Today my Soddy-Daisy arrived, and her name is "Maggie-Mae".
Just couldn't get the pictures of a couple of Soddy's that have appeared here and elsewhere out of my mind. After picking the minds of everyone I could fine, searching through my library, I was able to talk my good friend and gun maker Don Bruton into creating this fine rifle. Several e-mails with the Soddy-Daisy Historical Society which culminated in some old Soddy pictures and some of the original builders. Jack Duprey and Don Bruton exchanged a few e-mails on the specifics of a Soddy. My only input was for it to be in .36 caliber, black walnut stock and a 13 3/4-inch L.O.P. Don & I started on this quest in September and now only 4 months later she is born! 7 lbs. 5 oz, and 63 3/4-inch long. Like most if not all of the guns Don makes it is literally created with old fashioned hand tools and fittings from his forge. I did supply a Rice barrel 46-inchs long swamped with radius cut rifling provided by Keith Lisle. The lock started off as a Chambers Late Ketland most everything else such as toe plate, trigger guard, thimbles, nose cap, sights, side plate and butt plate came from Don's own hand in his forge. Some better pictures will be forthcoming, Jack Duprey was the first to see the pictures Don took and proclaimed it real Soddy-Daisy, saying, "very good job", "Looks like you nailed it".
The Bag, measure and patch knife were supplied by Charlie Brown of North Carolina and the powder horn was supplied by Tim Crosby of Ohio.
Don Bruton is not only a master craftsman, rifle builder, and forger but one of the nicest people I have ever known and I count him as a dear friend.
I will supply better pictures when they arrive and of course an article in Muzzle Blasts will be forthcoming in the fall or winter.
