Recommend a book, site, or person...

[RedRiverII]

I have a lot to learn and am aware of it.  How do I choose components for building a period correct LongRifle?  I am willing to do the research but am having a little difficulty zeroing in on the selection of parts.  If I'm to spend a considerable amount of time and effort I'd like to get it correct.  Has anyone written a book on specific builds?  I have several books and they cover most of building a rifle,  but I've yet to find one that lists correct components.  Thanks in advance.  I'm sure someone will suggest that I pick a specific rifler era.  So let's go with a 1760-80 era.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

One way is to purchase books like Shumway's "Rifles of Colonial America' Vol. 1 and 2.  Pick out a rifle you admire.  Then go to a parts catalogue like the one from Track of the Wolf in which there are full sized images of the parts they sell, namely trigger guards, butt plates, locks, and the like.  Find parts that look as close as possible to the rifle you like, read the company's preamble in which they describe the part as being from particular counties and from various makers.  Select the parts that are closest to the photos in the reference work, and carry on.  This can apply to everything from locks to nose caps, even patchboxes, but there are a lot of these parts made from sheet brass that you will be better off making yourself, to best emulate the reference work...this applies especially to rod pipes, side plates, and patch boxes.  In this way, you can put together a believable longrifle that will make you proud to show off, and will satisfy you for years to come.
I know of no reference works that describe and/or picture longrifles and list the parts that are best for that build, other than the blueprints that are sold by TOW.  And these often leave a lot to be desired when it comes to getting the absolutely best parts for a particular extant antique rifle.

[smart dog]

Hi RedRiver2,
I am very glad to read that you prefer to build a rifle with historical context and style.  It can be a challenge to get the right stuff.  I believe the Kentucky Rifle Foundation CDs of photos of original rifles are essential.  Here is their website address.

https://kentuckyriflefoundation.org/

Taylor's advise above is bang on too.  The RCA books are key resources for early rifles as well as Bob Lienemann's books on Moravian gun making. If you cannot find Bob's books, get the CDs from KRF for Moravian made guns.  There are 2.

dave

[RedRiverII]

D. Taylor Sapergia,  thank you for your reply.  I've been doing just that and will decide to move on the idea.  The mention of pride rings true.  I do like to feel pride in my accomplishments as well as many others, who seek the elation of accomplishment.  No matter the review or posting of many finely made rifles there will come those who judge,  some with wit and some with malice.  I guess I won't be able to avoid it.  Thanks again.

Smart dog,  Hey Dave you are correct here and in many other areas.  I  have the Kibler on order and look forward to my delivery date.  I think using the kit for a first time build/assemble is the best way for me to go.  As a beginner that doesn't have the 'eye' developed enough a straight forward approach,  the kit holds several advantages.  Looking at a finished long rifle it never occurred to me how the barrel is actually attached,  and several other minute details that you folks see several steps ahead of this novice.  I see a ramrod slides in on the bottom.  " Really?" most of you masters smile.  Who knew I needed a hole the length of the barrel 1/16" apart from the barrel channel,  and I'd have to drill it.  Or shaping the nose from the wrist or vice versa?  All I noticed from my beginning was " inletting."  Than was the trick to a build.  " Right " the sage sits back amused at this newcomers observation.  I have a keen advantage as a newcomer,  I know when I'm in the company of Master Craftsmen.  I was lucky enough to be warned to take it slow 'n easy first timer.  I have one set of Hershell House's build CD's.  That guy is fun to watch because he is so good you don't know how good he is.  Where I might go into a panic looking for some part,  Hershall would pull out a finishing nail and complete the task.  He might pull a quarter out of his pocket and produce a front site.  ( pre 1964? or so.) 

I will go to the suggested site,  thank you sir.

Any other recco's welcome!

[Frozen Run]

https://americanlongrifles.org/PDF/tutorial.pdf

[Gaeckle]

Learn how to inlet, everything on a gun is inlet: lock, sideplate, thimbles, barrel, it's all inlet into wood. Practise this, get a chunk of hardwood, inlet some pennies, odd sizes of steel or brass, take a piece of copper water pipe and flatten it out then cut some shapes out of it and inlet them. Learn how to use basic tools like  chisels, scrapers, small planes. Lean how to modify a given shape, learn how to drive a chisel, use a file and rasp how to keep your tools sharp. Most of all learn how go work your hands and learn now to look. Depending on where you live, find somebody who does this and ask to watch as they build. Books are good, but they only take you so far, watching somebody is, in my opinion, the best way to learn this.

