1840-1850 half stock rifle

[Simon]

I am building a half stock rifle with a beaver tail  cheek piece and a crescent butt plate; however I am building it as a flint lock, using a Chambers late Ketland lock.  I am using a 36" barrel tapered 7/8 to 3/4 in .45 cal.  The forearm from the breech to the end is 15" long.  At the end of the fore arm the  barrel is about 13/16s.  If this rifle had actually been built  in the time period of 1840-1850 how wide would the forearm cap have been?  I have a plains rifle forearm cap that is about 1 1/16" wide, would this have been correct or should it be wider?  I am thinking of using ebony as a forearm cap.  Any suggestions welcome.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Your dimensions would make the width of the stock 1/8" on either side of the barrel.  That's pretty heavy, but not out of the question.  I wouldn't go bigger though.

[Captchee]

maybe something like this  one made by Gustavus Erichson Mounted in iron with a pewter nosecap, stocked in walnut. This large rifle measures 61 inches overall and has a 43 5/8", .51 caliber, swamped barrel.
 i seem to recall reading that its been dated as early as 1840

[Dphariss]

I am building a half stock rifle with a beaver tail  cheek piece and a crescent butt plate; however I am building it as a flint lock, using a Chambers late Ketland lock.  I am using a 36" barrel tapered 7/8 to 3/4 in .45 cal.  The forearm from the breech to the end is 15" long.  At the end of the fore arm the  barrel is about 13/16s.  If this rifle had actually been built  in the time period of 1840-1850 how wide would the forearm cap have been?  I have a plains rifle forearm cap that is about 1 1/16" wide, would this have been correct or should it be wider?  I am thinking of using ebony as a forearm cap.  Any suggestions welcome.

It should not be significantly heavier than a Kentucky in the forend.
As Taylor stated 1/8 per side is a great plenty.
The Hawken rifles, for example were often pretty wide but they also tended to have pretty heavy barrels. They did not necessarily have a lot of extra wood.
It very easy to leave too much and not really realize it until you see a similar rifle with less wood on it.
I would cast a cap from pewter. Horn or Ebony is not out of the question I suppose but not terribly common for this type firearm.
Dan

[Simon]

Thanks for the information.  Taylor & Dan I guess I was thinking more along the lines of some of the modern rifles with the thick forearm wood and thin barrels.  The 3/4 muzzle looks pretty skinny. How every I will keep the wood as you say.  I Intend to feather the wood into the barrel and not leave a flat.

Cappchee, thanks for the picture, that is pretty much what I hope to achieve.

Mel

[Captchee]

 i believe that rifle is still at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville, Texas.

Gustavus Erichson was a gun maker, gunsmith, and gun dealer in Houston from 1838 until 1872. Two of his sons, Otto and Alexander, continued the business until the 1890s.

 maybe the above will help you  out if your interested in finding out more about that rifle