  Granted, the deer in Kentucky where you're from are larger than those in Florida (West Texas has bigger jack rabbits than FL deer) but a well placed shot from a .40 will bring one down quite quickly well beyond the 25 yard distance you mention.  Several on the forum have in the past said they use a .40 for deer hunting. 

Good job on the rifle and best of luck during hunting season.

Mole Eyes

[Cory Joe Stewart]

As others have noted you have done a great job.  I love these mountain rifles. 

One thing I notice that will help create a more graceful appearance is bringing down the sides of the barrel channel to expose more of the barrel.  Many originals I have seen have at least half of the barrel flat showing, some times much more.  This cuts down weight as well. 

Keep it up. 

Coryjoe

[Dennis Glazener]

I know that there are a lot of mistakes, but I would appreciate any comments and pointers- don't waste your whole day on it though!

OK, just a few minutes of my day

That buttplate appears to one of Pete Allen's that is sold by several supply houses. I have seen it called TN, SC and Southern. I like the BP have used it many times myself but the radius in the corner formed by the forward extension and the back of the buttplate is more reminiscent of a Hawken buttplate than Southern (in my opinion). Personally I would square up that corner, otherwise it looks like a generic southern cast BP.

Looks like you did a great job on the rifle. Did you make the triggers? That front trigger looks hand forged and certainly not an off the shelf trigger.
Dennis

[Daveco]

Thanks Coryjoe! You're right, there's something for me too about the Tennessee rifles that grabs my attention like no others. While scraping and rasping this one, I tried to keep the barrel reveal measured and showing at least half of the flat, and pretty well succeeded- but not by much- maybe by a 1/16th" or so.

Dennis thanks for pointing that out! After reading your post I started browsing some of the pictures of these rifles and I see what you mean! None of the originals in those pictures had any such of a radius. AHA!! Another addition for my notes!  On the triggers though, you must be referring to the picture that Meteor Man posted instead of mine. I wish that mine looked like that! 

David.

[Dennis Glazener]

On the triggers though, you must be referring to the picture that Meteor Man posted instead of mine. I wish that mine looked like that!  Grin

David.

Sorry, you are right I was looking at the photos and the user names/id's were off the screen.
Dennis