Finished #3 - Plains Rifle

[Ky-Flinter]

I finally finished up build #3.  This project had several firsts for me.  First time for...  a half-stock, an under-rib (wood, at that!), a hooked breech, pouring pewter, making a star inlay out of a silver coin and making a trap for caps.

This is my take on a Plains Rifle.  Stock was stained with homemade aqua fortis, then darkened with some diluted LMF Nut Brown and finished with Chambers Oil.  Getz 1" x 36" straight .54 caliber barrel.  Under-rib is cherry, unstained, finished with Chambers Oil and attached with 5 screws.  Triggers and guard by Dru Hedgecock.  L&R "T. Gibbons" lock.  Butt plate from TOW, heated and pounded to flatten out the curve.  Buck-horn rear sight and silver blade, copper base front.  I made the star inlay out of a British silver coin.  I also made the toe plate with a trap that holds 7 caps.

So, what do ya think, would Jeremiah keep it if he found it froze in Hatchet Jack's hands?  Constructive criticism will be appreciated.

-Ron

[Keb]

Nice gun. How's it shoot?

[A.Merrill]

    Looks better than Hatchet Jack's gun You did a fine job. Keep up the good work.    AL

[BrentD]

I don't know if Jeremiah would keep it, but I @!*% sure would. 

Tell us about the rib, the how, and the why.  I've never seen one like it. 

What does the rifle weigh?

[bgf]

I like it, very clean and elegant looking, with a few touches that make the connection to earlier full stocks clear.  I don't know much that style of rifle, but I can't see any mountain man turning up his nose at it.  The finish came out very nicely.

[Joey R]

Fine looking rifle Ron I bet she'll hunt good too!! I really like your first attempt on that pewter nose cap...nice!!

[KLMoors]

I love it. Really, REALLY clean workmanship and I like the small style changes you made. My only criticism is the unstained under rib. It kind of distracts my eye when I look at the gun. But she's real nice overall.  

[Shovelbuck]

Very, very nice!

[rich pierce]

Great clean lines really make this rifle.  I think wooden underribs were primarily New England in origin, but the rifle has St. Louis lines.  So that's a bit unusual but adds some mystery to the origin.  Might have slimmed the rib a bit and made it a tad shorter or at a 45 degree angle at the muzzle to facilitate grasping the rod. Those are the only nit-picks I can do- there are so many outstanding features on this rifle, it really is a delight.  Not many can build a plains rifle that fine, and it's your first.

[Ben I. Voss]

I would also stain both the rib and the ramrod darker to blend in more with the rest of the rifle - otherwise it's great! Make more!

[bgf]

I think the cherry in the underrib will darken naturally over reasonably short time.  I bet that is the plan.

[Roger B]

An excellent plains rifle.  I don't know of any that routinely used wood for a rib, but it looks good.
Roger B.

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks for the comments and compliments.  I figured I would hear it about the wood under-rib!  I know it's not a normal Plains Rifle feature, so the reason/background for it?  Believe it or not, years ago I saw an antique half-stock hanging over the fireplace at a Cracker Barrel restaurant and was captivated, so I've always wanted to do one.  As it turned out, my barrel inletting skills need some more practice and the barrel is a little to one side of the ramrod hole.  A steel under-rib following the barrel flat would not line up on the ramrod hole.  That's why the sides of the under-rib go up the barrel just a little, to hide the fact that the groove inside the rib is offset to compensate.

Haven't shot it yet.  Litterally just finished it this weekend.

Weigh?  She's a hand full at 9.6 pounds.

We'll see what the cherry does by itself.  I like natural cherry color but, maybe I'll stain it later, dunno.  Looking at the pictures again, I will admit that ramrod is pretty bright.  May have to rub some soot on it.

.... with a few touches that make the connection to earlier full stocks clear.....

bgf, you made my day.  I was hoping that would come thru.  So maybe this gun was made by an old smith from Vermont or New Hampshire that migrated to St. Louis?

Thanks again for the kind words.  It was a fun project.

-Ron

[ken]

Very nicely done.!I love the clean lines and the way you laid the gun out. Can you tell use how the trap in toe plate works ? It cought my attention Nice work

[Ky-Flinter]

Ken,

The door in the toe plate hinges on a pin inletted into the wood and a little spring keeps it shut until you flick it open and keeps it open until you flick it shut.  It works like a larger capbox in the side of the stock does, only in miniature.  The hole under the door is just a little larger that the diameter of a #11 cap, so they stack.  Holds 7.

-Ron

[Rasch Chronicles]

Awesome styling, and I really like the color. es the under rib is a little... ummm.... bright? Light? But that'll be fixed with time. Nicely done!

Best regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles

[Ed Wenger]

Ron,

That's a beautiful rifle, I really like the sharp lines throughout.  Very nice finish.  The little cap box (trap) is a really cool feature.  Very well executed!

Ed

[Gary Tucker]

Great looking rifle!!  The finish work is top notch.  Love the color.  I can tell there was a lot of thought going into that rifle.

[BrentD]

Did you build that patch box from scratch? 

I like functional gadgetry sometimes.  And this is one of those times.

Brent

[J. Talbert]

Ron,

Great job!


I don't know much about the subtleties of plains rifles, but I know a good looking gun when I see one. 
That's a sure keeper.

Way to go,

Jeff

[Nate McKenzie]

quote KyFlinter [ A steel under-rib following the barrel flat would not line up on the ramrod hole.]

You can tell a good gunmaker by how well he covers his mistakes. You did well.

[B Shipman]

I like every bit of it. The wooden under rib and nose cap are a bit odd but I think add to the effect.

[flintman-tx]

Great work....as always.

[Ky-Flinter]

Did you build that patch box from scratch?  Brent

Yes and I have 3 more that don't work/fit in my junk drawer to prove it!

Thanks again for all the compliments.

-Ron

[BrentD]

Well, I'm impressed and considering making one.  Not sure if I'm up to it though.....