Author Topic: New England Rifle (Read 11139 times)

tallbear · « **on:** February 03, 2009, 05:16:45 PM »

This is a New England Rifle I just finished up for a friend.It's loosely based on a signed John Mason in my collection.The patchbox is from a Silas Allen.Silas apprenticed under Mason so their styles are very similar.I realize few New England rifles are rarely stocked in maple but the customer insisted and as I've seen two Silas Allen Rifles in Maple I went along with it.It was the first time I've done any serious silver wire work

,There were some colorful words used to get that done!!!!!!!!!!
The barrel is a 39"tapered .50 cal.Stock is stained with aqua-fortic and finished with Jim Chambers oil finish.As always any critiques good and bad are welcome!!!!!!!

Mitch

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2009, 06:42:18 PM »

Love it, particularly the patchbox. Thanks for posting.

rich pierce · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2009, 07:06:38 PM »

Hot diggety. Super clean work. Somebody's going to be a happy customer.

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:04:56 PM »

Mitch, does my heart good to see a New England piece being done. Most honorable rifle you have made. Right in the fashion.

Thanks for posting that.

Tom

PINYONE · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:28:16 PM »

If a person only had one rifle- this would be a great one- New England rifles never get the spot light as other do- but they are just a nice and this one is a champ- The Great Pinyone

M Tornichio · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2009, 08:54:32 PM »

nice looking rifle Mitch!
Marc

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2009, 10:07:10 PM »

Beautiful rifle, very nice work.

Tim C.

acorn20 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2009, 10:20:29 PM »

Nice, clean looking gun Mitch. Well done!

Dan

B Shipman · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2009, 07:42:24 AM »

Tallbear, good looking rifle. I wish people would do more of these.

Anyone remember Larry Myrock. He did some splendid N.E. rifles.

D Smith · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2009, 08:24:14 AM »

Nice work - what was the barrel and lock treatment ?

Dave

lew wetzel · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2009, 08:25:07 AM »

nice rifle!!!i am really impressed with the trigger!!!!

Gene Carrell · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2009, 01:06:56 PM »

A great looking rifle. I too particularly like the patchbox.

Michael · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2009, 02:49:10 PM »

Ah, yup nice rifle!

Michael

tallbear · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2009, 11:15:32 PM »

Thanks for all the kind words.I had a lot of fun building this rifle.It was for a close friend who I've hunted and flyfished with for about twenty years.He had never shot a muzzleloader until the pic below,which was with this rifle.I think the smile says it all!!!

Dave;The barrel was browned with Wahkon Bay browning which I have found to be the easiest to use and most consistent.The lock was aged a little by first polishing it to 320 grit then coating it with cold blue and iodine.Let it sit overnight,clean the crud off of it and polish to suit.I like the look of a bright lock but not the glare or maintenance this treatment tone it down a little.

Lew;The trigger was taken from the great Thomas Earle New England rifle in RCA #2,which I really want to make someday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks and I will see everone at Lewisberg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch

Brian · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:40:25 AM »

A beautiful job indeed - and the smile says it all!

I must admit however that while looking at the picture of your friend holding the rifle I don't know which I was most envious of. The fact that he had such a beautiful rifle - or the fact that there was no snow in the background!

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2009, 12:48:53 AM »

I like it!

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2009, 01:17:10 AM »

This is an excellent rifle very well made. It is an interesting change from what I'm used to seeing/reading about. I'll bet is shoulders well and is a hander shooter.
If I may take the bull by the horns, may I say that the transition from the end of the tang to the wrist seems to me to be a little....abrupt. Perhaps the original was too built just like that, but if it were mine, I think I might have bent the tang down a little to smooth out the wrist from the breech to the comb.
Your staining and finish are very nice...love that AF look.

tallbear · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2009, 02:15:49 AM »

Brian,if it makes you feel any better we got about 5" of snow last night,not much by your standards but pretty good for us

Taylor
Thanks, now that I look at it closer I agree.The original doesn't have that quick of a drop off.I had a terrible time getting the thumb piece in and I took it deeper to get the sides the way I wanted them which lowered the top of the wrist.Looking at it now I should have gone back and lowered the back of the tang.I guess I was so intent on the thumb piece I lost sight of the overall picture!!!Thanks for the imput,things like that really help .

Mitch

timM · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2009, 08:19:03 PM »

Mitch, A while back you had mentioned that you were building a NE rifle based on John Mason's work. I would like to compliment you on this beautiful rifle! Very refreshing to see a New England build and I think the Maple adds tremendously to your outstanding effort. You do John Mason proud. Thank you for posting it. tim

Joe G · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2009, 09:24:08 PM »

Beautiful rifle, very nice work

J Shingler · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2009, 09:30:48 PM »

Very well done. I too like the patchbox. Very clean and as you r picture shows a happy new owner. Thanks for bringing him to the wonderful sport of muzzleloading!

Roy S. · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2009, 09:33:39 PM »

Very nice!

rf50cal · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:26:06 AM »

Mitch,
It was a pleasure to meet you and have the opportunity to handle this fine rifle at the Lewisburg show. Very nice!

richardn · « **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:05:25 AM »

Excellent rifle - in maple or cherry - I have always liked these guns. Love to own one.

Richard Nicholas

Eric Fleisher · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:02:21 AM »

I also met Mitch at Lewisburg and got to see and handle this rifle first hand. Mitch is a good guy and he builds very nice rifle. Thanks for bringing it for us to see.

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Author Topic: New England Rifle (Read 11139 times)

PINYONE

D Smith

lew wetzel

Michael

timM

Joe G

J Shingler

Roy S.

richardn