Beginner Gunmaker

[grabenkater]

Hello Everyone!

Just dropped in to let everyone know that there is a new resident wannabe gunmaker. I picked up all the pieces this past weekend to build myself a PA style longrifle, a Lehigh style. I was able to buy all the pieces cheaper than what I could buy the barrel alone, so I have decided that I need to learn to build my own rifle.

I have completed a 95% fowler kit on my own in the past with good success, but attempting my own from the point I am at is very intimadating.

The project was started many years ago and left incomplete. The barrel is installed, and the buttplate has been roughly fitted, its pretty much a board with a barrel and a buttplate.

Is there anyway to make a Roman nose style butt look earlier than the 1790's?

Anyone in the Charleston WV area willing to give some guidance?

[LURCHWV@BJS]

First of all welcome,

  There is a man in your area, I'm sure he will introduce himself soon.  I too am In Wv, but in the Northern Panhandle.  I see you have chosen probably the hardest rifle for you're first build.   There are MANY fantastic builders here.  My suggestion is Listen to what they say.  Follow the directions they will give you.  Some have been building for over 40yrs.   Get some Books  read them  Recreating the American Longrifle;  By Buchele, Shumway and Alexander.    Or Recreating the Pennsylvania Longrifle  By Chuck Dixon.  I  Have both.  I hope you find this Forum lives up to your expectations.


   Rich
 Pine Grove Wv

[grabenkater]

Thanks for the reply, Rich!

Can't say that I choose this style, it choose me in a sense. I would much rather build a Virginia style rifle, but this stock was already shaped for the Roman nose style butt.

I just picked pu the Recreating the American Longrifle from a friend yesterday. I plan on doing lots of studying before cutting.

Regards,

Paul

[keweenaw]

Paul,

Just be aware as you get into this that a full Lehigh rifle can be considerably more difficult to pull off successfully than a Lancaster or Virginia style rifle.  There is a lot going on in the Lehigh stock architecture that isn't immediately obvious unless one knows what to look for, but which if not done causes the rifle to look odd.  Ask lots of questions before you do things and listen to about 1/4 of the answers!  Deciding which 1/4 to listen to is the hard part.

Tom

[grabenkater]

Hi Tom,

I would much prefer to build a Virginia style, but since this one has already been started, I can only go with this style. Unless, I can sell or trade this stock for a Virginia style.

[greybeard]

Hello Grabentaker; There are some really good pics on this site of Leonard Reedy guns that you might want to check out. Somewhat roman nose but not too severe and they are very attractive in my humble opinion. Remember to measuer 3 times and cut once and TAKE YER TIME and you should be O K

[greybeard]

OOPS: I forgot to  mention to make a full scale drawing from the entry thimble back and include the web thickness and ramrod thickness + 1/8 for the wood on the bottom of the forend.

[mountainman70]

Welcome and Howdie!Dave here in Charleston,WVa.I am pretty much a re-beginner myself,had a 25 year detour,doing a f/s Hawken style flinter from a TOW "kit"Been real interesting.I am gonna send you a pm.These fellows on here tell it like it is,pretty much no holds barred,but they are decent about their criticism,and straightforward.many varying ways to git er done,all generally acceptable.Good luck,Dave

[grabenkater]

Small world, isn't?