Pair of Blunderbusses- New Project

[Manic Mike]

Greetings,
I've started a new Blunderbuss project; a pair of them.  And it seems I know very little about Muzzle Loading Flintlocks. These are very basic kits, one in Maple and one in Walnut.




Once they arrived (9 months later), I realized I'm not as educated as I thought I was.  I started studying and realized that a majority of the words I encountered, were mysterious.  I work with almost all materials and made a career of fixing things other people could not or did not want to fix, and this looks like a worthy challenge.



Barrels, stocks and rods have arrived and I've spent most of my time looking of parts definitions, not playing with them.  These are 4 gauge Blunderbusses and I was warned that it would take a bit of time to get a few of the parts.





I'm wondering if there is a good resource out there for the basics.  It is hard to ask the correct questions when you are ignorant.  I'd like to do a nice job, polish it all up nicely, provide a period correct finish and have them work correctly.  And I'm trying not to laugh.  This looks like it will take longer than a few weeks and I'm studying away.  There is so much info available, I'm just a bit lost.  Feel free to point me in the right direction if you have a moment.
Mike

[Bill Raby]

Those will certainly take more than a few weeks. Get some books about gun building. They will help a lot. Also there are videos out there about how to do it. There are some on You Tube, but the best videos are on Rumble. I hear Rumble even has a full series on how to build a 4 bore rifle with another series of videos in progress.

[Daryl]

Welcome to the forum Mike.
. I suggest you research DaceC2's Blunderbus builds using the site's search function. Perhaps Dave will see this thread and respond.

[taterbug]

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=42185.0

And no, you dont HAVE to do all the fancy engraving

[Bigmon]

Good luck with your project(s).  I have to ask, why two at the same time.?

Also, where did you get those parts?  I always wanted to build one like that.

Better yet, why not sell me one set?  Might simplfy yer life a little.
Take care

[davec2]

Manic Mike,

I am certainly no expert on blunderbusses.....but I have built several of them now.  Here are a few links that might be of help to you as you build your two.  There are other posts I have done, but these are probably the most useful.

Best,

dave c

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=42185.0

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=38909.0

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=57919.msg582762#msg582762

[Daryl]

Thanks for helping out Dave. I was hoping you'd see this thread.

[Manic Mike]

Greetings,
Thank you for the pointers.  I'm literally learning on multiple sets of computer screens, so I can look up the nomenclature as I watch/read the tutorials.  The kits came from Ray at Sitting Fox. It was a 9 month wait for the barrels and he has them in stock now, if anyone wants one (or two).  After I internalize the information presented in the posts, I'll update the build and come back with some worthy questions.  It looks like seating the barrel in the stock is the first step.  The stocks are only roughed in, so it will take some wood removal and fitting to seat the barrel.  Sitting Fox will also fit everything and send the blunderbuss out ready to finish (in the white?), but what is the fun in that?

I appreciate the help at the beginning; most forums draw few responses to "Help, I know nothing and don't even know what questions to ask".  Reading a paper and having to look up every third word is not something that happens to me often.  I get to learn something new and work with wood for a change; this should be quite fun!
Mike

[Manic Mike]

In answer to Bigmon, "Why two at the same time?".  Simply because of the fact that,if a single 4 gauge Blunderbuss is great, then a pair of 4 gauge Blunderbusses is awesome.  I have a very bad habit of doing that.  I built a pair of .308 pistols with 7" barrels, because those were the shortest barrels available and two is better than one.  The blast and flame that accompany a shot are incredible.  Which led to Blunderbusses.  I also have a buddy who is just as Unique as I am and he wanted one too (he got the Walnut stock).  As soon as we cut our teeth on Blunderbusses, we are going to build (or Buy) a cannon.  A big one.  The "Go Big or Go Home" mentality resulted in the 4 gauge Blunderbusses and Cannons.

Mike

P.S.  If anyone out there has a full size cannon for sale, please let me know.

[Bigmon]

OK Mike,  I understand completley.  I have always thought this BP addiction to be a sort of desease.  Some just have a more severe case than others.
Carry on man, but where did you get those parts?  I may have to get into one also.
GOD Bless

[Manic Mike]

So I feel like a peasant in the presence of royalty.  This was getting scary until taterbug assured me that carving is not a necessity. DaveC2 I truly appreciate your input, especially the realization that your original stock was too big.  I had a feeling that I needed to make my stock smaller somehow.  So a new spoke plane is here and I did not even know that tool existed until I finished devouring the recommended threads.  I even play with rockets in the Mojave; Black Powder are my favorite. My rocket is a bit smaller than the ones you play with.



Hopefully my searches through the forum threads will answer most of my questions.  I've got a way to go before I start fitting parts, but there seems to be quite a bit of priceless information here.  It also looks like most members don't build these two at a time, but why not.  These will not have carved stocks, but those rings on the barrel have me interested.  We are bringing the lathe so I can try making a pair and failing that I know a machinist or two who could make them for me.  Thanks again for all the info.
Mike