Scott Shea on blog

[Kermit]

Another from Scott's bench on the blog this morning. Very nicely done. He'd shared these photos with me earlier because I'm thinking of this same lock on a rifle I have in mind for him to build for me. Good to see it go wider, Scott.

[smshea]

Thank you for the complements Kermit.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Very nice looking rifle Scott.  I see a lot of French influence there, as well as some flavour of the Norhthampton School...butt shape, "V" forend, fleur-de-lis, colour.  Though the butt plate is not of the "sheath" style, it does not detract at all from the rifle's architecture.  I've handled lots of Lehigh rifles that didn't have that inlet return.  I personally would have used a different side plate though, but that's just me.
Very cool rifle.

[smshea]

Thanks Taylor!

  I hesitate to try to put the thinking behind that rifle into words.....but what the heck!

That is truly a "Clean the work Bench" gun. Nothing HC about it.

 It is owned by a Restaurateur that has absolutely no interest in Pa. Longrifles with the exception of them being pretty above his fireplace. He liked the "Sliding box thingy"....that's a quote. I handed him a book with pictures of previous guns and told him to pic out a carving pattern and I would see if I could make it work. I told him it would be a mix of all things East of the Susquehanna. Just a collection of stuff in the shop. He said "Cool".

 It was actually a lot of fun working with no boundaries or expectations except that it be pretty and shoot straight, much like years ago in some instances  .....and he loves it! 

 The best part of the story is that it is back in the shop to take care of some light rust on the barrel. I kidded him that the rust just added to the looks of the gun and that It needed some honest ware. He said to keep it and use it during hunting season so he can say its been in the woods.....Ya gotta Love it!