Look on the sunny side - it is easy when you have more than one shot

[smart dog]

Hi,
Thanks for looking and kind comments.  It was a challenge to keep the gun slim and graceful.  The swivel mechanism and the back action lock tend to keep the stock fairly straight behind the breeches. That can create a slab sided hockey-stick look.  I took off all the wood I could and started my downward arc as close to the barrels as I could. Also notice that the tails of the lock plates are well above center but I shaped the panels so the beaver tails are more centered and it looks right.  I added brass inserts on the front sights as an experiment suggested by the owner. Dave Price's swivel mechanism is very well engineered and is not difficult to inlet.  The trigger plate and barrel tang are separate pieces from the swivel so they can be removed during inletting. That simplifies things tremendously. The lock and sideplate mortices look a bit like a modern side by side shotgun when you are done.  The stock was stained with ferric nitrate and tap water.  My water has iron in it and I think that may be enhancing the red tones I am achieving.  The finish is polymerized tung oil from Sutherland-Welles.

Bill Paton, hopefully the gun will be in town when you arrive but the owner may be on a moose hunt with it if he gets it sighted in in time.

Dave (TOF), three names yes indeed.  I wanted to give Dave Price the proper credit for the swivel and then I also added the owner's name.  If it survives 100 years, the confusion about maker would be fun to witness.

Thanks again everyone,

dave

[KLMoors]

Oh man Dave, that is too cool.  I like everything about it.

[J. Talbert]

I'm late to the party, but what a great gun none the less.

Jeff

[pushboater]

Beautiful rifle! Outstanding work. I hope my Swivel Breech turns out half as nice. Haven't had the chance to work on it in a while, but seeing this one has got me motivated again!

[flatsguide]

That is a beautiful rifle. Nice lines and finely executed.

[Long John]

Dave,

Superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[Dphariss]

Came out great.
Well that's kinda damning it with faint praise I guess.
I like it a lot.   

Dan

[smart dog]

Thanks everyone.  Dan, thank you. Even if you just said "it's OK" I would be pleased.  The gun shoots well and the new owner is shooting it almost everyday to get the load worked up and the barrels sighted in.  I used a laser bore sighter to get the windage set pretty well and the elevation so that it was hitting low on paper.  Now Tom, can simply file down the front sight for elevation once he has his load figured out.  I also gave him several wooden flints so he can practice dry firing at a target.  He flinches a little when shooting offhand and the dry firing should help him overcome that and be able to call his shots.  He doesn't flinch when shooting from a bench, which is interesting.

dave

[Ed Wenger]

Hey Dave, I'm late to the party as well,  very cool rifle!!  Lots going on with those swivel breech pieces, well done!


Ed

[C Wallingford]

Very nice. I love it!

[David Price]

Dave,
I'm a little late responding, I have been on a hunting trip all week and just got back today.   You did a beautiful job on that rifle and I am proud to have my name there with yours.  Just to be sure that you get all the credit you deserve  I just built the swivel action and supplied the barrels, you did every thing else.  I am looking forward to seeing it in person.

It is correct that some states do not allow a double barrel rifle for deer heating during muzzle loading season.  Here in N.H. it is also illegal during muzzle loading season.  If you only have the one rifle, the easy solution is to remove one frizzen during that time period and when the regular rifle season comes along put it back on.  Check with your own state rules to be sure.

Again, great job Dave.

David Price

[smart dog]

HI Ed, CW, and Dave,
Thank you for the compliments.  Coming from you guys, that means a lot.  Dave, your swivel mechanism is the best design I've seen and it was a delight to build into a gun.  Until you build one, it is hard to fully appreciate the thought you put into its design.  I am glad you are not upset that I engraved your name on the breech.  I wanted to make sure anyone who sees the gun understands that I just stocked it.  I think the most important thing is that the owner is very happy right now. Thanks again everyone. 

dave

[Mark Elliott]

Dave,

That is so good, it just makes me want to give up gun building.   

[smart dog]

Hi Mark,
You make great southern mountain rifles.  Please don't get discouraged by my amateur efforts.

dave