Wade's first one_ pics/completed

[Dan'l 1946]

Wade,
  I'm truly enjoying this saga! Hope you survive!
                                                     Dan

[Vomitus]

   Maybe your blood might work as a stain?

[WadePatton]

FOUND my draw-knife!  (one of 'em).  much much nicer than the very coarse rasp.

Drilled for lock bolts-got about 1/64" into the bbl channel on the fwd bolt-no biggie.  Had cut lock-panel basic shape on lock-side, transferred that to off-side. carved the outline...

Then realized i still had a bunch of extra wood on that side.  Whoops.

Yet to tap lock plate (8x32, 8x32, 8x32 i keep muttering to meself  ) and put the keys on the bbl/pin it.  Then i really start paring the wood back.  And a screw into the guard, and a toeplate.  oh and the patchbox...be done in no times! 

pic taker was charge-deficient this morn.

[PPatch]

"Mistake #7..." HA! i quit counting after it hit double figures and the mistakes numbered larger than the "good" ones... you doing fine.

dp

MEMO: 8/32, and don't mix up your bits...   

[WadePatton]

Got two lugs on there. Made 'em from square stock (well, once never kilt nobody )

Knocked another ounce or two of wood off the butt.  

a few pics:









long way to go, but closer than evah!


oh and the D/P is 3 7/8" / 13 7/8" (originally sketched for 4/14).  forgot to check the cast.  3/16" was the target.

other vitals: 42" .54 cal C-wt., Olde Englishe Locke, DST. yadda yadda

[KLMoors]

It is hard to tell in the pictures but I think I have a couple of questions. ( If I am seeing things right)

First one is how deep did you cut your dovetail in the barrel? It looks kind of deep.

Second- I think you are going to want your "tab" on your lug to be laying tight to the bottom of your barrel.  I think once you get your tab cut down to size you may find very little meat left for your pin.

This all might just be the angle of the pictures though.

[WadePatton]

It is hard to tell in the pictures but I think I have a couple of questions. ( If I am seeing things right)

First one is how deep did you cut your dovetail in the barrel? It looks kind of deep.

Second- I think you are going to want your "tab" on your lug to be laying tight to the bottom of your barrel.  I think once you get your tab cut down to size you may find very little meat left for your pin.

This all might just be the angle of the pictures though.

started with .070" at breech end.  backed off to .060-ish in the middle.  and then .030-ish at the front-with chiseled ends.  two words: "learning curve".   

I whacked all the tabs back to 9/32 before inletting-then busted through on the breech, nbd. 

comments: i'll probably not ever make tabs from bar stock again ever, no matter how much i like precision hacksawing and filing.  I'll be doing .020-.030" deep with upset metal on the ends too.  Just entirely way too much time on that process as i did it.  As my old pappy used to say: You don't know 'til you find out.

pins drilled and poked.  just barely didn't miss the tab at the muzzle. 

Drilled the touch hole, i may make some noise in a little while.  no sights, no problemo---it's dark anyway!
 

[Long Ears]

Ooh, those dove tails look deep? How much barrel do you have left under them? I sure hope its the angle.

[WadePatton]

lotta bbl.  i measured and cakkalated.  it's a C wt bbl.

lockplate d/t'ed (one now, there'll be two)

I'lll knock back some wood for a few hours now.  make sparks tomorrow.  (and sights!)

[Long Ears]

Cool glad to hear it, with confidence like that let her rip....

[Long Ears]

I give up, I need to take Tennessee reading lessons. 

[WadePatton]

I give up, I need to take Tennessee reading lessons.  

any war you git crossed-up just holler i'll fix you straight.  

Okay, I'll try to type more general lee.  (somebody stop me!)  

generically.  

But i get excited.  Have half the fore-end sawed back and it's actually beginning to look like a Rifle!

was going to light it off, but dark got me.  just maybe tomorrow mebbe.

[whetrock]

I’z gon say thar, DubyiPee, them boys mite unnerstan yur rite’n better if’n you’s to rite reglur Tannessee, stead’a that fais stuff like what you been use’n. You reckon?

(You’ns jus hang on nar a minut. Old DubyiPee, he’s a purty smart feller. Heel git it figgered out here dreckly.)

[KLMoors]

 

[WadePatton]

Have the front half of the stock sawed back.  Errors piling up.  Slowing down.  Too far along to rush up and screw up now (any more).  Have some saw marks that might not come out. 

Will proof bbl when things dry up a little. 

Not counting goofs any more.  I'll bet i can make new ones (mistakes) on the next one, but hope to avoid a lot of repeats. 

Just want to start shooting.  But am taking the rest of the day off as my feet filed an official request.

[Pete G.]

Careful there ol boy. Just wanting to get shootin' causes a lot of regrets.  I have (almost) learned to quit just  before getting to a quitting place. That last 10% is what shows, not the previous 90%. That means that if you work too long the part that shows is what you did when tired and just wanting to finish it up. That's not what you want.

[Dogshirt]

The difference between being DONE and being finished.

[WadePatton]

Careful there ol boy. Just wanting to get shootin' causes a lot of regrets... That last 10% is what shows, not the previous 90%.

That should be a engraved in brass and hung over the workbench.

heck yeah.

That's beginning to sink in.  Striking some balance between "Don't eff it up now" and "My, today sure would be nice for working out loads".

fired a test load in bbl.  not a double, but heavy enough load to satisfy me.

working more carefully on the wood. and finishing touches

[WadePatton]

Had no idea my drawknife (formerly used to flesh and buck hides) was a James Swan.  

Don't fret none though, I've rehabbed it considerably from the damage done by abusive previous ownerships (the blade had driven by metal ).  Edge isn't perfect yet, but will improve with use and proper sharpenings.

Getting to the middle part for the first time shaping.  Still have plenty of work to do on the forestock and buttstock and all the stock.  LOT of wood yet to remove at wrist and butt.  

Spent much of last two sessions working on fixtures and accessories.



It's beginning to FEEL like a rifle.  Points real good, i point it a lot.  Wrist and buttstock get focus next.

This looks like the year. 

[Meteorman]

Wow Wade.
Draggin' a drawknife into the forestock like that gives me the heebie-jeebies.
May the force ( and the grain) be with you.
/mike m

[WadePatton]

Wow Wade.
Draggin' a drawknife into the forestock like that gives me the heebie-jeebies.
May the force ( and the grain) be with you.
/mike m

Well, yeah-taking chunks like that too.  I try not to cut that deep, but was doing serious narrowing, had good reference marks and was perfectly sober. 

I'm still chasing errors from the ripsawing with the 8tpi X-cut saw.  Some may be permanent, but it'll be arright.

[mountainman70]

Well my right hand took a hunk of hide off my left thumb with the hacksaw last evening as i was paring down the buttstock, so I quit "early".  But it is rather exciting to start shaping the maple.  Pin that bbl today and really start shaping it up i reckon i shall.

The job should go better now that it has been properly "Consecrated" by your blood letting.Always works for me,from my truck mechanic days,to working on Pipe Organs,to M/L guns.Looking purty good thar mountain bro.Dave

[T.C.Albert]

Good technique with the draw knife...looks like it worked out well.

A good spoke shave might be a little more manageable for fine work..
And might be something to be on the look out for at junk sales and flea markets if
you want an old one...
tc

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Spoke shaves are where its at!! 

[WadePatton]

Yes, i have been keeping an eye out for a spoke shave. 

Fitting the toe plate and scraping mostly today.