Left hand iron mounted Isaac Haines Project

[Chrisweiler]

Hello all!

Getting started on a new (actually first) rifle project. Highlights are 40" Bill Large .45 swamped barrel, Walter Cain single set trigger and Siler lock. Dunlaps is providing a piece of high grade curly maple, Jacks Mountains stocks is doing the basic stock pattern, ramrod hole and barrel in-letting. Have all of the furniture castings on the way. What I need help on is patchbox's, most of what I find are the basic kits. The fellow helping me build this has a great looking double patch box from Don Eads, whom I understand is long out of business. Any suggestions? Will post progress as I start

[L. Akers]

Patch boxes are not that hard to make yourself and you get exactly what you want.  The only tool you need is a jewelers saw with a few extra blades.

[smylee grouch]

Don sold out to Susan who sold to Ryan. Call Ryan at Muzzleloader Builders Supply.

[Joe S.]

Welcome and good luck on your build,always good to see another left hand impaired person like myself.

[oldtravler61]

We're not the ones impaired Joe. It's dem other ones.

[Joe S.]

it is said left handed people are the only ones in their right mind

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Now I feel lost...I'm right eyed and left handed.  I shoot right handed and it feels normal.  Left handed feels awkward as heck.  I pity the fools!!

[JB2]

Gee Taylor, with them kinda challenges, you better never try your hand at something like gun-making

[Daryl]

I've heard everyone was born left handed, butmost of us have been able to overcome that handicap.

[Joe S.]

I've heard everyone was born left handed, butmost of us have been able to overcome that handicap.

Yes I've overcome it to a point.With it being a righhanded world I'm now abedextist,turn wrenches,use drills,saws with either hand with no problem.Can swing a hammer either hand but the left hand is still a little gunshy holding nails,guess after getting hit a few time I'd be to ;DStill shoot rifles left handed but draw a bow back with my right arm and use my right eye to aim???Maybe thinking about it I'm lost too Taylor.

[oldtravler61]

No problems here. Shoot both ways. Use all tools both ways. Still confused both ways. Nooo problems

[Chrisweiler]

Appreciate the feedback all

Any links to kits would be appreciated, muzzle loaders supply looks like it has some good ones. Any ideas on toe patch box's? Might be a little overzealous for a first build (along with a pewter nose cap) but some of the Hershel house builds really have me thinking

[Chrisweiler]

Finally have everything in!

Breech


Full stock


butt/cheekpiece


The Walt Cain trigger...as rare as hens teeth per the gentleman in Toledo I bought it from


Trigger guard casting halfway thru cleanup


the V-8 engine, want to supercharge (tune) it


Entry pipe pre-polishing


Since I've been waiting for the stock and barrel to get back I've been cleaning up the trigger guard/ramrod pipe castings. Haven't touched the lock yet in regards to polishing. Rear sight is a 1770 Lancaster style from TOW, but not sure about it yet as the rifle is being built up for match shooting. Front sight will be a Thompson Center Patridge style

[Chrisweiler]

Inletting Breech

[Chrisweiler]

http://imgur.com/a/ErlYG

Will see if the images embed, the link should work.

Shop time has been limited, but so far the stock has the initial slimdown and barrel pinned. The lock plate, tumbler and bridal are inletted with bolts drilled/tapped.

I will say since starting this my inletting has cleaned up IMMENSELY.

Comments/critiques are welcomed. Visible mistake to fix so far is the right side of the tang (to be filled with acraglass) and a few chip's started along the lock plate (to be glued)

[Daryl]

looking good - lots of draw-filing, rasping and sanding to do - looking forward to seeing the rifle finished.

[thimble rig]

Take youre time.Put plenty of draft on youre parts that youre inletting and keep the tools sharp you will do fine.

[Pete G.]

Just an offhand observation/comment that generally the barrel maker's stamp designates the bottom flat.

[Chrisweiler]

I've wondered about that. I've seen guns with Bill large barrels showing his name. This barrel was breeched as such. Typically that is to designate what direction the bore might have run out correct? Hopefully it shoots straight haha

[Eric Krewson]

I have a gun from the early 70s that shows the barrel makers mark.

[Bob Roller]

I have a gun from the early 70s that shows the barrel makers mark.

With the letter "g" upside down and that number I wonder who did make that barrel.
Any history on the rifle?

Bob Roller

[Eric Krewson]

This is the same gun whose lock you reworked for me. A guy named Art Vandervogel made the gun  in the early 70s. Pretty sure it is a real Bill Large barrel, it is a 44 cal barrel hence the 444 stamped on the barrel. After at least 50K shots (according to the friend who gave it to me) it is closer to .45 cal now. It still shoots a one hole group at 50 yards if I do my part.

Art worked for Abercrombie and Fitch and booked hunts in Africa and other exotic places for celebrities.  I was shooting an archery tournament last year and ran into a friend who mentioned meeting a guy who said his dad once booked hunts for Fred Bear. I asked my friend if the guys last name was Vandervogle, it was, small world.

Here is what the barrel looks like inside, is the rifling consistent with a Bill Large barrel?

[smylee grouch]

Over the years I have had three IIRC Bill Large barrels and Bill breeched them himself and stamped the 4 Js on an oblique flat left of the breech.

[Chrisweiler]

This one might have been breeched by Bill as well. The other barrel (was traded off for stock work) with this one was a Bill Large  32 inch 54 caliber Hawken barrel that was believed to have had the breech, touchhole, and underlug installed by Bill.

[Bob Roller]

This is the same gun whose lock you reworked for me. A guy named Art Vandervogel made the gun  in the early 70s. Pretty sure it is a real Bill Large barrel, it is a 44 cal barrel hence the 444 stamped on the barrel. After at least 50K shots (according to the friend who gave it to me) it is closer to .45 cal now. It still shoots a one hole group at 50 yards if I do my part.

Art worked for Abercrombie and Fitch and booked hunts in Africa and other exotic places for celebrities.  I was shooting an archery tournament last year and ran into a friend who mentioned meeting a guy who said his dad once booked hunts for Fred Bear. I asked my friend if the guys last name was Vandervogle, it was, small world.

Here is what the barrel looks like inside, is the rifling consistent with a Bill Large barrel?

 It looks consistent with a Bill Large barrel with wide grooves and narrow lands.I had a 444 on the one
 silver trimmed half stock rifle I made and it was a 1:36 twist and wasn't my idea of a target rifle.
 
Bob Roller