When you can’t build, study

[pjmcdonald]

As the title suggests, I don’t have the parts together to start another build yet. Having barrel inlet in stock and won’t pick it up until October. So I might as well try to learn something.






I’m still not happy with volutes. Architecture is based on 194 in Ivey’s North Carolina Schools of Longrifles. It is a Catawba Valley rifle. Also looked hard at several Early Deep River rifles; specifically 41, 44, 46, and 47. 41 is attributed to David Gross. The others, maker unknown.

Swivel patch box comes from 44.

I was a draftsman at a small engineering firm 30 years ago, right out of college. It is coming back to me, with help from drawings by Eric von Aschwege and Ron Borron. Tracing helped get me started. Then it is study pictures and adjust.

As Eric and assume Ron draw these for a living and theirs are copyrighted, my drawings are for my own personal use only. I just wanted to share as a suggestion for other new builders.

Handling and studying originals is best. A close second for me is learning to draw them. Gives me a feel for the basic lines.

Please, constructive criticism of my sketches!

And suggestions for hardware. Some was brass. Some steel. Some mixed. Some nothing but a TG and a pipe or two.

Regards,
Paul

[Mtn Meek]

...I’m still not happy with volutes...

Regards,
Paul

Try practice drawing the Golden Spiral.  It should help you with drawing volutes.


Your volutes don't have to strictly adhere to the ratios of the Golden Spiral, but they should flow naturally like the many examples in nature.  It's more pleasing to the eye.

[rich pierce]

Oftentimes we have to decide whether we should do a rifle “right” or like specific originals. If one’s plan is to build a gun which is “in that vein, but an unknown maker” it’s possible to do it “right” according to what is commonly held as best practice. But many originals and some whole schools break some of today’s best practices rules.

[pjmcdonald]

Phil,
Thanks for the suggestion. Good old Fibonacci and the golden ratio.

Rich,
I'm trying to stick to "in the vein but an unknown maker." Four of the five examples are by unknown makers. What I've come up with, that I find pleasing anyway, might be looked at as from a builder that apprenticed in the Deep River area then migrated the 100 miles or so west to Catawba county.

Found an interesting set of maps depicting the migration into NC. It shows Moravians, Scots-Irish, and Germans from PA moving into the piedmont area as early as the 1750's-1760's. Would explain why so there are so many similarities between many PA rifles and NC rifles.

https://www.carolana.com/NC/Royal_Colony/nc_royal_colony_settlements_1760.html

With all that in mind, I'm still undecided regarding brass or iron (steel) furniture. So many of the TG in NC were unique, I might try hammering another out.

Paul