Cherry stocked Gillespie

[Dennis Glazener]

I finished this Cherry stocked Mathew Gillespie just before Christmas. The original has no buttplate nor patchbox but the customer wanted both. Some of Mathew's later guns had buttplates so I thought I could use my Gillespie buttplate, couldn't make it work without changing the profile of the butt and I didn't think that would work so I made a buttplate for this one. After finishing that using my little Mapp gas 2 fire brick forge I realized I didn't want to tackle the trigger guard so I had Marc Tornichio copy the original guard and I used that on this rifle. I had seen an original Mathew that had this type of cover over a grease box so I decided to make one like it for this rifle. I am not sure that it was original to the Mathew G. rifle, it may have been added but since the customer wanted one I copied it here.

Most early Gillespie's were 40-46 caliber but this one has a 42" Rice "C" profile .54 caliber barrel, Large Davis triggers and a Chambers Late Ketland lock. As light weight as it is (about 7.5 lbs) there was not much recoil with 80 grains of 3 F. I suspect that is due to the fairly straight stock (for a mountain rifle).

Oh, I did stain the rr darker after the photos were taken.
Dennis

[Tom Currie]

Very nice Dennis. Classic style.

[WaltDavies]

Gee nice, I plan on taking down a couple of old Cherry trees this winter and store the wood in the barn for a wile to take up for cracking.  I may just put them in the pond for a year this works great to prevent cracking an cures the wood to a great look. I learned when i was kid and my brother made lamp from a piece of mansonita. 
Walt Davies

PS
 will let you all know when the wood is ready.

[bgf]

Very pretty.  I would like to see more close-ups if you have them.  One thing that catches my eye is the angle of the PB -- it gives the comb a longer, higher look that I think is attractive, and I have associated it somewhat with SW Va..  Did the Gillespies often mount their boxes that way?  I think I've only seen G.'s with grease-holes.

[Dennis Glazener]

I would like to see more close-ups if you have them

Wish I did but the customer came to pick the rifle up a day early and I had not made anymore and I didn't want to hold him up to take more.

 

One thing that catches my eye is the angle of the PB -- it gives the comb a longer, higher look that I think is attractive,

The one rifle had the patch/grease box cover with that angle. Most of Mathew's rifles had a tear drop shaped grease hole, drilled on an angle and opened up with a gouge so your thumb could easily wipe a patch with backward stroke. Most were very near the butt.
 

The only (original) full 4 piece patch box that I have seen on a Gillespie was one made by Philip, Mathew's son. I am sure it was original to the rifle since the same decorative stamp that he used on the barrel was also used on the brass patchbox. I have reason to believe this may have been his personal rifle.
Dennis

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Dennis, is this TG the same size as the casting you sent??  It looks bigger than the casting??

[Tim Crosby]

Good looking rifle, classic lines.

 Tim C.

[Dennis Glazener]

Rich,
Marc forged this guard by a tracing of the one on my original Mathew rifle. The guard that I sell was a copy of the guard on Earl Lanning's unsigned Gillespie. Except for the guard and one having a vee shaped forearm they are pretty close to being identical. Am sure the stocks were cut from the same template.

I did not own my rifle when I had the mold made for the Gillespie guard that I sell.
Dennis

[Long Ears]

Dennis, real nice. What did you use for a stain (if any) and finish on the Cherry? Thanks, Bob

[MarkEngraver]

Dennis,

Very sweet rifle, simple lines.
I'd be interested in what you used on the stock also, as I have a cherry stocked Tennessee going right now.

Mark

[Ezra]

Really nice Dennis.  Man, I love those Gillespies.

Ez

[rich pierce]

Real clean looking rifle!

[Dennis Glazener]

Dennis, real nice. What did you use for a stain (if any) and finish on the Cherry? Thanks, Bob

I'd be interested in what you used on the stock also, as I have a cherry stocked Tennessee going right now.

I first applied a solution of Red Devil lye, forget how I originally mixed it since I have had it for several years. I wanted it a little darker and instead of using more lye water, which can cause the wood to have a weathered look, I put a coat of Laurel Mountain Forge Nut Brown on it. Then three coats of Chambers oil finish then a final coat of Permalyn sealer, caution it took three days for the Permalyn to dry! I was getting concerned but finally it dried.

Dennis

[woodburner]

Dennis, I don't know much but I know your rifle looks great.  Elegant in it's simplicity. Tim

[Curtis]

I like it Dennis.  Very crisp.  Good call on the hardware decisions.

Curtis