New to the forum, just wanted to thank everyone

[Andy S]

Hello all,

I am new to building longrifles and new to the forum. I was a little more than halfway through my first build when I discovered the forum, and I want to thank everyone for the incredible wealth of information available here. Without even posting, I have benefitted a lot from what I have read.

Also, seeing examples of work done by the contributors has been inspirational.  Hopefully, I might aspire to do so well in the future. I think I have a long way to go, but so far I have  been having a lot of fun.

My first rifle is almost finished, so I thought I would post a few pics of it. I still need to file the sights and brown the barrel. I have a little hesitation to post pics since I know all of the many errors I made in the building, but here goes anyway.  The rifle has a Rice .54 C weight 38" barrel, a Chambers early English lock and the basic shaping was done by Dave Keck to his early Virginia pattern. Some of the furniture is Dave's castings, some I fabricated. The stock was stained with aquafortis and finished with Chambers Traditional Oil.

[Ted Kramer]

Hi Andy and welcome.

I think your rifle looks very nice.  It's well proportioned and your work looks crisp and neat.

Have you considered leaving the barrel bright to age naturally?

Keep up the good work.

Ted K.

[Eric Smith]

Job well done. I like it a lot.

[Bob F]

Great job.  I too just finished my first not from a kit and without this site and the people on it I could never have done it. 

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

OK, So Andy ....you hid those errors right well.   Excellent first rifle to shoot and be proud of!!  What is the next one going to be??

[Tom Currie]

Andy, That's a fine first rifle. As with my first few rifles you have some extra wood on this build that if removed would give you a finer shaped longrifle. As you continue building study the work of the best comptemporary builders today and also seek originals when you can and study the details. 

[Andy S]

Thanks for the kind words all.

Ted, I originally planned to brown everything, later decided to polish the lock and rust blue the screws. I had never considered leaving the barrel bright though. Funny thing, it probably wouldn't take all that long to brown naturally. Certainly something to consider.

Tim, my interest lies mainly in early rifles and Germanic jaegers. My plan at this point is for my next build to be a Rhine school jaeger rifle, walnut stocked of course. I need to do some more carving and engraving practice first though.

Tom, understood, and I agree that I need to see and handle more originals. I am close to Dixon's, I think I need to spend some time there. As far as further slenderizing of wood, anywhere in particular stand out to your eye? After applying finish, I think that the forestock ahead of the entry pipe should have been trimmed closer.

[Ravenwolf]

Andy, I like your, Virginia gun very nice. Let us know how it shoots. All the Best. Ravenwolf;

[Hoot AL]

Beautiful work for your first rifle, Andy. Pleased to learn this website and others have proved to be useful in your build.

The best part of is this is, you now own a rifle you built yourself and has become a family heirloom. Again, great job.

Hoot AL

[omark]

i wish my first had so many mistakes. very nice       mark

[Martin_G]

You have a very nice rifle! Letting the barrel brown naturally sounds like a good idea.

[Tom Currie]

Andy, One area in particular is the nose of the comb on your buttstock. I looks quite thick and rounded where it meets the wrist. Having the comb taper from the buttplate alll the way to the point where it meets the comb provides a  finer profile will help the shape of the whole buttstock . This should also allow you to create a more convcave cheekpiece once again providing more definition on the buttstock as a whole.  If you have access to Shumways RCA books study the overhead views of the buttstock . Often the nose of the comb is shaped in a concave manner as it approaches the wrist,  yours appears rounded over or convex .

[Andy S]

Tom, thanks, I see what you mean and appreciate the opinion. I want to check out some originals before starting my next project.

[Andy S]

She survived proof testing with no problems yesterday and she shoots like a dream. Ignition is very very fast  now need some more time to sight in. I did some decorative file work to the muzzle and recrowned, looks good.

[Bernard]

Looks good. Something you can be really proud of. I hunt with my first rifle. I've built several others for myself and others but I keep that first one for hunting and I just love it. Errors and all.