Author Topic: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece  (Read 19873 times)

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12660
Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« on: June 20, 2012, 03:07:35 AM »


I just finished this one for Leatherbelly...it features a 50" 28 gauge John Getz barrel inlet into a piece of PA red maple by and from Mark Wheland (great inlet Mark).  The wood is stained with Ferric Nitrate crystals and water, and finished with Circa 1850 tung oil.  Leatherbelly intends ( I believe) to mostly shoot ball out of her, so for a pattern, I used Chamber's PA fowler profile with some modifications...length of pull 14 1/2", changed the wrist, but used all of the hardware from Chambers' PA fowler.  Those of you who have purchased John Schipper's new book on engraving, will recognize that I too have a copy.  Wonderful book!!  I browned the barrel, case hardened the screws, and polished the lock bright.   Leatherbelly hasn't even seen her finished...maybe tonight!








D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6538
  • I Like this hat!!
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2012, 03:26:56 AM »
Well Taylor that is a very elegant gun!....You may have outclassed LB  :o ;D ;D ;D ;D The engraving is very nice!

The fit and finish is very nice and I like the architecture.  I do have to say that I am not wild about the squared off edges of the lock panel. I would prefer to see the lock panel more emergent and organic to the stock.... Don't know if that is characteristic of the PA fowling piece or not.... anyway its just my taste... A beautiful gun that I am sure LB will use to great advantage..... he will be a lot closer to the targets than anyone else with the 50" barrel ;D ;D

De Oppresso Liber
Marietta, GA

Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others. – William Allen White

Learning is not compulsory...........neither is survival! - W. Edwards Deming

Offline smallpatch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4104
  • Dane Lund
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2012, 03:43:52 AM »
Taylor,

Nicely done.  The engraving is impeccable!! A real beauty for sure.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12660
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2012, 03:58:58 AM »
Thanks Tim and Dane.  Tim, I'm guessing that you're referring to the last 1 1/8" of the panel where I've created a concave area next to the panel at the tail end of the lock.  It's likely just the way things turn out for me, but I always cut a concave area there, rather than have the panel blend in flatishly.  Leatherbelly will add his own patina over the next few years, so aging the gun wasn't necessary.  With a lock polished to 600 grit, he'll have to work at getting it to rust.
With the 50" barrel, I had to make the ramrod from scratch.  But I had a piece of perfectly straight hickory, and Lee Valley's dowelling cutters, so I first made a 1/2" + rod, then reduced it for most of it's length to 3/8" + a few thou...It turned into a great rod, but I hope I don't have to make a replacement. 
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline Acer Saccharum

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19311
    • Thomas  A Curran
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2012, 05:02:47 AM »
Very elegant, Taylor. I think Tim Boone has only seen old guns, he's not used to new ones. I see the concavity between tang and sidepanel, but I would expect that. I think Dr Tim is talking about the hard edges of the panels themselves. Leatherbelly will take care of those edges.

Fine workmanship and artistry.

Tom
Tom Curran's web site : http://monstermachineshop.net
Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Offline smylee grouch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7883
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2012, 05:09:51 AM »
Very lucky fellow, that Leatherbelly. You have created another artistic wonder Taylor. Everything, lines,engraving,finnish. All great.   Smylee

HardBall

  • Guest
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2012, 05:43:39 AM »
I'm waiting on a pictorial coffee table book of your work Taylor.  I hope you have plans to publish one?


Offline Eric Smith

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 775
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2012, 05:52:04 AM »
Nice piece, Taylor. I like the engraving. Leatherbelly will really be pleased.
Eric Smith

Vomitus

  • Guest
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2012, 05:56:00 AM »
Ohh my o my! First I've seen!

Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6538
  • I Like this hat!!
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2012, 04:04:39 PM »
Taylor. i was referring to the edges of the lock panels as Tom explained better than I did.... They are not a big deal, just something i am concentrating on, especially in fowling pieces. I actually like the concavity you mentioned.... it seems natural to me.  You definitely do beautiful and inspiring work!!

I love the high polish on the lock... LB & many of the rest of us will probably be gone before it rusts!!!
De Oppresso Liber
Marietta, GA

Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others. – William Allen White

Learning is not compulsory...........neither is survival! - W. Edwards Deming

Offline rich pierce

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19434
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2012, 04:47:17 PM »
Engraving is great, really like it.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Tom Currie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1294
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2012, 05:19:21 PM »
Taylor, Superb work again as we have come to expect from you. A recent Chambers PA fowler I built has a much simpler sideplate. Yours appears to be an upgrade. A much more refined and pleasing choice.

Wonderful engraving.

Offline bob in the woods

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4555
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2012, 06:32:02 PM »
That is a beautiful gun, and superb workmanship !   Is the barrel a 20 bore dimension with a 28 bore, or is it a true scaled 28bore ?    I ask because I had a 28 bore made for me and it was light and truly scaled for the bore. Usually, the ones you see, are20 bore outer dimensions which make for a heavier barrel .
I hope I'm explaining this correctly. In other words, my 28 has the same barrel wall thickness as my 20 .

