Project Nemisis

[B.Habermehl]

The start of my current project. 44 in 58 cal Colerain barrel butternut stock my own trade rifle pattern. Chambers lock

[northup87]

Very nice! What color are you planning for on the stock?

[B.Habermehl]

Dark. I知 going to try out some lye water to bring out the tannins on some scrap. we will see what happens. There痴 no figure to show off. The vision for this project is a poor mans rifle. Simple apron around the tang. Nailed on butt plate. Sliding wood box no brass finial. Probably only two thimbles, maybe no nose cap, or a simple brass wrap. Brass front sight, neatly installed peep rear similar to one one of our members did. This is to accommodate my advancing cataracts. Rifle style guard, front sling loop, and button rear sling attachment. Side plate undetermined. This one will get some ageing. My favorite deer hunting caliber is .58, the deer find it deadly poisonous. Am joining a deer camp west of here, the woods are more mature than around here so the shots are likely to be longer than I知 used to. Sight radius and the peep should make it more suitable. Previously all the deer I have harvested have been within archery range. So that痴 my excuse to build a more suitable gun.... BJH

[B.Habermehl]

Lock plates in. Now time for the clearance cuts for the moving parts.

[Mike Brooks]

I am stocking up a gun with the same color of wood. A. Martin wood?

[B.Habermehl]

Yup!!! Allen and I are sorta neighbors, about 25 miles.

[B.Habermehl]

Schnikees! Three years has gone by! Wow, a lot has happened in my life since I started this rifle. As with many of us the cobbler runs around bare foot due to making shoes for others and no time for self. I am finally resuming this project. Locks in triggers in. Am installing under lugs in the barrel, the lug closest to the breech and the lug nearest to the muzzle will be dovetailed in place. The two lugs in the waist of the barrel will be soldered as per my standard practice. Also there will be a block lug soldered onto the bottom of the barrel for the front sling swivel. Pictures to come. BJH

[tooguns]

I'm looking forward to seeing more of this project. Thanks for sharing!

[GANGGREEN]

I've asked before about the potential of a Butternut stock, but never really got much response.  Very interesting.  I spoke with you elsewhere about a gun that I'm building with an American chestnut stock and this looks somewhat similar to the chestnut.

[B.Habermehl]

Butternut and chestnut do work similarly. Both are softer and more splintery than softer red maple. My pieces of butternut is a really light weight piece of wood, and soft under the chisel. Requiring scarey sharp tools for inletting. I知 not looking foreward to the sawdust producing stage coming soon as it bothers me. Dust mask here we go. BJH

[Hungry Horse]

 Hey, can I join the club? I知 building a long rifle with a western Madrone stock. But maybe I知 cheating because I built a tradegun with a Madrone stock years ago. I finished it to look like cherry, and it was so convincing that I had a guy at a rendezvous call me a lier when I told him it was Madrone.

Hungry Horse

[B.Habermehl]

Progress pictures,

Muzzle and the lug closest to the breech dovetailed utilizes the thickest barrel Wall.

[B.Habermehl]

The other lugs located at the thinner areas of the barrel are soldered. Including the block for the sling swivel. BJH

[B.Habermehl]

Lug inlets. The lug inlets were done two at a time starting with the foreward and aft dovetailed lugs. Then the lugs at the waist of the barrel were soldered onto the barrel and inletted after cooling and clean up. Last was the sling swivel lug. BJH

[B.Habermehl]

Measurements taken to determine the bottom of the barrel and lugs at each location.

Tomorrow we clamp and drill for cross pins and the sling bolt.

[B.Habermehl]

A important detail a forgot to mention. Allways clean and oil the interior of the barrel after any soldering job. The heat involved will vaporize any protective oil or grease in the bore. BJH