Builders Bible

[Uncle Alvah]

I need to invest in a good book or two in the interest of building my first longrifle. A Southern Mountain to be exact. My knowledge is close to nill.
To be direct, at 63, its a tough thing to part with a $100 plus for a book. I'm not trying to sound cheap, I figure this may well be the only rifle I build.
I am doing library searches to see what I can get ahold of.
That said, when it comes to a book on technique, a "Bible" if you will, I'm certainly willing to pay whatever the market is.
If you were me, what one book would make it a point to own?

[54ball]

 Recreating the American Longrifle about 50 bucks.  written in American, a good simple instructional for those with common sense. May be out of print, I got mine from Shumway publishing.

 The Gunsmith of Grenville County about 50 bucks. Written in Canadian in a very detailed almost anal style....takes several read throughs to get it. Recreating the American Longrifle acts as the Roseta Stone for Grenville County.

 Both together...make a super resource.

 Dixon's Kentucky rifle book.....25 bucks From what I hear a very simple and good book.

 Then there is Jerry Nobles Volumes on Southern Rifle...features originals
 Then there is Shumways RCA series features originals
 Then there are many DVDs if that's your thing
 Then there is classes
 Then there is shows to handle real rifles in the flesh
 Then there is the possibility of study under a master
 All of this takes time, money and fuel

 I'm going to be honest. To build a good first rifle takes lots and lots of money and time. It's learning several new skills. Not only are you paying for the parts and the stuff, you are also paying for an education. An education that may take several rifles to become a decent builder.

 So if you want the cheap way out and a nice rifle. Find a builder and pay a few thousand for the rifle of your dreams. You'll save in the long run.

 If you want to become a builder, it's a journey and as we all know trips are expensive in more ways than one. 

[Mike Brooks]

You  might find this helpful.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=31173.0

[Uncle Alvah]

I appreciate the reply, points taken!

So if you want the cheap way out and a nice rifle. Find a builder and pay a few thousand for the rifle of your dreams.

I have one of those. Beautiful rifle, far beyond any thing I could ever do. Build by Old Archer.

At my stage in life, I have no aspiration of becoming a seasoned, or even an experienced builder. My only intention is to produce a rifle as best I can with what I have, and can acquire. Frugality is, by necessity, part and parcel with my life.         

[Uncle Alvah]

Tutorial looks great, thanks!

[PPatch]

Alva; I have a copy of "Recreating the American Longrifle" that I will sell to you for $20 plus shipping via USPS. It is an older copy but the basics of how to proceed in building a longrifle are in there. The order of the build is important. shoot me a PM if you're interested in the book.

The inletting of the various components, barrel, tang, lock, butt plate, trigger plate, triggers, trigger guard and such, proceed in a logical order before any stock shaping occurs, and all of those components define how the gun will look and function in the end, and act as your guide in shaping. I like to prep all the metal before installing.

dave

[WadePatton]

I acquired two building books (already mentioned), three reference books, watched the VHS of Hershel House (borrowed), read everything possible to find online and this site and the archives of the original ALR, mounted 2 full-scale posters from TOW on the shop walls, AND had a gun-maker guru only an hour away.  I made half a dozen trips to see him and I made a "try fit" stock mockup for pull and cast.

First rifle still sucks a bit.  But that's to be expected.  I finished it in time to hunt, then pared down the wood further, refinished some of the metal, then refinished and re-assembled and haven't yet finished fixin' up all the things that could be fixed on it.   But it hunts and impresses the non-builders and non-shooters.

The best advise ever was when John, the guru said,
  "Don't waste time fixin' up that one. GO ON and make another, make it better."

Which I am presently doing and hope it comes out more to my liking.  NOW I have an in-house "pattern" to go by.

ALSO, I've been to a few rifle shows now and seen/handled a bunch of guns since I completed mine.  This is necessary to get the best overall feel for it all. I'm not so sure that seeing/handling would have meant as much to me before I had a fixed point of reference in my own gun.

We shall soon see if #2 is better.  I'm hacking a channel in the Ash presently.  This is a break. oh for the love of Ash!  I always knew I wanted a "big" bore and a smaller one.  Then I thought what the hey, have three and cover all the bases.  Later I may want a true big bore for Moose and Grizz.  But I can stop any time...

THERE simply is no substitute for EYES of experienced makers looking at your work WHILE you progress and more importantly BEFORE you make booboos or stylistic decisions that may be difficult to fix.  With this ALR site, you can do that from anywhere with web access.  TAKE ADVANTAGE of it, especially if you have no local guidance or if he/she doesn't understand the style you want to emulate.  