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2012, 06:42:59 PM »
Sure looks like Schippers' engraving. You're a quick study!
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12660
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2012, 07:24:49 PM »
I appreciate all of your comments and kind words.  I especially appreciate Tim's comments about the treatment of the lock panels...thoughts like those pry me out of the rut I've been comfortable in, and make me look harder at study pieces.  I invite you all to critique this fowling piece, if you will.  It can only benefit all builders.
The barrel on Leatherbelly's gun was made my John Getz.  The barrel on my Chambers' PA fowler is a Long Hammock 46" .  The octagonal breeches on both are within .015" - almost 1 1/16".  The muzzle wall of the Long Hammock barrel is .100" while the Getz barrel is .140".  but the Getz barrel has a little more of a flare.  So, I'd say John did not contour the barrel to 20 gauge specs, but rather created a true 28 gauge fowling piece barrel.  There is enough steel in the muzzle of the barrel to accommodate rifling, and I think Leatherbelly will mostly shoot ball out of this gun, so the heavier barrel will be a blessing.
Regarding John Schipper's engraving book, and I don't mind giving him a plug here....indispensable!!  His easy way of writing is most welcome, and his detailed instruction will set up anyone with the desire to give it a try, to success.  I think the thing that most impressed me about his style, is the fine-ness of the detail.  The overall impression is great coverage, but the details are very small.  The book has hundreds of examples to study, and reminds me in part of the European engraving books of the 18th and19th Centuries.  The book encompasses a man's entire lifetime of study and presents it in easy to see and understand format.  It is one of the best book purchases I've been able to make.  Leatherbelly's gun just happened to be the one on the bench when my copy arrived, so it was my Frankinstein experiment.
He's coming over after lunch today to pick it up.
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Offline TMerkley

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 634
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #15 on: June 20, 2012, 07:39:45 PM »
I love it,

I am curious how the inletting is done without over cutting and leaving small gaps.  I have inletted a lock this week and ended up leaving a few small gaps. Not near like the first one.  I had a similar situation when I inletted the barrel on Friday.  I did that by hand as well.  I only had one spot about an inch long near the breech where I took almost an extra 1/16th out.  I dont have much other than hand tools.  Drill press and electric drill.  the rest is chisels, box plane, and rasps. How can inletteing work look "clean" with only hand tools?  Great work Taylor!

Offline runastav

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1149
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #16 on: June 20, 2012, 08:04:14 PM »
Very nice Taylor :)
Runar

Offline rich pierce

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19434
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #17 on: June 20, 2012, 08:30:29 PM »
I love it,

I am curious how the inletting is done without over cutting and leaving small gaps.  I have inletted a lock this week and ended up leaving a few small gaps. Not near like the first one.  I had a similar situation when I inletted the barrel on Friday.  I did that by hand as well.  I only had one spot about an inch long near the breech where I took almost an extra 1/16th out.  I dont have much other than hand tools.  Drill press and electric drill.  the rest is chisels, box plane, and rasps. How can inletteing work look "clean" with only hand tools?  Great work Taylor!

Sharp tools, good light from several directions, slight draft on the parts being inletted, and care in placing and removing the piece when looking for transfer of inletting black are the main areas that will get you better inletting.
Andover, Vermont

Offline Roger Fisher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6805
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #18 on: June 20, 2012, 08:49:42 PM »
Ol Leatherbelly better do that piece justice or they'l tie him to a tree next winter.....He'll love a 28 shootin r ball.  I do wonder how tall and long in the arms he is to fit that 14 1/2 inch pull?

Offline sydney

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 355
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #19 on: June 20, 2012, 09:53:51 PM »
Hi Taylor--very nice --i do like the engraving
           Thanks for the pictures
               Sydney

Offline LynnC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2092
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #20 on: June 20, 2012, 10:08:35 PM »
Taylor - I just plain like it!  A beautiful gun.  LB ought to be grinnin from ear to ear.

If I may ask, What's the weight and how does she balance?

LB - Looking forward to hearing how she shoots
The price of eggs got so darn high, I bought chickens......

Offline Habu

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1188
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #21 on: June 20, 2012, 10:15:52 PM »
How can inletteing work look "clean" with only hand tools?

Aside from the tips given by Rich, practice.  Pick up a piece of maple at the lumber yard, and practice inletting the lock plate or other components.  I don't build enough guns to maintain the skills, so before a build I practice inletting each component.  (I still have trouble with entry pipes, but I think that is as much psychological as anything else.)
« Last Edit: June 21, 2012, 12:39:32 AM by Habu »

Daryl

  • Guest
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #22 on: June 20, 2012, 11:03:30 PM »
What can I add? Superb- Love the engraving pattern and execution - I've come to expect all the rest form him.  Of course Taylor is my second most favourite builter (oh yeah- cut the grass and 4 beer+ Clamato later) - Naaaa - second thought, Taylor is my most favourite builder (brother) of course.

Such a waste. thouugh,  LB will be selling her inside a year - best get your offers in now!  hahahahahahahahaha

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

  • Member 3
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12660
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #23 on: June 20, 2012, 11:04:35 PM »
It just went out the door, and I didn't think to weigh it.  It holds like a long barreled rifle rather than a shotgun/fowler.  But is certainly not heavy.  I know that's not very explicit but the best I can tell you right now.
thanks again, for your comments, guys.
D. Taylor Sapergia
www.sapergia.blogspot.com

Art is not an object.  It is the excitement inspired by the object.

Daryl

  • Guest
Re: Leatherbelly's 28 gauge fowling piece
« Reply #24 on: June 20, 2012, 11:19:07 PM »
Any pictures of the build? I'm going to have another beer. (boy - should have seen this first time I typed it.) Yikes!
« Last Edit: June 20, 2012, 11:20:43 PM by Daryl »