I need help fixing this.

[Edm]

A bit of background.  I decided years ago to build a longrifle.  While visiting my parents I spent about three hours up the road in the shop with a Man who had been doing it for years.  That was my background...no books, no internet etc.  So I got all of the pieces and built one.  I have since learned from my mistakes and #2 was MUCH better than #1.  and 3 better etc... Fast forward to now.  I would like to fix the downright ugly on this rifle.  (actually that is easier said than done)  I want to fix the sideplate.  I have no idea how I ever thought this was right, but I must have... And I don't really know if I can.  Obviously there is a hole in the lock at the wrong location.  I can get a new lock...But I didn't know what I was doing when I placed the sideplate.  This caused it to be lined up wrong.  It is inlet about 1/8th of an inch.  So I'm not sure I could even start over...
Anyways.  Go ahead and laugh and scratch your head at my stupidity...I still do when I look at it...But I really would appreciate some advice on what I can do here.

AND, Thanks for a great forum.  I have started at the end and am working my way through 375 pages and loving it.

I have taken pics from different angles to try to show the relation of the barrel, breachplug etc.

[volatpluvia]

That appears to be the sideplate for a left hand gonne.  You should take it out and set it aside and get a plate for a right hand rifle. 
volatpluvia

[Dave B]

I was counciled  by one fellow that you should never go back on your early work. It serves as a great example of where we were at at that moment in time. If it works fine leave it be. I have my first scratch built rifle and its butt ugly. I had at one point liked the idea of a set trigger and changed the trigger guard to take a double set trigger. I also trimmed up the bulk of the fore arm area a little. Having had this advice have chosen to leave it as is for now. I could do a make over and bring it back to what I had started out to do in theory but didnt have any clue as to what that should look like and did the best I could at that time.  I think it is still possible to savage the piece with  a re-slabing of the side plate side (Planing off the existing side plate panel)with new wood and getting the new side plate. pug the extra hole in the lock plate with a steel rivet. and re drill the lock bolt holes where they are supposed to be and your well on your way.

[stuart cee dub]

Hi Edm,
You and I started from the same school of building .
Is it really worth fixing ? Sure you could fix the side plate ,but if you can already build a better rifle concider a rebuild.

When I started building and was short money I went back and rebuilt my first rifle .It was a .50 cal parts gun built on an old commercial Kentucky half stock blank in the 70's when I was a teen .It was crude . i had no books no guide just some occasional advise .Later I restocked it in walnut and tried a back action lock.It was a big improvement but it still was not what I was looking for.But it was a great shooter and shot it for a number of years.

 Finally I restocked it again as a Hawken rifle after having it re breached and getting a correct lock .
I still shoot it .It is a very handsome rifle .

Sometimes you can sell your early attempts but consider restocking this one and getting some better matching furniture.Looks like you have a good siler lock and Davis sett triggers, And likely a decent barrel as well.Good parts are worth reusing.
You can always keep the old stock.Just a thought.

[Majorjoel]

I believe that fixing one's mistakes is a path to becoming a better gun builder. There are many ways to deal with the problems found on this particular rifle.  I would first remove the offending side plate and reshape your lock and side plate panels. I cannot see all of the lock side internal issues, but you can easily plug the bolt holes in the stock and also fill the holes in the lock plate as well. Make yourself a new side plate. Take a look at the many original longrifles that use a plate that covers over the whole side panel. These usually follow the panel shape and are engraved to add interest and can be done to beautify the piece. You now will have a fresh start to redrill your holes for the lock and plate. Good luck and make it a fun project.

[Edm]

Thank you for the responses.  I am working on another rifle now so I have time to decide what I want to do.  It has other problems too but this is the one that has always bothered me most.  Thanks again and I look forward to learning here.

[keweenaw]

The lock is an easy fix.  Just very slightly countersink the screw hole on either side, make new "screw", actually just a short threaded piece, from a piece of soft steel like a 20 penny common nail that is a little longer (1/16") than the thickness of the plate.  Screw it in so that it extends on both sides and peen the snot out of it on both sides until it completely and tightly fills the hole.  When you dress it off the repair will be invisible.

