Author Topic: Bucks Co. 40 cal just finished (Read 21207 times)

t.caster · « **on:** April 25, 2012, 07:59:35 PM »

I think I started on this just for fun, in my spare time back around 2003 or thereabouts. Well I didn't have much spare time as it turns out. A previous customer called up out of the blue back in Jan. and tossed around a couple ideas for a new build. Wouldn't you know he was thinking about a small caliber Bucks Co. rifle, so I sent him pics of one I had about 85% complete along with a finished price and he jumped right on it! So after I finished the RCA-19 I was building (recent post) I got back to work on this.
It has a Getz .40 cal x 44" A wt. barrel w/round bottom rifling, Chambers deluxe Siler, simple trigger and side opening pb with release button incorporated in the toe plate. Oh, and a ton of Bucks County, Shuler & Verner inspired incised carving on a very curly maple stock.

(Hope you don't mind I modified the link to display the photos here - Larry Luck)

flehto · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:33:37 PM »

Always enjoy an excellent Bucks County LR....yours has all the essentials and you incorporated them in a skillful manner. Thanks for posting .....Fred

Curtis · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:35:04 PM »

Nice looking rifle. I like the engraving and carving, as well as your color. Would you mind elaborating on you incised carving techniques a bit? Such as did you stab, use a small veiner, both etc...

Bet it feels good to finally have it finished!

Curtis

NSBrown · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:44:52 PM »

That is a stunning piece of work. You have done a fine job of creating very pleasing incise work. I too, would like to know more about your technique.

Vomitus · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2012, 09:54:38 PM »

What a gun! Wow! I loves it and I wants it! Who wouldn't want a Bucks light rifle? Sweet,mister Tom!

Robby · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2012, 10:07:56 PM »

What Fred said, word for word!
Robby

t.caster · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2012, 10:23:54 PM »

Hmmm, no critiques yet

I must not have given the OK. Don't worry, my wife already criticised me and she didn't even catch everything. haha.

I use a tiny 2mm veiner that fits in the palm of my hand and use my thumb or index finger for a pivot point. My other thumb pushes against the pivot to keep it from sliding. It acts like an E-brake I guess. There's not much pushing forward, it's mostly a counterclockwise rotational movement with my right hand. I can use my left hand the same way but opposite. I have a walk around workbench, so it's pretty easy.

J.Cundiff · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2012, 10:33:13 PM »

Posting to show images in link for you Tom. Hope you don't mind.

J.Cundiff · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2012, 10:37:10 PM »

Oh, and I don't know about critiquing on architecture and flaws and all that... but I think it's gorgeous, and I'm not a huge Bucks County school fan... my heart lies in Lancaster. Fantastic job!

Curtis · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:27:44 PM »

t.caster,
Thanks for the carving info. I will be starting a Verner soon that has plenty if incised carving on it and all info is welcome!

If you REALLY want some critiquing.... I can't find anything wrong with the architecture or anything like that, but the inside of the trigger guard might benefit from removing all traces of the casting marks. That's about all I see.

Curtis

Lucky R A · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2012, 12:15:06 AM »

Hi Tom,
It is nice to see a really well done Bucks Co. rifle. It is obvious that you have done some study and are understanding the school. There is little to pick apart. You could halve the amount of wood left around the lock. Bucks Co. guns like Lehigh guns were pulled in real tight to the lock. There is some shading cuts in the P.b. engraving that you left out especially on the little corner figures. I am glad you put the P.B. release where it belongs under the toe plate overall a great job. All the Best Ron.

rich pierce · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2012, 12:33:21 AM »

Very nice. The cheekpiece is especially nicely done. Would like to see the sideplate and entry thimble areas too!

David Rase · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:27:51 AM »

Quote from: t.caster on April 25, 2012, 10:23:54 PM

Hmmm, no critiques yet I must not have given the OK. Don't worry, my wife already criticised me and she didn't even catch everything. haha.

I use a tiny 2mm veiner that fits in the palm of my hand and use my thumb or index finger for a pivot point. My other thumb pushes against the pivot to keep it from sliding. It acts like an E-brake I guess. There's not much pushing forward, it's mostly a counterclockwise rotational movement with my right hand. I can use my left hand the same way but opposite. I have a walk around workbench, so it's pretty easy.

