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Author Topic: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build  (Read 7435 times)

Offline okawbow

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3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« on: September 11, 2016, 08:14:04 PM »
Hi all,
a while back, I asked for help obtaining a small barrel and flintlock for a rifle I'm building for use by kids and small adults at our club shoots.
A member here stepped up and donated a 13/16", 45 cal. barrel and a small siler flintlock. Thanks JTR!

I got started on the build this morning, and have the barrel inlet and the stock rough cut. I'll get the frizzen installed on the lock, and harden and temper soon. Next up will be the lock inlet. I'll make the buttplate, triggerguard, thimbles, side plate and muzzle cap from sheet brass. I think the patchbox will have a wooden cover.

I'll post more as I go.

Chuck

3/4 rifle by okawbow, on Flickr

3/4 rifle by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline JTR

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2016, 07:36:39 AM »
Good start there! And kudo's to you for doing this for your shooting club!
John
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Offline Curtis

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2016, 08:41:15 AM »
Looks Like a fascinating project!  Keep it coming.

Curtis
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2016, 07:40:19 PM »
Turned a breechplug from 1" steel on my lathe. Sawed out the tang with a hacksaw and files. Bored and tapped the barrel for a perfect fit. Plug threads are 1/2" long, and the plug seals against the face of the thread hole.

This morning I inlet the breechplug and tang.

Tang by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline BOB HILL

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2016, 08:45:01 PM »
looking good ,Chuck. Thanks for posting your progress.........Bob
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2016, 12:31:30 AM »
had a couple hours this afternoon while waiting for glue to set on my longbows. Inlet the lockplate.

Lock plate by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2016, 12:36:33 AM »
Got back to the lock today, and installed and hardened the frizzen. I clamped the new frizzen to the undrilled new pan, and drilled the axle hole until it just touched the pan arm. then I drilled the tap hole, and ran the tap through.

I hardened the frizzen, which I got from chambers, with a map/oxygen torch. Heated bright orange and quenched in used 5w-20w motor oil. A file would only skate over the face. I then put it in my kitchen oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Sparks well with the correct size flint. The flint in the picture is actually one I took out of another rifle when it quit sparking dependably.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2016, 07:55:32 PM »
Got to work on the rifle more than I expected, because hornets have nested in the wall of my bow shop. I was stung 3 times, and swelled up like a balloon, so I can't work on bows until I have them all killed off.

Hand cut the ramrod groove and drilled the ramrod hole.

Inlet the lock with parts attached, and inlet and pinned the trigger. Made a trigger plate and drilled and tapped the tang bolt and lock bolt. The trigger pull is light and crisp. I used the Jim Chambers method for pinning the trigger.

I made and installed barrel lugs and installed some brass wedges I had lying around.

Will make the buttplate and trigger guard next.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

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Offline PPatch

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2016, 11:06:06 PM »
Coming along nicely Chuck. How do you go about cutting your ramrod grove?

dave
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2016, 03:46:21 AM »
Dave, I mark out the ramrod channel and clamp a straight edge on the lines. I score the line with a sharp knife and then cut into the line from the inside to expose a groove. I then tap a straight chisel along the line and chisel out between the lines until about 1/2 the diameter of the ramrod from reaching the final depth. I then scrape down to finished depth with a steel tool like the one in Gunsmith of Grenville co. book.

I went to town and bought a piece of 2'' wide brass .090" thick. I sawed out the butt plate shape and inlet it on the stock. I then bent a piece for the top of the buttplate and brazed it on at the proper angle. I cut the stock for the top piece and screwed the buttplate down with two screws. Then I filed the flats and worked the stock down close to the brass.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline Clear Spring Armory

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2016, 02:58:07 PM »
I have to build a few kids rifles soon, I'm wondering what measurements you used. Mostly the cast off, drop, barrel length, and length of the comb.
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2016, 09:32:53 PM »
The cast off is 1/8", the drop is 2 7/8", the barrel length is 31 1/2", and the comb is 8"" long. The butt plate is just under 1 1/2" wide and 4 1/8" deep. The finished gun will weight less than 6#.
And l.o.p. Is 12".
Chuck
« Last Edit: September 20, 2016, 10:07:39 PM by okawbow »
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2016, 11:31:34 PM »
spent some time today shaping the cheek piece, butt stock, wrist, and lock panels. Lots of refining to do, but taking shape.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline Black Jaque Janaviac

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #13 on: September 23, 2016, 05:31:51 PM »
It is good to see someone doing this.  I have a number of kids and all I ever managed to find was "sporterized" factory guns on the used market.  I came here asking about kits for youth-sized guns and managed to pick up a beautiful .32 complete from one of the members.

My youngest son is now asking questions about building guns and was watching me inlet the trigger guard on my TVM kit yesterday.  So who knows. . .
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2016, 05:25:31 AM »
Back to work on the rifle today. Since last time, I have made and installed the trigger guard, thimbles, and nose cap. I've worked down the fore arm some, but left it a little heavy to take the abuse kids can dish out.

Still need to make a side plate, and sights, as well as a ramrod. Will refine the wood some more, and drill a vent hole. Ill sight it in before finishing everything.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr
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Offline JTR

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2016, 07:38:26 PM »
Nice job you're dong there!
John
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #16 on: September 28, 2016, 12:29:33 AM »
Made and inlet the side plate, and rear sight. Made a hickory ramrod from a split.

Drilled a 1/16" vent hole and sighted the little rifle in today. Only had to file down the rear sight a little to hit dead on at 25 yards. Shoots as good as I can see and hold. I had a couple of flash in the pan out of about 15 shots. I may put a screw in vent. I left enough room ahead of the breech plug to allow for a 1/4" vent. I used 45 grains 3f and .016" pillow ticking on a .440 ball.

This has been a quick and easy build for me. I haven"t been too careful about inletting or file work, as I wanted to build this rifle as a shooter that will get hard use, hopefully by several youngsters. My goal was to spend less than 50 hours total. After 12 days of part time work on the rifle since the 11th of September; I have about 40 hours in it. I will spend another 10 finishing the wood and metal.

It came in at 5# 6oz. weight, and is very easy to load and shoot. I may even try for a deer with the little gun. It sure would be easy to carry and handle in the woods.

Untitled by okawbow, on FlickrUntitled by okawbow, on Flickr
« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 12:43:24 AM by okawbow »
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Offline okawbow

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Re: 3/4 size flintlock rifle build
« Reply #17 on: September 29, 2016, 01:45:15 AM »
I'll call it done for the time being. I may touch up a couple spots later on. Right now, it's ready for use in my clubs Mountain man shoot this weekend. A lucky youngster or two will get to use a rifle that fits them in the woods walk. I have a bag and horn and lots of balls cast for the event.

I stained the wood with a light acid, and then rubbed on a light coat of Mahogany oil stain. I then melted in bees wax and rubbed it into the warm wood.

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

« Last Edit: September 29, 2016, 01:51:49 AM by okawbow »
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