Author Topic: A Rifle Named "Journey" (Read 11374 times)

Long John · « **on:** August 05, 2010, 03:08:34 AM »

Friends,

I decided to start a new thread rather than adding onto the one that already exists on Dixon's. It has taken me the past 2 weeks to find the time to take some pictures and get them posted.

As some of you know I have been working on a pre-revolutionary fantacy gun inspired by RCA 53. I imagined a riflegun that might have come out of William Antes' shop around 1770. Its my lie - I can tell it any way I want! Right? I finished it Friday night, July 23rd - I didn't want to wait until the last minute! Much to my astonishment it did pretty well.

The building of this riflegun was indeed a journey! One that I am glad I undertook. It started 10 years ago with my first entry. I was crushed when I got the evaluation form back and swore that I would not bother with this judging stuff any more. But the next year I was back with a second rifle and it did a little better. Finally, 2 years ago I entered a Bucks County squirrel rifle and I finally got a third place; at last something other than a green ribbon.

All along the way I was learning. I learned how to sharpen from Acer and David Price. I learned a bunch about carving from Darryl's critiques. I learned key insights about engraving from Cody, though not without some prying and more insights from Acer. Eric taught me the importance of attention to detail. One by one, each of my ALR friends tugged me along the learning curve, each with a helping hand if I wanted to put in the effort.

I figured that this would be the last riflegun I built for me. So I just decided to build as close to the perfect rifle according to my inner lights as I could. I wanted a rifle by William Antes with a wooden butt box and a long barrel. "Forget the judges - just build the rifle you want" I said to myself. But the lessons my ALR friends taught me had taken root!

Journey is the result. Thank You!

Third Place on Basic Conformation - the judges don't like those proud check pieces and butt box lids like I do.
Second Place for Basic Craftmenship, Patchbox Mechanism and Mortice and Carving
First place for Engraving (WHAT?

?) and,
First Place Traditional Overall - Apprentice

Indeed, a journey worth taking and Journey is a rifle I will keep!

Thank you my friends.

Best Regards,

John Cholin (and Ollie)

B.Habermehl · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2010, 03:17:36 AM »

One again congratulations. I only wish I had taken a minute with you to see your rifle in person at Dixon's. Really impressive. Now the challange is to improve on the next one. Hows it feel to be a Journeyman?

Jim Filipski · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2010, 03:37:15 AM »

John, Being there with you and seeing it first hand at our ALR tent!..... Excellent work Just excellent work!!!!!
Regards
Jim

Larry Luck · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2010, 03:51:54 AM »

John,
That is a very nice piece. Thsnks for posting it and including the history.
Another reason I regret missing Dixon's this year!
Larry Luck

smart dog · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:08:14 AM »

Hi John,
That is a beauty for sure. The lines are perfect and the workmanship is as fine as I have ever seen. You deserve the recognition. Hopefully, someday I'll be able to make the trip to the fair. Congratulations.

dave

Don Getz · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:25:04 AM »

John.....nice job. That curl really jumps out at you, what did you use for stain?..........Don

Brian · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:34:59 AM »

It can "journey" on over to my place any time it wants!

NICE rifle!

dogcreek · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:46:52 AM »

That's a fine rifle indeed! It was a wonderful journey, wasn't it? Congratulations.

Tom Currie · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2010, 05:31:35 AM »

Congrats again John. Was hoping you'd get around to posting some pics for us all to enjoy. Tell us about the guard and the especially butt plate you used, or is that made from sheet ?

John didn't mention this was all scaped, no paper. All the more impressive.

Rolf · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2010, 09:46:01 AM »

Congratulation John

! That is a beautiful rifle. Wish I could have seen it for real. I like the clean carving. What barrel and lock did you use?

Best regards
Rolfkt

Dr. Tim-Boone · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2010, 01:10:34 PM »

Beautiful lines John!! Congratulations. All of your study and work has created a fine rifle and a real piece of art. Cant wait to see what you do next!! Go for the Journeyman Blue!!

