Author Topic: .54 Haines just finished  (Read 12797 times)

Offline smallpatch

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.54 Haines just finished
« on: January 18, 2009, 08:47:13 AM »
Just finished this one for a close friend.

Dunlap Shell maple stock, Chamber's Siler, Brass furniture, .54 cal Rice barrel.

Relief carved, wood box, slightly aged metal and wood.  Chamber's oil finish.

First time using shell maple, nice figure, real different from curly maple.

Nice and dense.  As usual, nice wood from Wayne Dunlap.
Your critique is welcome.








« Last Edit: January 18, 2009, 10:07:20 AM by smallpatch »
In His grip,

Dane

Offline Gene Carrell

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2009, 01:29:20 PM »
Gorgeous rifle. The  carving is  terrific.
Gene

lew wetzel

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2009, 05:15:30 PM »
dane,the shell maple looks good!!!yet another very nice rifle from you!!!

bs2

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2009, 05:32:30 PM »
Great Looking Rifle!

Offline Tom Currie

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2009, 06:14:14 PM »
Nice work Dane, but just what is Shell Maple ? Can't say I've heard that description before.

Offline smallpatch

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2009, 06:41:43 PM »
Tom,

I hadn't either, I guess it's just another figure variation in sugar maple.  The photos don't show it too well, but there is a tremendous amount of figure, sort of like scallops or shells. They appear and disappear as you roll the stock in you hands.  Really quite unique.  The figure is not crisp and distinct like alot of curly maple, but it is there, and quite nice.

In His grip,

Dane

Offline Tommy Bruce

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2009, 06:57:12 PM »
The carving and engraving really set the rifle off.  It is one to be proud of.
A man can never have too much red wine, too many books or too much ammunition”
R. Kipling

Little Brother

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2009, 08:20:59 PM »
Nice fit and finish.  Really a sharp looking piece. Well done SP.

Offline gibster

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2009, 08:38:44 PM »
Great looking rifle.  I really like the engraving and carving.   Just enough aging to set it off nice.   Thanks for sharing.

Offline Brian Jordan

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2009, 09:04:23 PM »
Very beautiful work! I love the aged look of the metal!
Elizabeth, PA

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms"...Thomas Jefferson

Let's Go Brandon!

george kevil

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2009, 12:49:37 AM »
Well Andrew,
Once again a nice little rifle.We should go shoot it. Who gets this one?

Offline Brian Jordan

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #11 on: January 19, 2009, 02:05:02 AM »
I had never heard the term shell maple before. After reading the description above I was wondering if there was a price difference between shell & curly maple? Also where would this wood compre grade wise compared to curly maple?
Elizabeth, PA

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms"...Thomas Jefferson

Let's Go Brandon!

Offline smallpatch

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #12 on: January 19, 2009, 04:34:26 AM »
George,  I built this one for Jim Webster.  He can't shoot, so he wants a pretty one.  This one will shoot, so now, no more excuses.

We should go shooting .... I've got a pig hunt first weekend of Feb.  Gonna try to kill a javelina with my Virginia .60.

melsdad,

This wood is considered an upgrade to standard curly (red) maple.  It is a very dense piece of sugar maple.  Really nice and hard, great to work with.  I didn't notice that real change of density from hard and soft in the curl.  Very consistent.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #13 on: January 19, 2009, 05:16:30 AM »
Smallpatch,

That's a very handsome rifle.  Your friend is a lucky fellow.  The aging looks good, not overly done.  Very nice engraving and your incised carving compliments the relief carving.   I especially like the cheek piece molding and the stepped relief line above it that ties the wrist/comb into the behind-the-cheek carving.

If I may make one suggestion.... Your relief carving is very good, but I think a little more modeling of the curved "fern tendrils" would make it even better.  Still a great looking rifle.  Well done.
-Ron 
Ron Winfield

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. -Nate McKenzie

Offline Kermit

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #14 on: January 19, 2009, 05:30:11 AM »
Shell maple looks like what we call "hammered maple" in our furniture shop. Very nice work. I like your metal finishes!
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Mae West

Offline smallpatch

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #15 on: January 19, 2009, 07:23:14 AM »
KY,

My carving and my engraving are definitely my weak points.  I would consider them primitive at best.  I wish I had someone to guide me along in those areas.  Having NEVER even handled an original, it's very hard to capture the nuances of the detailing and modeling.

In His grip,

Dane

Offline Brian Jordan

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #16 on: January 19, 2009, 05:47:39 PM »
melsdad,

This wood is considered an upgrade to standard curly (red) maple.  It is a very dense piece of sugar maple.  Really nice and hard, great to work with.  I didn't notice that real change of density from hard and soft in the curl.  Very consistent.


Thank you for the explanation smallpatch.
Elizabeth, PA

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms"...Thomas Jefferson

Let's Go Brandon!

Offline Roger Fisher

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #17 on: January 19, 2009, 06:18:41 PM »
Shell Maple - new to me thanks for the info.    Sweet rifle and the brass being aged not gawdy but is mellow for certain.   :)

george kevil

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #18 on: January 19, 2009, 07:29:36 PM »
TRY TO SHOOT A PIG WITH A .60
Gee Andy just get close and hit the hillside and the gravel spray will kill it. Have a good hunt.  Come out to the Western and visit.
George

roundball

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #19 on: January 20, 2009, 05:17:29 AM »
THAT raggedy looking aged old thing?
You better box that up and send it down here to me right away before somebody sees it and you get embarrassed !!










 ;D

Rifleball 36

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #20 on: January 20, 2009, 06:34:37 AM »
Smallpatch
  What is your technitue for the metal finish. I like it.

Offline smallpatch

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2009, 07:38:15 AM »
Rifleball36,

This is not an uncommon finish.  A bit time consuming, but well worth it.

The steel is browned, in a sweat box, WAY beyond what you would normally let it go, with NO carding between applications.

Then when it looks really cruddy, wirebrush, and sand all the browning off.

If it has gone long enough, there will be a good amount of pitting.

After it is cleaned off, it is then blued with a commercial cold blue.  This is followed by steel wooling the bluing off with Breakfree CLP.  This brings the bluing down, leaves the pits very black, and brings the highlights out to a nice dull gray.  It also stops the browning and lubes the steel.

A lot of work, but a really nice durable finish.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline smallpatch

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2009, 07:39:38 AM »
roundball,

Makes a really handy hunting rifle.  .54 call, 38" barrel. 

Light, and plenty of power.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline M Tornichio

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #23 on: January 20, 2009, 08:15:13 PM »
Nice looking rifle smallpatch. I have not been able to get on the internet for a couple of weeks, so am just seeing this rifle. Good job.

Offline Curt Larsen

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Re: .54 Haines just finished
« Reply #24 on: January 21, 2009, 05:18:04 PM »
I'm working on a Haines right now and if it turns out anything even close to yours I will be happy.  Nice work!!!