Help me pick a project!

[Blacktail]

I'm looking for some ideas. So far I've done a TOW English fowler, a Chambers English Sporting rifle, and stocked some pre-inlet modern guns. I'd like to do something next level and am thinking about doing something from a blank but having Dave Keck inlet the barrel and do the rr hole.

I'm consigning the fowler to parts harvesting because overall the thing is shameful to look upon and shoots poorly. The lock is worth recycling, and the other parts as well, if not immediately, then at some point. The stock is garbage, and the barrel likely is as well. What type of gun would you fellows recommend for a first build from a blank? I'd be up for a half or full stock.

Thanks   

[Bill Raby]

Full stock is easier. Why would you pay Dave Keck to do the fun part?

[rich pierce]

Tell us about the barrel and lock. That would help.

[alacran]

Full stock is easier. Why would you pay Dave Keck to do the fun part?

DITTO

[mikeyfirelock]

Do it from scratch.......it’s a good learning experience.    Teaches patience,   I now do mine without electricity ( except for the drill press , because I haven’t gotten my hand cranked post drill up yet.).

[Cory Joe Stewart]

When I first started building I was very intimidated about the ramrod hole and inletting the barrel.  I did the same thing you are thinking, I built a Southern Mountain rifle from a blank that Dave had inlet the barrel into and the RR hole, but did no shaping. 

Since then I have been inletting my own barrels and the ramrod hole drill is not nearly as bad as you might think.  My barrel inletting process involves about 4 chisels and I can usually get the barrel inlet in about three hours or so.  Which is basically a shop day for me.

Cory Joe Stewart

[Blacktail]

The short amount of time it takes many here to complete inletting frankly amazes me. How do you go so fast? By having Keck do those portions it would take about a year off the time it takes me to build the gun.

Rich, to answer your question, the lock is just an L&R queen anne. The barrel is one of TOW's 42" .62 smoothbores. Would it be a better learning experience to try to closely follow a certain school, or not worry about that so much and just focus on coaxing a usable stock out of some wood?

[Not English]

I have no problems inletting a barrel and driilling a ramrod hole, I prefer to have someone inlet a swamped or otherwise shaped barrel. In my opinion inletting a swamped barrel is just a PIA. Ramrod holes and channels are easy to do and I prefer to do my own. You will find working from a slab is much more enjoyable and freeing as far as assembly goes, no dictates by someone else. I agree with Rich and Alacran about the barrel and lock. My experience with Track's parts has generally been good. I would not get rid of the barrel or the lock. It looks like you have an interest in English stuff. How about a type G trade gun or any of the east coast fowlers?

[rich pierce]

Blacktail, with a 42” 20 gauge barrel and that lock you have a lot of possibilities. Maybe consider buying a couple books for inspiration. Grinslade’s Flintlock Fowlers would be great as well as For Trade and Treaty. Inexpensive but very good.

Your choices could include a New England fowler, a club-butt style, Pennsylvania/Kentucky fowler, a smooth rifle, various trade gun- inspired builds and so on. Here’s an original Lancaster smooth rifle for example.

[Blacktail]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I will definitely use the lock, the barrel, maybe not. I was just looking at barrels, and I must say the 31" .62s available from Rice and Colrain are appealing for a short hunting gun here in brown bear country. That smooth rifle Rich posted looks neat as well.