My RCA #43

[Chowmi]

Thanks everyone for all the comments!  I learned a lot making that rifle.  It was great to really sit down and study a particular gun from our history. 

Now, time to inlet the tang on my next gun!

cheers,
Norm

[Adrie luke]

Hello Norm,

I agree with everybody, clean, good looking patchbox etc.
You started a new rifle. Do you also start a new job??

Adrie

[Jim Kibler]

That's pretty.  Looks like the real deal.

Jim

[Chowmi]

Hello Norm,

I agree with everybody, clean, good looking patchbox etc.
You started a new rifle. Do you also start a new job??

Adrie

Thanks Adrie!

Who knows, maybe this is my third career! 

Your stain is in the mail!  Hope it gets to you!

Cheers,
Norm

[Not English]

Norm, I really like what you've done, nice color and carving. I'm glad to see that you kept the barrel in the white. I am of the opinion that probably the majority of the original guns were finished in the white. Most of the originals I've had the good luck to examine had white barrels as shown by the sections that were protected by the forestock  when the barrels were removed. After 200+ years most guns will show fine rusting/browning of the barrels. What did you do for white metal? I draw file mine and then usually work it down to 400 grit finish followed by a good oiling. The first barrel I did is till white although there's considerable graying around the lock area. All I do is steel wool (0000) the rust spots and then oil. After almost 30 years, it's still looks good.

[Chowmi]

What did you do for white metal? I draw file mine and then usually work it down to 400 grit finish followed by a good oiling. The first barrel I did is till white although there's considerable graying around the lock area. All I do is steel wool (0000) the rust spots and then oil. After almost 30 years, it's still looks good.

Hello,
thank you for the comments!  I draw filed the barrel, and then sanded.  I don't remember specifically what grit, but I think mostly to 220 grit,  with a light sanding at 320, then steel wool.  After that, a coat of Renaissance wax. 

I polished the lock quite some time ago, so I don't remember exactly what I did for it.  I had changed the shape of the lock plate slightly, and filed a stepped moulding around the perimeter of the lock plate and the cock, as per the original.  After filing, I used a mix of sandpaper and gesswein 320 grit stones (hard and soft), then maybe some finer grit paper and steel wool. 

Cheers,
Norm

[homerifle]

Hi Norm, Glad to see that you finished her up. Good clean job!

[Dphariss]

Nicely done.
I really like the carving behind the cheek.
Dan

[TommyG]

That is a really great looking Christian's Spring rifle you built there Norm.  Very well executed and crisp.  Great job!

[G_T]

After a day at work, seeing your rifle brings a smile to my face. That rifle is a class act, all the way!

Gerald

[Chowmi]

Hi Norm, Glad to see that you finished her up. Good clean job!

Ha!  Thank you, I seem to remember you were there at WKU in Jacks class when I started it.  Seems like forever ago.  Im still drooling over the gun you made, your second, I think.

Cheers,
Norm

[Daryl]

Nicely done.
I really like the carving behind the cheek.
Dan

It flows beautifully.

[Chowmi]

Nicely done.
I really like the carving behind the cheek.
Dan

It flows beautifully.

Thank you, I can’t claim credit for the design, as it was my attempt at copying the original.
I appreciate the comments!

Norm

[coopersdad]

I'm late to the party, but great job Norm!  I like everything about it.

[Chowmi]

Thanks Mike!

Well, she definitely shoots!  I certainly like that Ed Rayl  barrel! 

I started at about 20 yards off the bench since I hand made the sights and wasn’t entirely sure if I got them right.
Turns out I was pretty close!


65 grains goes 2f, .530 ball and a commercial lubed patch. That combination was a very tight fit, quite hard to load.  5shots.

I switched to my own pillow ticking patches that are a bit thinner, just spit patched them. Easier to load, but the patches had blown out holes when I retrieved them. Some were shredded.
5 shots with spit patches:




Quite happy with that to start. I shot about 30 shots, with only one failure to ignite the pan.

[homerifle]

Your right Norm # 2 .Good memory thanks for the compliment.  I'm on # 7 now and banging out a knife or two along the way.  Looks like your getting your Rayl barrel dialed in. Can't beat one of Ed's barrels!  I miss going over to WKU. Are you still going?

[Chowmi]

I miss going over to WKU. Are you still going?

I missed last year, but was signed up for this year until it was recently cancelled. I will go next year!

Norm