Whether there is enough wood left to do a decent repair on the sideplate side is another matter.  You might just want to recycle all the metal parts - except the sideplate - into a new stock.  But since the stock at this point is basically a loss and practice does make perfect so you can try the stock repair by starting on the lock side and reshaping the lock panel so that it's edges parallel the lock's edges.  I would probably take off those ugly beaver tails (sorry to say that but they are) .  The left side is much more difficult since the tail on your sideplate was way too long.  Ideally the left side panel should be approximately the same as the right side but if you cut it the same you'll cut into the inlet for the sideplate and the top edge currently follows the sideplate which it shouldn't.  One strategy which would be a good learning experience is to cut the entire left side down to completely remove the inlet for the sideplate and some of the area above it where you've removed wood which should have been left there.  Glue a new piece of wood on that side and start over.  With some appropriate finishing you can make that glue line almost invisible. 

Just some thoughts.

Tom

[jimc2]

Dont change it this will be a great object lesson for new builders to show how much better things are now with all the resources at hand and how you have improved.

[caliber45]

edm -- There's no shame in undergoing a learning process; most of us will be doing that as long as we build rifles. I'd leave it as it is, were it me. Use it to show people how much you've improved in the interim. Devote your energy to the "next" rifle, and don't bother looking back other than to assure yourself you're getting better . . . and better . . . etc. Just my two cents' worth . . . -- paulallen, greencastle, in

[pathfinder]

I feel that there is no good fix for this. No room to re-inlet the the backward's plate with out a lot of wood working. Fit a piece of wood in the inlet? Maybe cover that with a thin piece making the side panel @ 1/32 thicker? I've seen that before on gun's that fella's have brought me,took a minute or two to see it,if done in a workman like manner.

The hole in the plate is an easy fix. Re-drilling the hole thru the stock doesn't appear to be an issue either.

I think I would attempt a fix. Way to "different",now that you know the difference.You alway's have the pictures to remind you!

[Robby]

The hole in the lock is an easy fix as Snyder has described. The side plate is doable. Plane the panel down and glue on a new piece of wood, re-inlet a new side plate. This would also require stripping the entire stock and adding moulding lines at the glue line and lock side to match. This is the short version.
Robby

[Nate McKenzie]

Most of the metal parts are still usable [not lockplate].  I'd get a new piece of wood and start over. Its good practice and cheaper than a whole new gun.

[Jerry V Lape]

Your first rifle is always a learning process, same as all your following rifles will be.  There is a saying I have read on here before that the difference between the beginners and the better builders is the ability o fix the problems. (Paraphrased).  So you have a practice rifle which has a few problems why not practice your problem fixing skills on it.  As others have said, plane off that side panel and transplant some wood on it, inlet a new proper plate.  Your are going to need to refinish anyway so tackle the other problems like lock plate panel, beavertails and any other changes/experiments you wish.  If you see a problem fix it.  Learn to solve problems and improve your skills.  There is no reason to waste the opportunity, and I think I would do this before I did the second rifle as you will learn a lot and develop a lot of confidence.  When you are all done, if it is still ugly, save the fittings, scrap the wood and get another blank to build with later.  You just might surprise yourself and come up with a nice looking useable rifle.  And if you want to try some of the aging techniques I would think you could conceal any of the glue seams quite nicely.  Shorten the tang and give it a little shape.  Fill the unneeded inlet with wood and hide the seams in some tang carving/aging.  There is so much learning you can do on this rifle as one little project at a time. 

[Hungry Horse]

Dude, you have the ultimate target rifle. All you need is a goofy getup, and a tinfoil hat, and your ready to go. Practice like the devil, and get good with that thing, and have some real fun. I can guarantee that if you show up with that gun, and your tinfoil hat,  ain't nobody going to have their mind on their game. remember more matches have been won, and lost, long before the first shot was fired.

               Hungry Horse

[Mark Elliott]

I am not suggesting you do the same, but I wanted no evidence to remain of my first rifle.   I recycled the parts and cut up the stock.  As one of the other writers noted,  the lock is an easy fix.   I mess up the lock screw placement all the time and execute the noted fix.   Carefully done,  even you will have a hard time figuring out where you repaired it.

