Mule Ear plains Rifle

[blaksmth]

This is a .69 cal rifle that my Father built and gave to me, it is around 30 years old and still shoots extremely well.
The barrel is straight octagon and all parts except the barrel and sights were hand made the Solid breech plug was one he machined. I thought every might enjoy it

[gunmaker]

Man, what's it weigh  

[stuart cee dub]

Goofy-but -cool. I especially enjoy a good mule-ear lock.
If he had made a few more I'm sure he would have perfected the stock design.

Gunmaking needs machinist's skills but machinists are not necessarily gunmakers .
My first gun was pretty crude ,both the stock and metal work.But then I was neither a machinist or a woodworker. Gunsmiths have a unique skill set (the rest of us farm out the tough stuff.)

Thank for posting it .

[blaksmth]

That was his first attempt at a pistol grip muzzleloader, The second rifle came out better, but I still like it, He was trying for something like the bottom rifle in Biards book on the hawken with the pistol grip

[blaksmth]

It weighs 11 1/2- 12 lbs on my BR scale and has brought home 7 elk for me

[whetrock]

It's a fine rifle, Blaksmth. I'm glad you decided to post the photos. (It reminds me quite a lot of a rifle my grandfather owned and let me use when I was a kid. Fond memories.)