new project

[gunmaker]

I'm in process of building a 1/2 stock English style  flint fowler made in Pa. shortly before AWI.  walnut blank, Greg Christian 28 bore 36" tapered rd. bbl.  brass trim, Chambers small Qn. Anne lock.  Not trying to reproduce a HC/PC just a lite all around gun.  comments ?     Tom

[Woodbutcher]

Very VERY interesting project!!! What would you estimate the finished weight will be? A bigger pix would be greatly appreciated. Just what I'd like to see.
 A lightweight,  handy piece for a .54 ball, nice for deer. Places to hide get kinda tight where I'm from, sometimes close shots.
 What barrel exterior, is it tapered, and if so, how is the under rib shaped and attached? Any reference for the design?
                                                                                        Thank you, Woodbutcher

[BIGMAN]

Very nice. Only 5lbs. Who made the barrel? can't tell if it is straight or not, looks like maybe it is a little thicker at the breech.

Oh, and Woodbutcher click on the picture and it opens up more an bigger one.

[rich pierce]

Tom, sounds unusual for Pennsylvania at that time.  The gunmaker would be competing with English guns.  If I was planning it, my story would be a Philadelphia gunmaker or possibly Newcomer out in Lancaster being asked by a local man of means to "make one like the London guns".  A few colonial touches would be nice.  An alternative is a British style fowling piece made on Long Island or the Sound but that would typically a big bore water fowling gun.  

[gunmaker]

Thanks guys, the bbl. is by Greg Christian 36" tapered round .875 at breech & .750 at muzzle with .10 wall.  I know it's somewhat unusual for that time but not WAY out a line I think.  Penn. fowlers were known to be smaller bore than Hudsons rv. or coastal waterfowl cannons.  It has a brass rifle butt plate--I didn't want a big honking large bore one to keep weight to around 5--51/2 lb. complete.  The front site is to be a small Lanc. hunters star with a pinned silver blade to show colonial roots.  I sweated (soldered) the rib & pipes all at same time with silver solder.  If you click on pic it will open the whole project from the start.  I haven't got the lock in her yet--I loaned it to a friend who works with me sometimes here in the shop.  Won't be finished until August sometime as I'm heading up to Oregon to visit family kids grandkids & I hope fish for a salmon or 3 ....stay tuned.  oh yea 1/4" cast off for a righty.  .....Tom

[Woodbutcher]

 Alright, I did as I was told, and clicked on the pic. Oh my! I'm in serious trouble now! I've been working in this direction for some time now, and here you come with this. Timing is everything! Must look up that barrel maker.
 GM, I've been infected with a serious and incurable malady, and you've made things much worse!
 May you be blessed with many good things on your trip, and return safely.  Your follow up on this project will be anticipated eagerly. Thank you very much, Woodbutcher

[ironwolf]

  Is that daylight between rib and rammer?   A common technique is to file a flat on the pipes and a matching notch in the rib so that they flush out one with the other.   Could be an illusion due to lighting.  I do like it.

  KW

[gunmaker]

Not an illusion, I did not inlet the pipes on the rod. Some lite shows yes but that little gap sorta forces the rammer to stay tight in the stock---I can't stand a rod that slides around & can be broken or lost in the deer/grouse woods.    Greg Christian in MS. is bbl. maker, posts on here sometimes this' where I found him.  Goes by olflint I think ?  He was at Friendship earlier this month.  Very fine work on his part.   Now to do mine.       again thanks for the comments folks. This' my 1st gun post on here & I know how particular some people can be, but I've got a thick skin--so let 'er rip.      ....Tom

[Woodbutcher]

 No Olflint or Greg Christian in the member list. Hello! Are you there? Woodbutcher

[gunmaker]

Sorry it's ghchristian  user name.      Slow Tom

[gunmaker]

Finished her up today, 5-1/2 lb as you see her, comments please....Tom

[gwill]

Your fowler looks really nice. One to be proud of. I'm curious about your nose cap. What's it made of and would love to see a close up photo of it. Great gun.

[gunmaker]

Here's an album of the entire build, click on 1st pic to go thru it, thanks for looking.....Tom

[Smoketown]

Tom,

Wow, you said that you silver soldered the rib to the barrel.

That sounds like a LOT of heat!

What brand and temperature silver solder did you use?
Who's flux?
What kind of heating apparatus?
Mapp, Presto-Lite or Oxy-Acetylene?

Sorry for the questions ... Been out of the loop for a while.
Feelin’ the urge to dabble again!


Cheers,
Smoketown

[Dphariss]

Rather than inflict gaposis by not fitting the pipes neatly. Put in a keeper spring at the TG finial (best IMO) or entry pipe.

Dan

[WadePatton]

...
What brand and temperature silver solder did you use?
Who's flux?
What kind of heating apparatus?
Mapp, Presto-Lite or Oxy-Acetylene?

...

Cheers,
Smoketown

steel gets a little red for silver brazage.  any white flux.  propane will work.  watch the flux-once it goes glassy (heated slowly to avoid cooking)-time to add filler. 

[gunmaker]

I use low temp solder @ 375 deg. F from Ace hardware--I know,  theres plenty of others out there, but that solder paste seems to work well for me. I even smack the rib/pipes with a rubber mallet-no problems.  It's the kind thats a paste flux & solder mixed.  just use a propane torch and watch very carefully for it to melt and turn silver color. Start at one end and work forward--or back.  No where near as hot as a charcoal blue at 800-900 deg.  The rod keeper spring is a good idea & I've used them before.   Thanks for the input.....Tom

[Don Getz]

Hmmmm.........  trigger before the lock, that's  a little different from the normal way.......Don

[gunmaker]

Yea it is that, but using tracks full scale pic's AND close measurements I did get sear distance to 5/16" for a lite pull.  actually have never did that before, just wanted to try it because of the scale pic's available.    Tom