Lehigh County Re-stock

[Bob Gerard]

While awaiting 2-3 months for a couple of new Kibler kits, I decided to do some work on restocking the first rifle I ever built.
It is a Pecatonica River, Lehigh County LR  in .45 cal.  It has has a broken wrist from a bad fall and it's been stored away for almost 30 years. I will be using the same L&R Durrs Egg lock, the side-plate and the barrel.  I may need a new trigger guard if the old pin holes won't work, and the same for the thimbles.
The pre-carved stock blank from Pecatonica seems about identical in design and specs with the one I got 30 years ago from them.  Just as I remembered doing with the first rifle, I have to carve the barrel channel farther back into the wrist (1/4") to get the touch hole and pan alligned, as well as modifying the flared bolster tang.
Not sure why I am doing this re-stocking, except to work on my skills I guess.  I was a great first rifle, hope the re-build keeps her spirit alive.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... beautiful stripe in the old stock,... does new one equal,..?... post progress pix,...

[Bob Gerard]

The first had a premium curl, but the new stock is a lesser grade. I am planning a dark, dark finish to contrast metal gray and brass mountings.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

If you want to use the old guard and rod pipes, an option would be to fill the holes with silver solder and carry on as if it was a new guard, that you don't have to file and polish.

[Bob Gerard]

Thanks- I may try that. Someone also suggested doing a rivet thing in old pin holes. Something should work! 

[Bob Gerard]

I worked some more on my Pecatonica rebuild. I wasn't able to get the L&R Durrs Egg lock disassembled from my 1986 Lehigh build, so I did my best inletting it as a unit into the new stock. Very tedious work and I have done better. Also got the Davis triggers in, and the barrel is reset farther back to line-up with the touch hole. I have to trim a lot more off the stock fore as well, so the sides are lower down on the barrel side flats.
There's such a difference in when comparing the area of the lock mortise on a straight 13/16" barrel like this one with on a swamped barrelled one. Not much meat there in this one. I can understand why my original one busted in this part.

[scottmc]

Your original looks nice from the picture.  An old work friend of mine attempted the same kit from pecatonica a good while ago and totally messed it up.  Was functional but not pretty.  The lock was great and it shot pretty well if I remember correctly.

[Bob Gerard]

Some more accomplished on my re-stock project: I re-browned and scaled off the .45 cal, 13/16" Green Mountain barrel, and its looking good. I like the aged grey look with softened edges on the flats.
I was able to 'rivet' the old pin holes closed in the trigger guard which made me happy, so I can re-use it for this build (and did the same with the barrel under lugs). I really wanted to re-use the original trigger guard from my 1986 Pecatonica Lehigh for posterity and because its a nice one.
I trimmed the fore stock a bit more, lowering the sides to just above where I want them. Then I did a test-assembly. I may grind out about 1/32" of the front area of the pan. Though not necessary but it can't hurt. This would get the touch hole dead-center on the pan.
Now, I am waiting for the new butt plate from Track to arrive. (The one from my first build is over a 1/4" narrower then the butt stock of this rifle) I really want that on before I do much of anything else at this point.
Here are a few photos.






host images

[Bob Gerard]

Currently on pause with my Lehigh re-stock, as I need the butt plate at this time. While I wait for it and other parts to arrive from Track, I got back to work building a Mountain Dulcimer.
Happiness is a bunch of Curly Maple projects on the bench!

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ...dulcimore projects are an interesting diversion from gun building,... I'm a fan of traditional style 3-string, and really like your style of scroll on the peg-box,.... keep updating,... CCF

[Bob Gerard]

Thanks CCF! Yeah, Mountain Dulcimers and Long Rifles seem to go together really well, for some reason! I started making them in the late 80's.
(If you want to see some of my dulcimers, my website is at https://bobgerarddulcimers.com/ )

[Bob Gerard]

Lehigh re-stock update: I got the old butt plate, new toe plate and patch box in. The butt plate is from my original Lehigh which I decided to re-use, even though the fit wasn't great and the lid cut-out in it is slightly wider than the lid on my new patch box. I can't be too upset about it, I guess, with all the other little bits of 'character' the re-stock is enjoying!
Concurrent Curly Maple project, my Mountain Dulcimer (#121) is finished and sings well! (Joining wood-to-wood is more my speed, I think)
Today's project will be to slim down the rifle fore-stock, then get the trigger guard on. 

[Bob Gerard]

With the trigger guard on (from the original) and also the ramrod pipes  & nose cap.
Starting to do some work in the lock and wrist area now.

[jbigley]

That's looking really good. Why not re-stock? Now you'll have one you can USE, instead of a broken flintlock sitting out the rest of it's life. Thumbs up! --JB
(Dulcimer looks good, too).

[Bob Gerard]

Thanks jbigley. This rebuild was the first flintlock I ever built and hunted with - and harvested several nice deer with it, too.  Although the stock is new, most parts are from the first one. It will be a nice day when it's shooting again