Building from a blank Class end of class photo's

[bama]

Well the 9 day class down here in Alabama has come to a close. We had a great class with some very good work being done by the students. The wood chips was a flying, coal was a being burnt and holes were a being drilled at a furious pace. All the students had a smile on their faces and happy with their progress.

"Tall Paul" did the copy of my John Bull rifle which is a big heavy rifle. Paul is a big boy and handles the rifle rifle well and he did a great job doing a close copy for his first time building from a blank.

We put in 9 hard days of gun building. The average day started around 7 AM and ended around 7:30 PM in the evening. The guys worked hard and believe it or not I had to tell them to quit for the night on a couple evenings, a great group of guys.

I was informed that I had to have some Tee Shirts made up saying "I survived Jim Parker's full contact rifle building class" 

Here are a few before and after photo's for you to enjoy.

[Marcruger]

You're a good man Jim, passing along what you know.  Those are some happy looking builders.  Thank you for sharing.  God Bless,   Marc

[pjmcdonald]

Marc,
Those are some dang tired builders!

Folks, it was a terrific class. I can’t say enough about what a fabulous host and hostess we had had in Jim and Celeste. The instruction was spot on. Jim was there when we needed help or guidance and backed off enough when we just needed to work and feel our way through. And he quickly jumped in to keep booboos from turning into disasters.

I had several booboos. At least they were mostly different from the ones I made last year.

A quick recap of my build in class -
48” custom barrel in .54 from Rice. I’ll get the dimensions if someone wants them and Jim doesn’t mind sharing. Barrel is verrrry slightly swamped and starts at something over 1” at the breech. Yes, she is a heavy beast.

Fine block of curly maple from Jim. Barrel channel inlet by Jack Garner. Ramrod groove roughed in.

Finished RR groove to depth. Drill RR hole.
Inlet lock
Made and installed barrel tenons and RR pipes. Took almost a full day to get that dang blasted long skirt entry pipe made and in.
Forged and installed butt plate.
Rough shaped stock
Made and installed nose cap

Guess you can see all that from the photos. I learned what enormous amount of work goes into that short list of jobs. Trigger guard is left for another day (or days) with Jim. That should be interesting to make! In the mean time, I’ll take a break from it then work on some gentle finish work.

Yes, Jim, I will put away the big rasps and gouges.

For those contemplating a build who have never built a gun before, emphatically- take a class with Jim! At the very least, you’ll leave tired, satisfied, with something you can be proud of, and a shop name.

PJ (aka “rabid beaver”)

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Great jobs done fellers,... !! ... I know you feel accomplishment, and you did accomplish much,... don't stop now... keep posting photos of your finishing process,.... gotta plan to attend one of Jim's classes my own self... !!! .... WELL DONE JIM & CREW,... !!! ... Regards,... C C Fiddler,..... 

[Ky-Flinter]

Jim,

Looks like a great group of guys, having fun and building some great guns.  Good for you for passing along the knowledge.

I apologize but I have to ask, what in the world is going on in this picture?  This step was left out of my copy of Buchele.



-Ron

[WH1]

great looking group of guns especially the bull rifle.  Will be interesting to see that stock when he finishes it looks like it will be awesome.
I am definitely going to have to take the short drive and come see you and the shop! 
Also I want to get a look at that Bull rifle you are holding.

[n stephenson]

Jim, and students, Well Done!! I always like to see people learning to "stick" build!!! That is the only way that a builder will ever be able to go further. Starting with a blank , under supervision of a Master like Jim, is a real blessing! Looks like these men took full advantage of the experience!!  GOOD STUFF!!!    Nate

[bama]

Thanks everyone for taking a look at the students progress over the 9 day class. I will say that building from a blank is a lot of work but if you really want to learn how to build a rifle that is the way to learn. You have to plan out every move and have to have a good understanding how all of the parts work together before you ever start removing wood.

These guy did great and were a pleasure to work with. Yes we did have to come up with shop names for Paul and his dad Bob and Richard.

Paul- aka- Rabid Beaver ( can chew up a stock blank in the twinkling of an eye )
Bob- aka- Burnt Finger Bob ( can hold a ram rod thimble over a candle flame until fingers look like an burnt hot dog coming off the grill)
Richard- aka- Jarrow King ( can apply Jarrow's blacking so fine that you can remove a thousandths inch of wood at a time in an inlet)

Really fun and enjoyable class.

Ron I do not recall at this time why Richard had the barrel turned upside down in the stock but I know he had a good reason at the time. He may have been applying that fine layer of Jarrow's he became famous for.

Ron I just took another look at the photo and realized what Richard was doing, he was filing a grove in the bottom of the barrel to allow for the front lock bolt. We had to tilt the lock nose up a bit to clear the ram rod hole and we got into the bottom of the barrel slightly. If you look close in the picture you can see the grove Richard has file for the front lock bolt. I think he was using the barrel inlet to hold the barrel steady while he filed.

[hanshi]

That's some great gun building, IMO.  I do like the way the finished guns look; reminds me of pics I've seen of some originals.  WOW!

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks Jim.  I see it now.  Good builders learn how to improvise!

-Ron

[Stickburner]

The Tulle was a Centermark kit that appeared to be someone's first attempt at gun building.  It was donated to VN veterans group for a funds raising auction and I wanted it more than anyone else. 

I thought it would be a good starting point for my first build from a total blank but I didn't consider how much time and effort would be spent overcoming problems such as a breachplug we weren't able to remove, improperly located and aligned lockbolt holes and tang to lock plate holes,  misdrilled barrel lug and ramrod pipes holes, and a vent that was placed way too high in the barrel.

There was a lot of head scratching and brain storming  involved deciding the best way to overcome each problem.
 
I spent ten of my longest workdays in a long time and was physically and mentally exhausted at the end of each one, but at the end of each day I felt I had learned a lot and accomplished something.  Some of the most important things I learned were how to fix mymistakes.

I enjoy Jim's method of teaching and now feel confident I can build a gun from a blank by myself without mangling it too badly.  This is not a class for a beginning builder but in my opinion would fit in nicely between his kit building and carving classes.

Thanks Jim.

[Elnathan]

A quick recap of my build in class -
48” custom barrel in .54 from Rice. I’ll get the dimensions if someone wants them and Jim doesn’t mind sharing. Barrel is verrrry slightly swamped and starts at something over 1” at the breech. Yes, she is a heavy beast.

.....

PJ (aka “rabid beaver”)

IIRC, about 1 1/8" at the breech, rapidly tapering to 1" for most of the length, and flaring back up to 1 1/16 right at the muzzle. I went over it with a pair of calipers and a measuring tape a month or so back up at the Cumberland show. Very interesting profile, and in the original ~.48 caliber, very, very heavy.

I really like that rifle, Paul, and I am glad that you are reproducing it, particularly with a copy of the original barrel. It just wouldn't be right with a thinner barrel!