Lil' thumper

[Gaeckle]

Just completed this and hopefully I will take it to the range within a week or so. It's a 45 caliber that I think will be a nice deer thumper, it's got a 32 inch Douglas barrel 15/16's across the flats. The patchbox is one I've used before and is a copy of one that I made a rubbing from years ago. The barrel came from a  table at a gun show, with no breech threads cut and I think I picked it up about 4 years ago, the table holder said it was a Douglas, but I have no proof of that other than what he said. I think I paid 30 bucks for it. The stock was a stick of wood that an old departed friend gave to me. The butplate came from another friend that also passed. It was copied from an original and was sandcast (very rough indeed) and I  managed to secure quite a few of these. The guard is an original and the inlays are my creations. The lock is an L&R back action that I thinned down considerably. The triggers are Davis.

[okieboy]

 I like your rifle. It is good to see a caplock half-stock other than a Hawken. Guns like this (only old and beat-up) were the first muzzleloaders that I encountered, and they still have a place in my heart. The patchbox engraving is also tasteful. Thanks for posting it.

[okawbow]

I like seeing the half stocks also. I grew up playing with an old half stock rifle the family had. My first build was also.

[jbigley]

I really like your rifle. You did a FINE job on the build. Percussion halfstocks are great! I killed my first deer --many, many winters past--with a percussion halfstock. I'm interested to hear how it shoots. Just outta curiosity, what is the weight?--JB

[Gaeckle]

I really like your rifle. You did a FINE job on the build. Percussion halfstocks are great! I killed my first deer --many, many winters past--with a percussion halfstock. I'm interested to hear how it shoots. Just outta curiosity, what is the weight?--JB

I'm not sure, it's had a little more heft than the Thin Lizzy rifle (that gun shoots great, got s squirrel with it last weekend)

[hanshi]

Beautiful rifle in the finest (IMHO) whitetail caliber.  You certainly did a masterful job of building an elegant rifle.

[Gaeckle]

Just got home from a visit to Gettysburg. The rifle weighs 7.8 pounds. Not too heavy, or unwieldy, it balances well, hope to shoot it soon

[J.M.Browning]

Im very impressed with the smith work - the whole package .

[B.Barker]

Nice looking halfstock rifle John.

[Gaeckle]

Nice looking halfstock rifle John.

Thanks Brian

[Paul from KY]

Very nice rifle, and the patchbox is very well done, especially the elegant engraving.