Curt Larsen · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2010, 03:48:37 PM »

Long John, that is just plain beautiful. It give the rest of us something to strive for. Your long journey has been well worth it.

Curt

Long John · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2010, 03:58:02 PM »

Freinds,

Thank you for the compliments. It does feel good to have finally graduated to "journeyman".

To answer some questions; the barrel is 54 caliber with radius groove rifling at one turn in 72 inches, 47 inches in length made by John Getz. The stock blank is sugar maple from Tigerhunt. The lock is a modified Chambers Golden Age lock. The trigger guard and butt plate castings were purchased components that are avaialble at Chuck's store as well as TOTW. They are that hard yellow bronze rather than true brass. You can really tell the difference when you try to engrave on them - instead of a nice long curl of brass you get little chips flying off the graver. The muzzle cap, ramrod pipes, ramrod tip, toe plate and side plate were all shop made from sheet brass. The front sight was made from a silver dollar and sheet brass, the rear sight from mild steel stock from the local hardware store. The buttbox spring, trigger plate and trigger were also shop made out of mild steel. For the buttbox spring I just shape it, lay it on an anvil and peen the surface all over. That work hardens the steel some and makes it springy. The screws were purchased at Chuck's store. The stain is vinegar and old barbed wire, what else? And I used Chambers stock finish.

I have another two rifles on my bench already. I hope I will have at least one at the fair next year.

Best Regards,

JMC

Don Getz · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:04:11 PM »

John...........Vinegar and barbed wire?

? Holy cow, never heard of this. Don't know about this, it must be the salt air
coming in off the Atlantic.............Don

Roger Fisher · « **Reply #14 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:36:54 PM »

Ok John bring her along to the Pines and we'll see if she shoots...

Thanks for posting the 'journey'!

g.pennell · « **Reply #15 on:** August 05, 2010, 04:48:31 PM »

Gorgeous rifle...love those lines! Congratulations, and well done!

Greg

ken · « **Reply #16 on:** August 05, 2010, 11:27:28 PM »

Great job!! I really like the lines and the job you did on the molding.Iguess the 54,s will be king for awhile

whitebear · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2010, 03:07:55 AM »

OK long John. I know what vinegar is and what barbed wire is so how do you use them together to stain a stock?

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #18 on:** August 06, 2010, 04:41:07 AM »

Quote

OK long John. I know what vinegar is and what barbed wire is so how do you use them together to stain a stock?

John chops up the barbed wire and tosses it with vinegar.... a cowpoke salad.

There is much archived debate over vinegar stain, or vinegaroon, in the archives. MUCH material. It's like aqua fortis, but when made with vinegar, it's acetic acid that dissolves the iron.

Fabulous rifle, John. While you kindly credit ALR members for supporting you, this rifle came out of YOUR determination and skill. You deserve every ribbon.
Tom

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #19 on:** August 07, 2010, 03:25:56 AM »

John...

Sorry I didn't get a chance to say "congrats" at Dixon's, so I'll say it here! That's a really nice gun and handles as well as it looks. I'm very happy for you and all those pretty ribbons are well deserved! I'll always remember you saying you were "gaberflasted"..., lol.

Ed

flintman-tx · « **Reply #20 on:** August 07, 2010, 05:02:11 AM »

Very nice !!!

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #21 on:** August 07, 2010, 05:14:14 AM »

Gosh John - she's just lovely! Congratulations on your winnings too. i wish I could have seen it in person. The pictures look fabulous. Thanks for showing it off.

Kermit · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2010, 01:16:40 AM »

"...the judges don't like those proud check pieces and butt box lids like I do."

Well, there's TWO of us who do. Sure is a gun to be proud of!

msw · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2010, 03:35:45 AM »

congratulations- you deserve the recognition and more- that's a fine looking rifle!

A.Merrill · « **Reply #24 on:** August 10, 2010, 01:25:44 AM »

Congratulation, it is a beautiful gun.

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Author Topic: A Rifle Named "Journey" (Read 11374 times)

g.pennell

ken

flintman-tx

msw