Slim, trim fullstocks?

[Skychief]

I am going to build a fullstock with a 32 caliber, 13/16" barrel.

My question is what "school" of fullstock rifles offer slimmer, trimmer proportions in comparison to the others.  I plan on ordering a precarve.

The rifle will see a lot of use in the squirrel woods and I hope you can offer any suggestions for a light trim fullstock.

Any input about barrel length and balance very much appreciated also.  Again the barrel is .32 X 13/16" and currently 42" (NON-swamped).

I am new to 32's and "fairly" new to fullstocked flinters.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Skychief.

[G-Man]

Later period flint rifles in general, post 1800, and really moreso post 1820, tended to be slim in overall architecture.

I am biased,    but any of the southern mountain style (such as East Tennessee, Gillespie of North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, etc.) of rifles of the late flint era, 1820s-50, can look really nice in a slim sleek rifle.  Check out Dennis Glazener's website for some information on Gillespies - I have seen some dandy small caliber rifles made up along those lines. 

Also - check out the Contemporay Makers Blogspot and you will find some recently posted nice slim rifles.

That being said, there are some wonderful Pennsylvania styles that will work too - I will let other more knowledgeable of them offer suggestions.

Good luck

Guy

[Long John]

For full-stock rifles you could go with Bucks County, Allentown-Bethlehem or Maryland school rifles and be on the money.  I am partial to the Bucks County guns but that's just my opinion.

Here is a 36 caliber Bucks County squirrel rilfe I made a while back.  It sports a 42 inch swamped barrel.  Shoots really nice!





Best Regards,

JMC

[Dphariss]

I am going to build a fullstock with a 32 caliber, 13/16" barrel.

My question is what "school" of fullstock rifles offer slimmer, trimmer proportions in comparison to the others.  I plan on ordering a precarve.

The rifle will see a lot of use in the squirrel woods and I hope you can offer any suggestions for a light trim fullstock.

Any input about barrel length and balance very much appreciated also.  Again the barrel is .32 X 13/16" and currently 42" (NON-swamped).

I am new to 32's and "fairly" new to fullstocked flinters.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Skychief.

John Armstrong.
But chances are the precarves have too much wood on them assuming someone has a good one.
The wrist needs to be about 1.300 deep for a slim rifle, small Siler lock works good. With a 13/16 barrel it might be possible to go smaller in the wrist for a smallbore rifle.
You can file a taper on a barrel or file it 16 sided from the rear sight forward and reduce the weight without changing the stock inlet. Cutting to 38-39" will help too.
Dan

[Skychief]

I am going to build a fullstock with a 32 caliber, 13/16" barrel.

My question is what "school" of fullstock rifles offer slimmer, trimmer proportions in comparison to the others.  I plan on ordering a precarve.

The rifle will see a lot of use in the squirrel woods and I hope you can offer any suggestions for a light trim fullstock.

Any input about barrel length and balance very much appreciated also.  Again the barrel is .32 X 13/16" and currently 42" (NON-swamped).

I am new to 32's and "fairly" new to fullstocked flinters.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Skychief.

John Armstrong.
But chances are the precarves have too much wood on them assuming someone has a good one.
The wrist needs to be about 1.300 deep for a slim rifle, small Siler lock works good. With a 13/16 barrel it might be possible to go smaller in the wrist for a smallbore rifle.
You can file a taper on a barrel or file it 16 sided from the rear sight forward and reduce the weight without changing the stock inlet. Cutting to 38-39" will help too.
Dan

Interesting idea to file 16 sides.    Hmmm....thanks for the suggestion.   I wonder how that would look.

[76 warlock]

I prefer Lihigh County really slim.

[MikeC]

For full-stock rifles you could go with Bucks County, Allentown-Bethlehem or Maryland school rifles and be on the money.  I am partial to the Bucks County guns but that's just my opinion.

Here is a 36 caliber Bucks County squirrel rilfe I made a while back.  It sports a 42 inch swamped barrel.  Shoots really nice!





Best Regards,

JMC

John...Your not kidding it shoots good.  I don't think you missed one target on Sunday...And yes it's a beautiful rifle.

[MikeC]

I am going to build a fullstock with a 32 caliber, 13/16" barrel.

My question is what "school" of fullstock rifles offer slimmer, trimmer proportions in comparison to the others.  I plan on ordering a precarve.

The rifle will see a lot of use in the squirrel woods and I hope you can offer any suggestions for a light trim fullstock.

Any input about barrel length and balance very much appreciated also.  Again the barrel is .32 X 13/16" and currently 42" (NON-swamped).

I am new to 32's and "fairly" new to fullstocked flinters.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Skychief.

I'm partial to straight barrels.  I like the weight up front, makes for a steadier aim.  I suggest you consider a 3/4" barrel.  Makes for a nice slim rifle.  My .36 Tennessee has a 42" x 3/4" Rayle barrel. love it.

[Nate McKenzie]

A 13/16  .32cal. barrel shouts iron mounted Tenn. to me.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

On the other hand I have a straight barrelled 36" .50 and a 44" swamped .54. The .54 is way lighter and...has much netter balance..... I guess cause I am old I never take that straight barreled hunk of iron out....either the .54 or my 42" B weight swamped .50 that weighs less than six pounds!! And is balance like a dream....a hunters dream!! I will probably never build or own another straight barrelled gun.

If I were it would have to be a Tenn like Nates.

[BrownBear]

This is really timely for me.  I'm contemplating a "matched" pair of slim rifles in 32 and 45 on small Cochrain locks, and this is all eye candy for me.

Keep them coming!

[Dale Campbell]

Bedford. They used to be all the rage.  Slim, trim, and usually had a straight barrel.

(Or try a half stock New England rifle for something a little different.)

[northmn]

Any of the later period "Golden Age" rifles from any of the schools are to be built to teh same basic dimensions and are slimmer.  The primary selection for a 13/16 inch barrel is to use the smaller buttplates and triggerguards to maintain proportion.  Also use the small Siler lock or something similar in size.  The depth of the web determines how slim it will look and should not exceed about 3/16".

DP

[Skychief]

A 13/16  .32cal. barrel shouts iron mounted Tenn. to me.

Hubba, Hubba Nate!   I would LOVE to see more pictures of these rifles if possible.

I may be PM'ing you in the future!

Thanks, Skychief.

[Skychief]

By the way, I swapped out a 45 caliber barrel from my Southern Mountain rifle.   I set my 42", 13/16" 32 caliber Douglas in it .    It weighed 7 pounds and the muzzle did not seem TOO heavy to me.   So, I may just leave it at 42" or possibly shorten it by just a couple of inches.

I should have thought to try this earlier.   Birddog gave me the idea.

Skychief.

[Ezra]

Gillespie.  Talk to Dennis Glazener.


Ez

[Roger Fisher]

Gillespie.  Talk to Dennis Glazener.


Ez

Yes, get hold of Dennis.  I recently finished (or nearly so) one such which is in the 'style' of said Gillespie family makers...   Was posted a while back.

[Skychief]

thanks guys!