You will make mistakes, but that also is a learning process.

[oldtravler61]

 This will ruffle some feathers...But in my opinion. Books an C.D.a are overrated !
  After building a few guns. Three  things that I have learned.
 1.  Hands on study of every rifle you can handle an Really look at it's details an archtecture.
 2. Above all try an find an experienced mentor to guide you! I learned more in three day's with an experienced builder than I learned making my guns.
 3. Last but not least learn PATIENTS can't say enough about that. An last ask the builders on here lot's of questions. These people KNOW their stuff. 
  Now if ya want to know what NOT to do.. Then I can help ! Lol
Oldtravler

[Scota4570]

For your first build select a Kibler.  From that you will learn how it is supposed to be done.  You can apply that to a to more scratch built rifles later.  Chambers is good too.

A parts set from the other guys are for experts.  The stock in particular may have problems that you may or may not be able to work around. Do not get one with the lock pre inlet. 

My first elaborate build was an Armstrong with all the bells and whistles.  IT is nice.  The engraving is OK.  The carving is fine.  I'd put it at the advanced apprentice level of execution.  The stock is wanting, I made the LOP too long, like a modern gun.  Because of the elaborate patch box it can not be shortened.  After learning more I do not shoot it anymore.  I spent about 200 hours on it. 

[elkhorne]

Check out Bill Rabys 4 Bore rifle build on Rumble.com. He is an excellent instructor and even though he is posting his 4 Bore rifle build, he shows numerous tasks that can be applied to any longrifle build. He had an excellent series on YouTube for a fusil, an SMR, an Isaac Haines Lancaster and now the 4 Bore but they took them all down because they were “gun building!” He is going to repost them on Rumble.com but it will take him some time. In the meantime, I recommend you start watching him and just take notes and enjoy the learning experience. This is not to take away from all the commercial dvds for sale but his build series shows somewhere around 60+ hours of instruction! Good luck and feel free to ask any questions on here in the future. Like the old cliche, there is no such thing as a dumb question!
elkhorne

[RedRiverII]

Thank you elkhound.  I have several commercial discs I bought and have spent money to learn about building a long rifle.  It's knowledge I seek and I appreciate your experience and suggestion.  I'm off to see Bill Raby's offerings. 

I don't think the social dictators have a lock on sharing info,  but understand they operate powerful engines.  Thank you for the rumble.com lead.

[RedRiverII]

Thank you once again Elkhorne.   I didn't expect all the chapters in that Bill Raby videos,  wow!  If Bill is reading this I'd like to donate some cash but couldn't figure how.

[WadePatton]

RR something else you may consider and I don't see mentioned here is to inquire here once you've sorted out exactly which gun you want to copy.  I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who may be able to point out specific essentials to recreating each of the guns most often copied.  Some things are subtle. Enjoy

[RedRiverII]

Thank you Wade Patton for the remark.  That is a great idea to ask the members here.  I'll select a rifle from several plans I bought.  I had a week of family duties and have been very busy.  I was never one to pick out detail as much as a serious collector would.  Some folks amaze me with their attention to detail.  I hope to become better than I am now.  Great site and wonderful folks on this site make this my go to page.  I'll pick the rifle sometime tomorrow. The more I look the more I see.

[Craig Wilcox]

Red, you will find that 99% of the folks here often bend over backwards to help out a fellow longrifle fan.  Hints, tips, suggestions - all given freely, and payment is passing your acquired knowledge along to others.

The other 1%, well, you do find ants in the sugar from time to time.

[oldtravler61]

  Redriver remember to pick a style that suits what you want to do most. I'm not a collector. So I don't have a strong interest in guns that hang on the wall or in a gun safe.
  But I sure do admire the folks that do collect. An I'm frugal lol.
 Hope you find the gun that suits you.
  Enjoy the forum... Oldtravler

[Not English]

Redriver, if you end up building from plans, do not be afraid to veer from the plans to suit your tastes and fit. Plans are excellent inspiration. I've never used plans for a build, but I do have a good collection of patterns for the profile of the long gun. If there's someone that you know who can serve as a mentor,that's even better. Most new builders tend to leave a first build looking too heavy to the eye. That's where plans can really help.