A friends 45 virginia

[wattlebuster]

I got a friend that like shootin my flintlocks and wants one himself but thinks he cant afford one. I asked his wife what she was getting him for his birthday/christmas since they are so close together and she said she had no idea. I suggested she buy the parts and let me build him a rifle. She liked the idea and I started getting the parts together and about late summer i finally got started and now Im finally finished. Now keep in mind Im no pro at this so there is quite a few cosmetic mistakes but it should be a strong gun and a good shooter. The barrel is a 38 inch 45 cal swamped colerain. The lock is a chambers roundfaced english. The stock is a pecatonica plain maple. They inlet the barrel and drilled the ramrod hole and I did the rest. I made the sideplate to help her save a few bucks. The trigger is a davis single, the buttplate, triggerguard, ramrod thimbles, and nosecap is from track of the wolf. the back sight I left off cause I will need him to sight down it for clarity and the front sight is a 1954 silver quarter which is the yr he was born and I left it untrimmed so we can set the sights after she gives it to him. He likes browned metal and it has 3 coats of stain 3 coats of sealer and 20 coats of tru oil. I hope yall like 

[WadePatton]

awesome color.

[mountainman70]

Absoloootly awsome color and look.You can build me a shootin iron anytime.Very nice surprise and I would like to see his face when time comes.Thinkin about buildin one for my grandson.Best regards,and a very nice job.Hangin on in the mountains of good ol WVa.Dave

[Acer Saccharum]

I really like the story that goes with the gun. Neat project.

It looks like your overall workmanship is very good. Your architecture is pretty good, too.

One thing that you can look at before you build your next rifle, is to look at the comb/wrist area. The comb should really come more to a point. Yours is very round, lends a chubby appearance to the rifle. Little things like this make a huge difference in how a gun looks, feels, handles. I'll see if I can come up with some example photos of what I mean. But seriously, you've done a nice job with this gun, and thanks for posting. I look forward to more from your bench.

Tom

[Acer Saccharum]

Here is a odd gun, not a Virginia, but see how the comb line narrows where it meets the wrist?

[wattlebuster]

Thats does look better. My next one I will remedy that. On each gun I make,  I make mistakes, but not the same one's. I just keep finding new and more better messups.

[PPatch]

Your friend owes you beer for life! Nice shoot'n iron. The stock came out great.

Dave

[TinStar]

Very nice gun and nice of you to do that too!!!

TinStar
Soli Deo Gloria!

[volatpluvia]

wattlebuster, your buddy should have huge grin while rivers of tears are running down his cheeks.  this is a surprize, right?  HOpe he doesn't have a heart attack or stroke, hee, hee.
volatpluvia

[Eric Smith]

Your friend must be a very good friend. Nice job and a very nice gesture for a friend.

[TMerkley]

Looks Great, I am sure that once you get it dialed in, he will hit what he's aiming at with no trouble.

[Duane Harshaw]

that is a  very nice rifle,could you say what stain you used..

[wattlebuster]

Rusty I used LMF nut brown. 2 coats an followed with 1 coat of lancaster maple

[54Bucks]

 Nice job and a heck of a present. I'de like to see his expression when he first see's it. No doubt it's a sweet handling gun. I also think Colerain barrels deserve more credit as good shooters than they receive.