To begin.....I'm not an expert on building LRs by any means but seeing I chose BCs as my favorite style of LRs, Schuler's LRs in particular, I'd like to pass on some of the disappointments and successes of building these LRs.
The information on BCs is limited and the building components are also limited......until recently, the TGs and Bplates had to be modified from other styles and fortunately they resulted in items which looked like they were suitable for a BC build. This took a while and on the 3rd and final attempt, the passable BC TGs and Bplates were achieved. I think Knob Mountain has a Bplate and TG that really looks good and from original parts.
Schuler made BCs w/ straight comblines and also curved ones.....don't know the reason for this, but I preferred the curved comblines....so made a tracing of a Schuler buttstock in RCA 1 w/ a curved combline and then enlarged it on the computer to a stated dimension. Have used this template for all of my BC builds except the first 2. All my BC builds are from a blank for obvious reasons.
Early on used "C" weight swamped bbls due to my ignorance and although they were somewhat "petite", they weren't petite enough, so went to a "B" weight in .50 cal X 46" long. A 3/8 dia RR was chosen because of the .50 cal. and Dave Rase did the bbl/RR work and also consistently made the web thickness at the breech 1/16" or slightly less and the web at the muzzle , 5/32" thick. The smaller bbl and the thin webs contributed to a very petite LR.
Three features of a BC LR are the curled trigger, the side opening Pbox and the entry pipe w/ an elongated finial....the curled trigger was easy to make, but the entry pipe req'd form blocks and originally was made one piece but later on was 2 pieces soldered together. The side opening Pbox posed no problems but the release was somewhat of a secret at that time, but one well known builder sent me pics of the BC toeplate release...was very grateful.
A leafy cheek star is also a BC feature.
Found that a high lock location was more pleasing and because a 1/4 dia White Lightning TH liner was used, the top edge of the liner was very close to the upper corner of the bbl side flat. Actually the 1/16" thick web at the breech determined the lock vertical position and this varied between the 2 locks used.
The wrist downward curve is started approx. 1-1/14" from the breech end of the bbl so the top of the oblique side flats of the bbl have to be filed to equal the width of the tang....a fake job.
Have used 2 flintlocks....both from Chambers. The Golden Age which is more correct w/ its Germanic design and the Late Ketland which to me is more pleasing but of English design. Would have liked to have used the Chambers Dale Johnson but had to quit building because of serious eye problems.
My carving isn't BC .....most original BC builders used incised carving and some of it has "washed out" from wear. Tim Adlam has done a beautiful job of engraving ....it seems to be a suitable style,
Some pics are shown below......the top pic is one of the earlier BCs which used a "C:" weight bbl and an earlier Bplate. ......Fred
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