Building a very slim LR

[flehto]

My favorite style of LR is the Bucks County which are known for being very petite so in order to make them as petite as the originals or even more so, the following are done and have also used it for building slim  Lancasters. A "B" weight Rice swamped bbl X 46" lg is used w/ both  styles.

Starting w/ a blank,  which is  sent to Dave Rase for the bbl/RR work and the webs req'd are 1/16" max  at the breech and 5/32" at the muzzle...Dave does a bang up job w/ these thin webs.

The bbl lug closest to the breech has to accommodate a 1/16 dia music wire pin w/o intruding on the 3/8 dia RR hole and is different than the other 3 bbl lugs which are inverted, dovetailed "T"s. See pic. Needless to say...very accurate layouts have to be made for this pinhole and also  for the #6-32 front lock bolt which has to miss the RR hole and requires a shallow groove in the bbl. 

To obtain  space  for the #6-32 front lock bolt tapped hole in the lock plate "nose", a high location for the 1/4 dia  White Lightning TH liner is req'd…..the one shown just misses the upper corner of the side bbl flat. A Chambers'  Late Ketlnd is used. W/ the Chambers' Golden Age, the White Lightning isn't as high.


From a side view, the following don't make the LR look more slender, but I do it anyways...the top of the forestock is quite a bit below bore center....this makes the thin  wood alongside the bbl more sturdy,1/3 of the RR is in the groove , 3/32" of wood is below the RR hole and the entry pipe drop down from the finial to the pipe is .040 { sheet thickness} . Because of the web thicknesses , both bottoms of  the lower and upper forestocks taper towards the muzzle...this was an unintended  nicety caused by  the web thicknesses.

To achieve a very slender BC or Lancaster, very accurate layouts are necessary and I hope this all helps.....Fred

[bama]

Very lovely work Fred. I have always like your rifles and your passion for the Bucks County guns.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I have the same detailed approach to building a rifle Fred.  Layout and prior planning is essential.  Your rifles will always be the measure of good architecture.

[hanshi]

That's one very beautiful rifle!

[Nazgul]

Very Nice!! Amazing that you can pull all these intricate details into such a slender package.

Don

[J. Talbert]

Your attention to detail is apparent in the finished guns.
Really nice work Fred .

Jeff

[flehto]

Thanks for the kind words.....believe me it's been an evolution to finally arrive at a decent, slim BC LR....Fred

[t.caster]

Fred, did I read that right? A 1/16" web at the breech? Didn't you use a forward lock screw?
I always admire your rifles!

[flehto]

Yes....Dave Rase was able to achieve a 1/16" max web at the breech and I posted a pic of the bbl lug req'd for the 1/16 dia pin and used a #6-32 front lock bolt ….a very accurate hole layout for each is req'd. The #6-32 bolt requires a  shallow groove  in the bbl. Having been a tool and diemaker, I have a depth mike that was used to layout the vertical location of both holes.....Fred

[oldtravler61]

  Dang fine rifle Fred...as always your attention to detail is remarkable...Oldtravler

[Mike Lyons]

Beautiful rifles fred.  You’ve mastered the ability to get them thin. 

[Capt Steve]

Beautiful work.

[smallpatch]

Dave does the same web for me.  You've really gotta be careful with your layout.  This one has a 6/32 front bolt, barrel,grooved for it to pass, and even a groove filed in the front bolt.

[flehto]

Hi Dane....that's one beautiful Lehigh....very slender. Dave Rase told me how he makes the webs so thin and can do it consistently. I've used webs as thin as .050 from him and it still works out fine. Have always admired your builds, seeing I like "skinny" LRs.....Fred

[Bob McBride]

Thanks for the kind words.....believe me it's been an evolution to finally arrive at a decent, slim BC LR....Fred

She’s a beaut Fred. No doubt about it. BCLRs have gone to the very top of my list based on your stuff. ....and those patch boxes are just the cats meow.

[flehto]

Most of the BC Pboxes differ somewhat....but they're all side opening. I've settled on  one  style and it has angled sides. One nice thing about these side openers is that a length of music wire can be used for the hinge pin....the hinge is straight unlike the end  attached  lids which have a curved hinge...I use  flexible baling wire for those. The lid  opener spring and its location are Taylor Sapergia's ideas....just had to use it.....Fred

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Very very nicely made Fred.

[Craig Wilcox]

Fred, you sit as a great inspiration to we neophytes.  Very much appreciate seeing perfection in your work.