Happiness is a pile of wood shavings

[David Rase]

Working on a second matchlock musket.  Hopefully this 20g will be more user friendly than my recent 12g build.  It is loosely based on the controversial Newtowne musket in the Smithsonian.  I tend to side with the "it's a fake" crowd but it is a cool musket so I am building my version of it and taking artistic liberties.  After my last two builds which I stuck to strict school guidelines, I am going to have a bit of fun finding the gun in this plank of wood.  Time to continue building the lock while I study the rough stock shape before final shaping.




___ appia

[Ezra]

This will be interesting and enlightening.

Ez

[bama]

Dave it looks like you are going to have a little more happiness before that shaving pile disappears! 

[Mike Brooks]

nifty

[P.Bigham]

Cool. Really nice piece of wood. Looking forward to the finished musket.

[KC]

I totally agree with your thought that it’s a cool musket. I brought the Newtowne Musket up once before expressing an interest in an attempt at building one and was immediately set upon by the “you know it's a fake, right?” pessimists.

I hope you post more pictures during your build. It’s definitely a cool project in my mind. 

[smart dog]

Holy Cow, Dave!  That looks like the first gun made in America!!  It will be fun to see what you make of it.

dave

[Joey R]

Now that’s cool beans!  A lot of figure in that butt stock. It’s going to be fun watching this one take shape.

[David Rase]

Holy Cow, Dave!  That looks like the first gun made in America!!  It will be fun to see what you make of it.

dave

Just depends who you talk to.  You are well aware of all the debate behind this gun.
David

[Dave B]

cool project David, What is the story about the Gun???

[smart dog]

Hi DaveB,
The gun is considered a fake by some firearm curators.  It is alleged to be the first gun completely made in America including forging the barrel.  Whisker and Spiker in their book "Arms Makers of Massachusetts" state the earliest gun known to be made in MA is a pistol by Thomas Ricks from the late 17th century.  Whisker and Spiker don't even mention the "NewTowne" musket.  NewTowne became Cambridge in 1636 when Harvard University was established so having NewTowne stamped on the stock is a way to apply a date to the gun as made before 1636 without actually having to engrave one. The lock appears to be much later than the dating claimed for the gun.  In fact, one retired curator I know believes it was made in the 20th century after examining it in detail including taking it apart. The staff of Smithsonian are aware of that skepticism.  Collectors of New England guns need to be very careful because during the 1920s-1930s an antique dealer called Kimball Arms fabricated a lot of important fakes.  I don't know if they assembled complete fakes or just included spurious marks and engraving but they affected the market sufficient to cause famous collectors like William Renwick to stop purchasing New England guns.   

Regardless of all that, I will enjoy seeing what Dave does with this gun.  He seems to be on a roll within the 17th century.

dave

[Tim Crosby]

 I really like that walk-around bench. Look forward to seeing how this one turns out.

   Tim

[David Rase]

cool project David, What is the story about the Gun???

Dave B.   Instead of regurgitating information I have read I am including a link to a thread on the Muzzleloading Forum discussing the nuances of the Newtowne Musket.   https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/the-newtowne-matchlock.108374/ Remember, it is a public forum so you will have to form your own opinion on the content.
David

[elkhorne]

That is going to be one cool looking musket when done! Will enjoy seeing more photos as you progress. That chunk of wood looks like one from Freddie’s stock of wood in Tennessee. The figure is going to look great when finished. Congratulations on a build that you have to think out of the box.You started something with those first benches you designed in that pattern. Great ideas.
elkhorne

[Craig Wilcox]

Great looking firearm!  May have to try my hand at it one day soon.

Don't let Mike Brooks see it though, as he is always looking for a "canoe gun", and this one seems like it would make a decent paddle if one finds himself up the creek without a paddle.

I have never even held a matchlock, much less fired one.  Do you soak a piece of cotton rope in Potassium Nitrate to make the "match" part?

Controversial or not, seems like a great piece to hunt with.  Truly doing it "old school".

[Marcruger]

I am glad to see you taking on another matchlock.  I bet it'll kick less than #1.   :-)    Your first matchlock was a top highlight of the Knoxville show for sure.  God Bless,   Marc

[RedRiverII]

I also look forward to your progress.  That a great looking bench as well.  Do those vise pads come with the vise?

[Clark Badgett]

Oh my I do like that. Add another fan of the bench too. Are there plans for this bench available anywhere. Looks much handier than my cobbled together work bench.

[Dwshotwell]

The gun looks great, of course, but I was going to ask about the bench as well. Looks very handy. Is it just from dimensional lumber?

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Cool stuff!

Cory Joe