V shaped fore stock...Nosecap

[54ball]

 My shop is coming back together after my basement flooded a while back so I'm back at my Mathew Gillespie.

 I'm considering a V shaped upper forestock. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the nosecap on V shaped forestock.
 Does the nose cap continue the V?
 Is the nose cap grooved on the bottom if it continues the V?
 Is the nose cap round and the V shape begins with rails of the ramrod groove?

 Sorry if this is just a basic question. The rifles I have studied have rounded forestocks and the photos of the V shaped riflers are not clear in that area.
 Thanks

[Mark Elliott]

Dennis is going to be the final authority on this, but I have only ever seen one truely "V" shaped forearm and it was uncomfortable to hold.    I would just make the forearm a little more "V" than "U" and make the nose piece as you always do.   That is, swagged one piece if no groove  (although a two piece is probably more common on 19th century guns) and a two piece if grooved.    The nose piece should match the upper forearm.   Actually, on my rifles, the nose (before the nose piece is added) is the model for the profile of the rest of the upper forearm.  I try to make it perfect and then extend the shape down the forearm.   The nose piece should, ideally, look like a metal skin on the forearm with a smooth transition from wood to metal.   Usually,  it is not so smooth or perfect, but that is what you are shooting for.  ;

[pushboater]

This may help. This is the nose cap of a little Lehigh rifle I built a few years back. This style nose cap with the open end was used frequently on Lehigh rifles.



Capt. David

[moleeyes36]

54ball,

PM sent.

Mole Eyes

[54ball]

54ball,

PM sent.

Mole Eyes

 Mole Eyes I did not get your message. You may want to try it again. 

[54ball]

 Thanks Mark, pushboater and Mole Eyes.
 I have been studying rifles in the library and it seems there's many types of nose caps on V forestocked rifles.

[Dennis Glazener]

I have seen several Gillespie's with vee shaped forearms but for the life of me I can not remember how the nose cap was done. I remember that Earl Lannings Gillespie had a pewter replacement and part of it was gone. I think it followed the vee shape of the wood.

I think I would make a vee shaped cap with the rr groove underside then soft solder a front on it. I have made seversl like that and they are not hard to make and look good, IMHO.
Dennis

[Mike Brooks]

This may help. This is the nose cap of a little Lehigh rifle I built a few years back. This style nose cap with the open end was used frequently on Lehigh rifles.



Capt. David

Nice! I'm having V shaped forend envy. I find that shape incredibly hard to pull off after 30 years of trying to avoid it.

[Stophel]

It does look neat, and of course, it looks right on a Lehigh rifle, but I've never liked the grooved nosecap design.  It's harder to get the ramrod out (and harder to make and inlet the nosecap!  )  I forget if I put brass rivets in the sides of the nosecap, or rivets in the channel...

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Here's a nose piece on a "V" shaped forend that is not quite as radically "V".  As the transition of the muzzle is reduced, I gently rounded the wood, and consequently, the nose piece too.  This one is a two piece cap, and it emulates the work of Jacob Kuntz.

[Mark Elliott]

Taylor, now,  that is a real work of art!

[Acer Saccharum]

Another hateful nosecap, this one is a full wrap, lapping in the barrel channel. I did this one, it took me about two days to do it. Now, if I had a master leaning over my shoulder, teaching me how to do this, I might be accomplish a nosecap in a couple of hours.

But why?

[Acer Saccharum]

And then, there is a tutorial for making a soldered closed-end cap. You can make the body suit a v-shape forestock.

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=24785.0

[Mark Elliott]

I am more interested in how you made the nose piece that was wrapped all the way around. Do tell.

[Robby]

Here's a nose piece on a "V" shaped forend that is not quite as radically "V".  As the transition of the muzzle is reduced, I gently rounded the wood, and consequently, the nose piece too.  This one is a two piece cap, and it emulates the work of Jacob Kuntz.

A true Masterpiece in every sense of the word.
Robby

[54ball]

 Thank you all for the input and the images of the beautiful rifles. It helps a lot.