Early Rifle from a Plank

[jm190]

Hi All!
   I'm posting a few photos of my first creation from a plank. I wanted an early rifle with a stepped wrist.  Inspiration came from the early rifles shown in Chapters 5 and 6 of RCA Vol. 1. and comments I found on the web of the characteristics of early rifles from the 1760s. My plan came from modifying a Lancaster plan using extrapolations from RCA Vol. 1 and hours of just looking at the photos in that volume.
   The lock is an R.E. Davis Colonial American and the barrel is a Colerain 44" .50cal. swamped "B" profile with round bottom rifling. The barrel is rust blued. The butt plate is 5" x 2". The side plate is my own creation. The stock was stained with ferric nitrate solution and has six coats of rubbed linseed oil, so far, with more to come. I'm not a carver or engraver so it's PLAIN.
   I know I didn't hit the "10 ring" but I was hoping it might be at least a 5 or 6. Thanks for any comments and suggestions for what I might have done different.

John

[JamesT]

John,

 That is a fantastic looking rifle. It looks like you did put a lot of thought into the planning. It is very neatly made and I like the finish. I would be proud to own that rifle. The only thing that stands out to me and dont mean to be critical is the lock panel molding in front and the beavertail in back look flat. Maybe thats how the photo is or maybe I'm just wrong. Either way you seem to have plenty of talent and should be carving a rifle or two. This one looks plenty classy to me without any though. Good job!

[bob in the woods]

I like it. That is a rifle that will be at home in the woods 

[rich pierce]

Really nice craftsmanship. You’ve got all the fit and finish skills you need. I’d have made the cheekpiece differently. More room behind it, not extending as far forward, little adjustments. Nice build.

[t.caster]

I'm with Rich on this build. Real fine work all around, but I would have shortened the cheek piece fore and aft. I love the early rifles, too!
Now take it out burn some powder and makes some patina....and memories!

[TommyG]

x3 on the cheekpiece.  But that is a real nice job you did on that piece.  Good clean lines on the architecture from what I can see.  Great job on the patchbox fit as well.  You may not be a carver or engraver(yet ), but you did carve those lock & side panel mouldings.  Overall that is a great looking gun you should be proud of.

[Craig Wilcox]

John, OK, so maybe not a 10 - but for sure a strong 8!  You have made a lovely, practical rifle of the 1760-60's that just begs to be used.  Fit and finish are both really great, as is the architecture of the piece.
Don't worry about the carving, etc.  With your skills, that will come.

[jm190]

Thanks for the compliments and constructive criticism. That no one mentioned anything about overall architecture makes me feel real good. I shaped the butt stock and stepped wrist from advise I received here. I should have asked about the check piece before the final finish was applied.

I went back and reviewed the photos of RCA Vol. 1 #18, #19, #41 and #42 which had the biggest influence on my plan. I can now see how I could have better carved the cheek piece.

Thanks again!
John

[Pukka Bundook]

I think you have done a very nice and clean job, John.

It Does look like it wants to be used and carried!

Only thing to me, the toe of the stock looks a tad long, but if it feels good in the shoulder, forget about that!

Very nice work!
Richard.

[taco650]

I like it!  Way better than anything I have made.  Enjoy!

[Dave B]

John, as others have said you have done an amazing job for the first time out of the box with starting from a blank. I don't know about the cheek piece being too long at least for an early gun. Just for a little more information Here is an early piece (Martin Meillin Rifle)from an auction and its got some things we can get some help from in the wrist lock panel and cheek piece architecture areas.  The comment about you tear drop being too flat is address in the picture. Most of the books don't give you this view and you have to as you have to extrapolate whats happening in the photos. Looking at originals is most instructive but for some of us we don't have any that are close enough to make examination possible with out major outlay of bucks. For those of us that like to build the early stuff some of the examples out there have some shapes that are a little over the top. I am not crazy about  the amount of drop in the lock plate to wrist on this example but you need to take into account of the parts being used. This piece has a massive breach to the barrel and the maker makes the transition to the rest of the wrist and butt stock work with in the style he is building. Same for his cheek piece yours is a little too short by his standard.  Yet yours is a feature found on an early piece. The take away is for building and early piece you need a D weight breach to pull it off properly. I am amazed that you were able to get a B weight barrel to look as nice as yours does albeit sacrificing the step at the rear of the lock panel tear drop.  As others have said you have been able to put one on the score board that is a solid 8 in my book. Well done






upload images

[Ed Wenger]

Nicely done Jon, and congrats on a first build from a blank!  I'd echo Rich's comments on the nice craftsmanship.  Other things like carving and engraving come after the craftsmanship.  Personally, I wouldn't sweat the cheek piece, as Dave's photos show, there are many examples of longer cheek pieces.  My only critique would be that it appears the forearm area looks to be a little flat sided, but that might just be the photos.  At any rate, nice job, and thanks for posting!


      Ed