Continuing Inspiration

[David R. Pennington]

I have pursued a limited number of hobbies and activities over the years, but I think building long rifles so far seems to have the most potential for being a life long pursuit. 
I am getting ready to start number six (seven if you count an early kit gun). I have a stack of maple planks, three maple band sawn blanks in the rafters and four barrels waiting on me to get some spare time. I keep seeing guns I want to build. I want to build a hand forged lock. I want to finish a welded barrel. I want to learn to engrave.....,.
Does it ever end?

[Ed Wenger]

Nope, doesn't end.  Ain't it great?!......


           Ed

[smylee grouch]

Sounds like your hooked. Don't worry though, there is a support group for people like you (us). Its right here on this fourm. Enjoy the trip.

[Ky-Flinter]

Years ago my mantra was "So many women, so little time".  Now it's "So many guns to build, so little time".

.....  Ain't it great?!...... 
Ed

Yes, indeed!

-Ron

[Pete G.]

Years ago my mantra was "So many women, so little time".  Now it's "So many guns to build, so little time".

....and when the gun leaves it won't take your house.

[Shreckmeister]

Speaking of guns leaving, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to part with them after they were completed.

[shortbarrel]

Keep building, I'm 79 years old and still building. Don"t know how many I have built, but I haven't built one yet  that I was satisfied with. Hand forged locks and all the other hardware, plus wrought iron barrels that I restored an put on these guns. No store bought parts.

[mountainman70]

Speaking of guns leaving, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to part with them after they were completed.

amen,schreckmeister.Dave R and I both know a feller that has so many"children"-ie-guns he has built,that he doesn't know what to do!!I ,too,am getting there.I think I am on #8-9,not counting about 5 back in early 80's.
Keep at it Dave R,we all in this togather.lol,Dave F

[Old Bob]

Yeah, and I only know of one of those "children" that left and it cost a Cadillac.

[mountainman70]

yas,suh,and de ca-dilliac be lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng gone,and the rifle be as prime as when new.I have a couple of his younguns,my first  custom flinter from 1978,traded to him for car repairs.All 3 cars long gone,rifle just fine.

[kaintuck]

Nope.....seems each one spurs me on to ANOTHER one...I have 4 planned right now, 2 'active' 1 in process at Dave kecks and another gathering parts to be started.......

Marc

[Old Bob]

Dave, we'll never catch up with him. I'd like to talk him out of that old Beck fowler.

Kaintuck, I've only built 4 rifles so far and have the 5th on the bench. I keep saying that's enough. This last one is for my wife. I have a B weight NOS Getz barrel here that I was going to build what was to be my last rifle and at the sale that mountainman 70 got the parts at that he's been selling on here, I didn't find the wood I wanted but I captured a nice little NOS Bill Large .40, so Mama's gettin' a gun of her own. So I still have another rifle to build later. I have a bunch of cherry wood still curing so unless I find the right piece of maple it might have to wait another year or so. I've got several locks including a big Germanic one, so what with all that long cherry I reckon I'll have to build a fowler too. Then there's that pistol I've been thinking about. If I can get those done maybe that'll do. Huh, we'll see. I just wish I had half of the skill of some of the builders on here. I think that's the main thing that drives me. I want my next one to be better than the previous. All my guns have been dependable and more accurate than I can shoot, but I want to build better.

[mountainman70]

Bob,you still up?Go to bed,old man before ya turn inter a punkin,or sumpin!!!Yehaaaaaaaaa!!You orta be leevin these fellers get to bed too,you kno us oldies needs our beuty rest,Say goodnight,David!

[Old Bob]

Goodnight Chet! I'm on my way! Been watchin' the season finale of Mountain Monsters.

[Archie Otto]

I think the best part is when someone looks at a finished rifle, gets a perplexed look on their face and says: "You built that?"

[jerrywh]

 I knew a guy that built over 250 guns and the last one looked just the same as the first one. Thank God Dave R isn't like that. All his stuff looks great already.

[mountainman70]

Dave R be a rite smart rifle builder,an a good shot wif em ,too.Why,we call him Eagle Eye,as he can see,and hit stuff on the woods walk that mos of us have to see him hit,a fore we know where it is.

Ol Bob,I was right there wif ya a watchin our boys a traipsin all over SEastern Ohio a lookin fer them Grassmans haints,then,glory be,along come de WVa Yahoooooooooooooooooo!!I was plum outa bourbon,sos I hadta settle for beer,thas ok,too.Didnt get near a snockered as usual,good thing,too,a 2 hour show woulda put me under the wagon.have a goodun.Been sandin on a little 40 calSMR buildin on the stock I rescued from the sale.Gonna be sweet,7lbs so far.Time I get thru a sandin,be another pound offn it.Dave

[Old Bob]

I was goin' to work on the wife's half stock today, but I've been needing to clear some stuff out of my outbuilding and I took our bicycles and some stuff out of the shop and headed out to the roadside flea market. Got lucky and sold the bikes, a pair of cross eyed fieldglasses, and an old tank periscope. Made some room and a little shop money. Then I came home and worked the rest of the day trying to fix a pump my mom needs to get excess fluid from her legs. She has lymphedema. But anyways, maybe I'll get back to work tomorrow evening or Monday.

Yeah that MM episode last night was probably the best yet. It inspired me!