[Bob Mac]

I had issues with my first rifle built 30+  years ago. It was a good shooter but I didn't like the way it looked. I kept the lock and barrel, bought a new stock blank and built my second rifle. Much more satisfied with my second attempt. I was even willing to show it around a little at Lewisburg in Feb. Getting ready to start collecting pieces for my next build. I'm sure it will turn out better than my last.
Bob

[Meteorman]

Edm - while I admit a small measure of perverse attraction to Hungry Horse's tinfoil hat solution, I think Jerry Lape speaks great wisdom.....  personally I'd be following his advice.
No matter what you do, even if it's nothing, you have my undying respect for owning up to a reversed sideplate.   with a photo no less.  Good on ya - you have a good attitude.
/mike

[Edm]

Yeah....told you it was bad.  Oh well.  And as pointed out they are ugly beaver tails...and to make matters worse I mounted the front site backwards, when I figured this out and reversed it it goes to the end of the barrel.  When I built this our first son was just born and at 3 am while he was eating I was working on it...may have contributed to the outcome.

I have enjoyed the comments that ya'll have given.  It actually shoots well.  I am working on a 40 cal rifle now and when I finish I will see what I want to do.

Edm - while I admit a small measure of perverse attraction to Hungry Horse's tinfoil hat solution, I think Jerry Lape speaks great wisdom.....  personally I'd be following his advice.
No matter what you do, even if it's nothing, you have my undying respect for owning up to a reversed sideplate.   with a photo no less.  Good on ya - you have a good attitude.
/mike

[Long John]

Edm,

I wouldn't mess with it.  If the gun shoots, shoot it.  If it doesn't, use it a a reminder of where you started. 

I am trying to be kind - you have a lot of room for improvement in the limited amount we can see but not enough wood to make those improvements.  Re-doing the side plate is just one of the issues with this gun.

If you want to pirate parts from it for a fresh build, that's your choice.  But I question the wisdom of trying to fix that one error.

Best Regards,

John Cholin 

[P.W.Berkuta]

Edm,

I wouldn't mess with it.  If the gun shoots, shoot it.  If it doesn't, use it a a reminder of where you started. 

I am trying to be kind - you have a lot of room for improvement in the limited amount we can see but not enough wood to make those improvements.  Re-doing the side plate is just one of the issues with this gun.

If you want to pirate parts from it for a fresh build, that's your choice.  But I question the wisdom of trying to fix that one error.

Best Regards,


John Cholin 

I totally agree also -- first builds should be left as is. It is a reminder that your follow-on builds should be improvements of your skills. It might also be worth a "fortune" when you become famous .

[Robby]

Edm, On my first long gun, I positioned the tail of the lock too high. The gun shot great and still handles and shoots great, but every time I cleaned it, that lock position would haunt me, and I even invented a few vulgarities to describe what it looked like to me. As far as I know, no one else noticed it, but I didn't make the thing for 'no one else'. I did plane off the lock panel, reposition, re-inlet the lock, and refinish the whole gun. Today, even I have trouble finding the exact line of my scab. I learned a lot on both the first and second go around, I learned more on the second. What ever you choose to do, best of luck with your decision!!!
Robby

[pushboater]

After looking at the hideous carving and downright ugly architecture on my first build I finally took the Lock, barrel. and furniture off and restocked it.  The second incarnation come out 1000% better, and I even had someone make me an offer to buy it at the first shoot I took it to.  I ended up selling it about a year later to fund another build.  I kept the old stock to have something to look at to remind me of how far I've come through the years.  I still have that old stock and I still cringe every time I look at it, but that cringe is always followed by a big smile as I realize that it was simply the first step down the path of a long journey.  I'm still on that Journey but I'll never forget where it all started because I still have that old stock to remind me!  Whatever you decide to do always remember that the most important thing is to simply Have fun!  If it doesn't make ya happy, then what's the point?  Restock it and keep the old stock so you'll have something to laugh at in your older years.  HAVE FUN!

Capt. David

[frenchman]

your not the only one with this dilemma, i have a fifty in a box not finish with so many wrong things to it and a story that goes with it from a bad period in my life. After reading this post a new stock is going to be ordered and start over again. I have all the stuff for it, just the price of a piece of wood, so there it is next year project i guest will have to put that 54. project on hold.