2019 March Rifle Building Class

[bama]

The March Rifle Building class at the Calvary Longrifle Shop is underway. I have 5 students in this class and all are working on different projects and are at different stages in each project so they are keeping on my toes. I have 4 repeat students in this class and it is great to see them and the projects that they have brought to class to work on.

Paul McDonald has brought a family rifle to make a copy of. This rifle I believe is an original 3/4 stocked gun in Walnut. It is a fabulous rifle and Paul is building from a blank, so he is starting from the ground up.



Pauls dad, Bob started an Issac Haines styled rifle from a blank in an earlier class and has brought it back to carve.



Lou is a new student and he is working on a Iron Mounted Virginia rifle.



Bob Sutton brought his Lancaster back from an earlier class to stain and finish.



Mike brought back his 75 caliber fowler that he started in an earlier class to finish in this class.





The guys are having a great time in class. I will be posting pictures of the classes progression through out the week, so stay tuned.

[Daryl]

Great, Bama - really like seeing guys hard are work, almost as much as I like to see Taylor working my my stuff.

[KC]

That's awesome, I'm sure everyone is working hard and having a great time.
K.C.

[Mike Brooks]

How many boxes of Band-Aids does it take to get 5 guys through a class?

[bama]

Mike so far we have had no major cuts that would require a band aid. We have had to have a couple of metal slivers and a few splinters that required a good pair of eyes and tweezers! 

[pjmcdonald]

A few more photos from the week. We had a great time, as usual. Jim is a natural teacher and a talented craftsman. It is a pleasure and honor to get to spend the time there.

My project is a 3/4 stock based on a rifle handed down through mom’s side of the family. No markings but likely 1860ish, given the known history. From the mountains of western NC. I took some liberties - I prefer flint and wanted a single trigger for hunting.





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I still a ways to go but fired it on Friday! Function check, you know!

My pop, Bob M, made good progress learning to layout and carve. Jim’s expert tutelage again! Pop admitted he doesn’t have an artistic bone in his body. However, after years as a pilot and A&P his has great attention to detail. Here he is pouring over details to embellish his Haines inspired rifle.



Wish I had a better pic of Bob S rifle, with him shooting. But I was videoing for him. He did a very fine job finishing his family heirloom for his grandson. Bob S patterned his on a PA/VA style that his ancestors might have carried “over the mountain.” Simple carving that reflects the family history and style really makes this.



For his first build, Lou made a great start. He earned the nickname “Shimby.” But he learned a lot and is already planning return trips to finish. Lou works with me and I tried to warn him - gun building is a lot of work but more addictive than crack! Unfortunately, he had to leave before he got it in shooting condition on Friday.



Slow and steady, Mike revived a two year old 11guage (.75) Fowler project. After driving in from AZ, I think he ran out of steam before he ran out of time. But I admire his workmanship. Tight inlets on those rr pipes.



I’ll keep working away on mine. I’ll start a thread on it for comments, suggestions, and critique if anyone is interested. Planning the next trip to Warrior, AL.

Thanks Jim!

Paul (Angry Beaver)