Author Topic: Anyone make a late English percussion precarve? (Read 9979 times)

Roger B · « **on:** January 10, 2011, 07:37:22 PM »

As above. I have this 1 1/8" Douglas .62 that needs something to do. Ever since I got my hands on George Ruxton's rifle, I have wanted one.
Roger B.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2011, 08:21:12 PM »

I don't think so, but there are several good blue prints out there that will steer you in the right direction.

T*O*F · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2011, 09:03:29 PM »

Rog,
I've got one of those Douglas barrels too and an old Hawken precarve. Had it for sale here a while back with no takers. The more I looked at it I saw an English rifle. A number of English t-gards are available that will fit and with the proper flat English buttplate, a Davis Alex Henry lock and dripbar, and an English breech you will have a passable late English common rifle.

Daryl · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2011, 09:54:23 PM »

This stock design would make a very good cap-lock Engish gun. The comb is quite straight, ie; close to parallel compared to a more angled Hawken's comb. It would of course, depend on the blank and what could be done with it as regards reshaping.

In looking over Track's stocks, the English Fowler stock looked not too bad as to comb and drop. Taylor has the figures for several English guns he's made. Perhaps he'll chime in here again with that info.

Even in .69 calibre, this stock design (below) is quite easy to shoot with up to 5 1/2 drams (150gr.)of powder. After that, one needs to want to shoot that much. The design drives the shoulder back and down which lifts the face up off the quite straight comb. This can also be seen in the picture of Dan shooting his late flintlock 16 bore, that has been posted on this site. With more angled combs, the combs top edge can be driven into the check bone, before the shoulder moves down. That's just my own thoery from shooting both styles of guns - it might be worth ziltch.

It might be possible to dupliate this stock, from Track's big, pre-carved fowler stock.

This stock design is the very best at handling recoil.

rich pierce · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2011, 10:17:45 PM »

Daryl,
The top gun looks like one of Hall Sharon's early offerings. Nice architecture for a large caliber.

Daryl · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2011, 10:32:00 PM »

That one was built by H. Henkeler. No one seems to know the name. It is well made indeed and is a 20 bore, smooth.

Dphariss · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2011, 03:58:02 AM »

Quote from: Roger B on January 10, 2011, 07:37:22 PM

As above. I have this 1 1/8" Douglas .62 that needs something to do. Ever since I got my hands on George Ruxton's rifle, I have wanted one.
Roger B.

I would have the barrel tapered.
The original Purdey print sold by TOW is good.
I thought Ruxton's rifle was a double?

Dan

smylee grouch · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2011, 04:11:19 AM »

You might try Pecetonica (sp) as I thought they had something along that line. Gary

LynnC · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2011, 05:15:13 AM »

What sort of dimensions are we looking at - drop at heel and comb? They look pretty comfortable to shoot with that near parralell to bore comb.....................Lynn

eddillon · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2011, 06:33:12 AM »

I don't know who carries a pre-carved English stock. Here are some photos of an English that I built using Track's drawing. It really wasn't that difficult to carve from scratch. Used some tips from "Bedford County Gunsmith". Started with a very expensive Circassian blank and found the stock buried in it.v I'll try to get a good photo to show the finished product. I am willing to share my methods. If there is any interest, the rifle could be availabe. If so, I'll post on the for sale forum.
Ed
http://www.neconos.com/detailsenglishperc.htm

Roger B · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2011, 02:59:02 PM »

You have to remember that I'm an apprentice wood butcher, third class, guys. Ed, you did teach me several things from just looking at your photos, though. Ruxton went north through Mexico with a double carbine, brace(s) of pistols, a fowling gun, & finally, a rifle of roughly .54 caliber by Thomas Baker. It is the latter rifle that is of interest. Sometime after his return from his first trip to the western US, he had the rifle modified by removing the flat English buttplate, patching the lost wood, & adding a curved plains style buttplate. He also (apparently) had the folding sights changed to folding semi-buckhorn sights. I wonder if Baker got a headache from doing the alterations. He then went on to die in St. Louis of cholera before he could make it back to the mountains for a second trip. I wish I could have been at the Planter's House for him; with a lot of well boiled water, salt, & sugar, I might have got him through. The rifle is in Jim Gordon's museum in Glorieta, NM.
Roger B.

smshea · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2011, 04:37:00 PM »

Ron Rodhe has a neat Rigby pattern that Ive seen built with fairly large 62. Shoulders like a modern gun, I think that is what he hunts with personally.

T*O*F · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2011, 06:21:08 PM »

Rog,
I don't know what Ruxton's gun looks like, but a recommendation cannot be given without knowing that. Is it a straight stock or a pistol grip stock?

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2011, 06:54:56 PM »

Roger,

You might want to give Dave Keck a call. He has an English Sporting Rifle pattern that is very nice, if that's something along the lines you were looking for. I'm just about finished with the one I'm building, and liked the pattern. It has a straight wrist, nice comb, and generally good architecture. I can send you a couple pixs if you think it might be something that would work...

Ed

Daryl · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2011, 07:24:06 PM »

Steve Zihnn makes a beautiful Purdey caplock with pistol grip, checkered, etc. Perhaps he'd rough out a stock for you?

Roger B · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2011, 04:12:31 AM »

I like the Dave Keck idea & I appreciate everyone's advice! Ruxton's rifle was a straight grip, but I got the caliber wrong. It was about .60. I also agree that a tapered barrel would be nicer, but apparently Ruxton's was straight. I didn't have anything with which to measure the barrel width when I was in Glorieta, but if it was tapered, it wasn't much of a taper. I have some pictures that I might be able to post.
Flint would be better still.
Roger B.

eddillon · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2011, 04:37:48 AM »

Here is my finished English(no checkering yet). Waiting to find a good checkering pattern on an original. Any one have any pix? Barrel is 36" Colerain tapered
1 1/8" at breech to 1" at muzzle. .54 cal. wish it were a .60 or .62. It would remove some of the weight.
http://www.neconos.com/detailsenglishperc.htm
Ed Dillon
If you think I am getting off topic, please steer me back.