So maybe go ahead and "loosely plan" for a second one, that way you can "cost average" your tools and reference materials and trips over two guns, not just one.  

also, you're not that old. John was 75 when I met him. He's pushing 80 or better now. 

[Uncle Alvah]

PM sent Dave

[Clark Badgett]

Jump all over PPatch's offer. RAL is a great book. Get Dixon's book too. Both of these are great for beginners. Alexander's GGC is a lot more technical, which works for me, but not for everyone.

Trust me, once you get #1 done, and even if it's not as great as many others, you will want to try #2, and at some point a close friend or family member will start to bug you over building them one.

[Uncle Alvah]

that way you can "cost average" your tools and reference materials and trips over two guns, not just one. 

I like how you think

[smallpatch]

Alva,

Track has Recreating the American Lonrifle in stock for $35.00.

[Wolfshead]

I am awaiting my first parts assembly also
I have been playing with this idea for a couple of years (seriously building my own rifle)
Since I began my interest I began obtaining my "library" so to speak
I have these titles
Alexander's Gunbuilders of Greville County
Dixon's building a muzzleloader
Recreating the American Longrifle
And, The Longrifle Construction Manual by Susanne Warren-Bicio
I think they all have something different to add and would benefit any new builder.
But if I were in your situation I would take up PPatch on his offer AND I would get Dixon's book as well.
Just the point of view from a fellow rookie builder

[chrisdefrance]

Uncle Alvah -

To quote:  “ I need to invest in a good book or two in the interest of building my first longrifle. A Southern Mountain to be exact. My knowledge is close to nill.”

Purchase the better books, as you do need the best books on the long rifles. You may find used books available.

For instruction on building rifles, make use of the Forum …“ You might find this helpful.” by Mike Brooks, who builds beautiful rifles.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=31173.0


There are other instructions in the ALR that you need to look at “Longrifle Construction Outline”
http://www.americanlongrifles.org/WorkShop_frame.htm


Mark Elliott's Simple Sequence for Building a Rifle - Expanded
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=30082.0

These three sites above should get you started. There are many excellent tutorials in the Forum under “ Gun Building “ You can dig through these tutorials…find something you want to keep and place the site into a “ I want “ on paper list or on your computer.
———————————————————————————————————————

You mentioned wanting to build a Southern Mountain Rifle. Check out Jim Kibler’s website… there is much to take in… on Jim’s Rifle Building.

The address below takes you to his Southern Mountain Rifle Kit.  Hands down this kit is the best Southern Mountain Rifle available. Read the reviews on the site…there are all accolades…
http://www.jimkibler.net/kit-gun.html

I am planning to purchase this kit but at the age of 64 we need to stick to the budget. I want the see the Museum of the American Revolution that opens on April 19, 2017 and the Tennessee/Kentucky Rifle Show. April 22-23, 2017. The next on the list is Jim’s Southern Mountain Rifle.

Best,

Chris

[SingleMalt]

Recreating the American Longrifle is excellent.  I've had my copy for close to twenty years and I still pull it out from time to time for reference.  The Gunsmith of Grenville County uses some techniques that I find cumbersome, but do work.  Which ever one you get, I strongly recommend a Brownell's catalog for specialist tools, like octagon-shaped scrapers.

[oldtravler61]

Alva check out Curtis building the Christion springs rifle. Many great photos that will give you a wealth of good info.IMHO Also I highly recommend Jack Brooks CD along with Herchel Houses enjoy your journey.

[Mark Elliott]

All the recommendations are great,  but you will need to also study the originals which you are duplicating.   I mean you will actually need to have them in your hands and feel them.  Otherwise,  you won't really understand what you are trying to recreate.  I see a lot of "flat" rifles that have resulted from people only working from books.  Really great photos like in Rifles of Colnial America can tell you a lot, but there are subtle details you can't see in a photo and are hard to recreate even if you know what you are supposed to do. 

[smallpatch]

Mark,
You are so right. 
Unfortunately, that doesn't mean happen in AZ, where I live.  Going to Dixons a few years ago, and being able to at least see some original stuff, changed my builds.
A first build from a blank.... a bit overwhelming. Most of us, start off with a kit of some form or another.  I guess I built a dozen or so before attempting a blank.
A good kit, like one of Chambers, at least gives some architectural guidelines.