In the style of RCA 17

[Sawfiler]

I would welcome comments on my second build started at the Canters Cave class. Working to have this finished by turkey season in VA. First time making all the furniture, and first time attempting a barrel inlay, still needs to be engraved - hope to get to that this weekend. Still not finished with the carving or with the lock panels - I need to slim them down and blend into the stock more. Just looking for feedback at this intermediate stage of my build. Barrel is a Colerain 16 bore, stock is cherry my dad and I sawed, lock is an RE Davis colonial american. Only items purchased were the lock, barrel, and trigger guard.

[rich pierce]

Good choice and it’s looking great. Keep us posted. I see you didn’t go whole hog and splice on some wood. That might be over the top unless doing a bench copy.

[JVavrek]

Looking good Sawfiler! How long is the barrel?

[Curtis]

How much fun did you have with inlaying that brass plate in the barrel?  Looks like a good bit of work!  I was going to comment that you needed to work on the transition of your lock panels on the front side, but went back and re-read what you wrote about them.  You will be a proud man when you bag that first turkey!

Curtis

[rich pierce]

I think a small round nosed scraper about thumb shaped in profile could be used to advantage at the rear of the cheekpiece edge where it falls toward the buttplate. Think I see a little uneven-ness there.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Looks good except you are beginning the carving much too early.  The rifle should be finished almost to the point ready for stain before starting the carving.

dave

[Sawfiler]

I agree that I should have waited to start the carving. Seeing now how careful I have to be to protect it while working on other areas, and how shallow it is anyway drove that home. Most of the reason I started it was so I could get as far as possible while still in class and finish the other areas once I got back home.

The brass inlay was a pain, not sure I will do another, especially not an oval that goes over the sides of the top flat. I think I had about 8 hours in it. I had to make three different brass pieces before one fit the way I wanted and grabbed on to the undercut enough to hold. The problem I was running into was that the top flat would grab and then when I peined the sides in the top would pop loose, and my brass would be too deformed to try again. I ended up clamping the top down and soldering it in and then peining the side flats in until they grabbed.

The barrel is 44" long. I didn't splice the fore end of this one as the original is, and you are right I am not doing a bench copy, just following along as my skills allow.

[flinchrocket]

Looks good Sawfiler, I would just concentrate on getting everything smoothed up then you can touch up the carving. Work on the basics, nothing wrong with a gun with good architecture and simple decoration.

Those brass inlays on the barrel were probably poured on the original. Might have been easier to just fit and solder the whole inlay.

[Greg Pennell]

I like it.  That’s gonna finish up into a very nice turkey thumper (and deer, too)...especially nice that it’s stocked in wood harvested with your dad. Looking forward to seeing it finished!

Greg