Tom, Not to be picky but did you mean veiner or V gouge? A lot of people call a V gouge a veiner so I had to ask before everyone goes out and buys the wrong carving tool trying to duplicate the quality in your incised carving. By the way, I had the same question as Curtis. Your incised carving is most excellent. I have not done much incised. The whole gun looks outstanding. I am impressed.
Dave

WMnBR · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:35:32 AM »

Your incise carving is disgusting. I wish I were that good at it.

Seriously, I think you've done a fine job. The finish looks like glass, everything's neat and clean.

Ken G · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2012, 01:48:38 AM »

Tom,
I offer no critique. Really nice looking rifle. I don't know anything about Bucks Co architecture but what you have done is very pleasing to the eye, sleek and slender, and says shoot me. That's always a winner to me.
Thanks for posting.
Ken

Gene Carrell · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2012, 02:30:07 AM »

Chalk up another great one Tom.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #16 on:** April 26, 2012, 02:55:23 AM »

What a wonderful little rifle! It will be an absolute joy to shoot - being a .40 cal. and so slender.

I might have scaled down the patch box to less overwhelm the butt area, but then again, maybe not. You see: there's not much to critique here, except to say, "Well done indeed!"

Can we see some more: like entry pipe, nose piece, and side plate?

t.caster · « **Reply #17 on:** April 26, 2012, 02:56:37 AM »

Here are some of the carving & scraping tools I use (maybe I should start a new topic) The little 2mm V tool with the blue top is the one I use for every carving job, whether incised or raised. The other like it is round and I almost never use it. I bought them In Japan on a business trip. Also show is an assortment of scrapers and carving tools, but certainly not all of them.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/REXTHOMAS2/MISC/CARVINGTOOLS005.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/REXTHOMAS2/MISC/CARVINGTOOLS003.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/REXTHOMAS2/MISC/CARVINGTOOLS004.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/REXTHOMAS2/MISC/CARVINGTOOLS007.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/REXTHOMAS2/MISC/CARVINGTOOLS006.jpg

t.caster · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2012, 02:58:42 AM »

Don Getz · « **Reply #19 on:** April 26, 2012, 03:46:39 AM »

Tom........I too think it is really well done. The incised carving really caught my eye, well done, and you have answered
the question of how you did it. I really like Bucks county guns, but have never really studied them much. A few thing
I would have done differently. I would have shortened up the comb to give you a longer wrist, this is one feature that
seem to jump out at you on a Bucks County gun. Another thing I would have done differently would be to change the
angle of the buttplate......I would have bent it forward at the bottom, at least a little. The angle you have done seems
like it would slip off your shoulder. Or, is that the way they were done? I don't know without looking at my RCA which
is downstairs. Overall, it still a nice gun, well done...........Don

Don Getz · « **Reply #20 on:** April 26, 2012, 04:00:26 AM »

Tom.........I take back what I said about the buttplate. I went out and got my latest KRA bulletn witih the article by
Eric Armstrong on Bucks County rifles. It has some with the same angle on the buttplate........I still don't like it that way
but I can't say you did it wrong. Still a heck of nice gun.........Don

David R. Pennington · « **Reply #21 on:** April 26, 2012, 05:33:43 AM »

Love it! I always thought Bucks County style so gracefull and pleasing to the eye the way all elements and lines seem to flow together. Great job. I'm inspired. I drew up a plan a while back for one in John Shuler style and have most of the hardware. Need the nerve to get started. Hope I can pull it off half as good as you did.

Majorjoel · « **Reply #22 on:** April 26, 2012, 12:58:56 PM »

Another Caster work of art! I like it a lot Tom. Almost as much as your rendition of A. Vernor some time ago! About Bucks County rifles, the angle of the butt is OK for shouldering and shooting but the one I built seems to like to slide away from my cleaning table when I have it leaning upright. Good thing I keep a plush rug on the floor just in case! I never leave that one leaning unattended.

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #23 on:** April 26, 2012, 03:58:44 PM »

Nice work Tom. Mine is still not finished.

Tim C.

MarkEngraver · « **Reply #24 on:** April 26, 2012, 06:10:22 PM »

Very well done !
Bucks guns are my favorites.
They take the straight comb lines of the Lancaster and mate it with the curved bottom lines of the Lehigh styles and it makes for a nice pleasing combination of profiles.
Really like the incised carving.

Mark

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Author Topic: Bucks Co. 40 cal just finished (Read 21207 times)

NSBrown

Vomitus

J.Cundiff

J.Cundiff

WMnBR

MarkEngraver