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Author Topic: 15 years in the Hudson Valley  (Read 15921 times)

Offline Mike Brooks

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15 years in the Hudson Valley
« on: September 08, 2014, 09:40:19 PM »
I started this gun 15 years ago when I bought the barrel from Benny Coogle. It sat around for years in the corner untill I found the lock for sale on this board. Sometime later I had Fred Miller inlet the barrel. I had probably 3 stocking sessions over the years with this gun finally finishing it last month.
 The barrel is 6' long, 11 bore, and 1 3/8" at the breech. I made the butplate which is 6" tall X 2" wide. The lock is a rifle shoppe lock, english ca. 1690.
 The gun is 7' 5 1/2" long and weighs 11 lbs 6 oz.
 The guy holding the gun is a bum that lives in my barn....





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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2014, 09:43:21 PM »





Fur sale BTW ;)
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Offline tallbear

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2014, 10:27:21 PM »
Love it Mike!!!!!!!!! What would be cooler than to take this down to my blind for duck season here in New York!!!!!Great piece!!

Mitch
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Offline bama

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2014, 11:29:21 PM »
I agree with Mitch, nicely done Mike and I also love the color. Mitch I bet you cold knock em out of the stratosphere with that baby.
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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2014, 11:31:34 PM »
Very cool!  I have an HV Fowler of my own in the works, so I’m not interested in your gun, but I may be interested in the barn bum.  Is he for sale?  Does he eat pigeons? How about mice?  Does he stink?
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Offline chrisdefrance

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2014, 11:53:32 PM »
What gage is that bum... er  barrel ?
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Online smart dog

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2014, 03:20:34 AM »
Wow,
Did that "Bum"build this gun?  Who is he?  He must be the "Magic Gunmaker".  Mike, please let him know that we think highly of his work.  I have a Berks County gun that I am about to expose that is inspired by this "Bum".

dave
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Offline Majorjoel

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2014, 04:02:41 AM »
Very nice Mike! As for that bum... I always thought he was taller.....;D
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 04:36:36 AM by Acer Saccharum »
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Offline Keb

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2014, 04:00:48 PM »
Awesome! BTW, I have a clown living in my barn.
« Last Edit: September 09, 2014, 04:03:20 PM by Keb »
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Offline Hawken62_flint

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2014, 04:03:12 PM »
Terrific as always---I assume you made the ramrod.  What did you make the ramrod from--obviously a tall tree or very large sapling.
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Offline Robby

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2014, 04:04:20 PM »
As always, a believable gun, beautifully done!!
Robby
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2014, 04:08:39 PM »
On original guns, it's not uncommon to find that the fore end is a separate piece spliced on. Must be a practical matter.  ;)
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2014, 06:55:55 PM »
Quote from: Acer Saccharum on September 09, 2014, 04:08:39 PM
On original guns, it's not uncommon to find that the fore end is a separate piece spliced on. Must be a practical matter.  ;)
That's a fact Jack. This one has a one piece stock.......try to find one that curly, that long on the cheap. ;)
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Offline Jim Kibler

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2014, 07:42:56 PM »
In my experience most spliced fore ends I've seen spliced have been on burl maple stocks.  There's a practical limit to the  size of burl pieces that can be obtained.  These splices are commonly made by a tapered cone and matching socket type joint. 
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2014, 10:25:51 PM »
Quote from: Hawken62_flint on September 09, 2014, 04:03:12 PM
Terrific as always---I assume you made the ramrod.  What did you make the ramrod from--obviously a tall tree or very large sapling.
I make all my ram rods from splits I take from an 8' hickory log the saw mill gave me a few years ago. I'm down to only 3 more split blanks...I'm not looking forward to the hammer and wedge routine again, but a guy has to do what a guy has to do.
 I should mention that there are 21' of relieved upper and lower forestock moldings on this gun. Three freakin' days of relieved forestock moldings was plenty. ;)
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline JTR

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2014, 11:58:32 PM »
That's a fine looking gun!

But I always thought you were the little guy in the avatar picture though,,,,,,  :D

John
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Offline Tommy Bruce

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #16 on: September 10, 2014, 03:20:05 AM »
Pretty @!*% sweet Mike!  Rates right up there with my new type G  ;D ;D
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Offline Kopfjaeger

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #17 on: September 10, 2014, 03:36:51 PM »
Now that's a long barrel.
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #18 on: September 10, 2014, 07:32:11 PM »
I wish I had money!
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Offline Telgan

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #19 on: September 10, 2014, 11:06:13 PM »
Wha'd ya use to age up that bum? Nice patina ya got goin there. Seriously though - Very, very nice piece.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2014, 03:33:15 AM by TELGAN »
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Offline Canute Rex

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2014, 01:08:56 AM »
I understand that a mixture of bacon grease, tobacco and cheap whiskey was the traditional finish for bums.

How common were ultra-long barrels like that in ordinary gauge/caliber? I have seen punt guns that were like shoulder stocked cannons, but the bore on this one is more in line with something that you could actually shoulder. Although, I can't imagine shooting this one without a rest. Can you wing shoot with it?

It's a remarkable piece of work - congrats.
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Offline Tom Currie

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2014, 01:39:42 AM »
Really cool Mike. Congrats to that bum in your barn.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2014, 04:04:40 AM »
Quote from: Canute Rex on September 11, 2014, 01:08:56 AM
I understand that a mixture of bacon grease, tobacco and cheap whiskey was the traditional finish for bums.

How common were ultra-long barrels like that in ordinary gauge/caliber? I have seen punt guns that were like shoulder stocked cannons, but the bore on this one is more in line with something that you could actually shoulder. Although, I can't imagine shooting this one without a rest. Can you wing shoot with it?

It's a remarkable piece of work - congrats.
Grinslades book is full of guns like this. They were common in the Hudson valley. It is intended to be shot from the shoulder at waterfowl sitting on the water. It would be a tough gun to wing shoot with. I have had alot of luck wingshooting with a 48" barrel but it was with a 6.5lb gun not 11 1/2 lbs.
 This particular gun balances at the swell at the rear ram rod pipe.
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline smokinbuck

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2014, 11:56:23 PM »
Mike,
Great looking gun. Ken Netting built a similar one for me, with a 6' barrel, that is 7'4" overall. Mine is a plain gun in 20 gauge and weighs in at 11#. Glad to see someone else is also a little bit crazy.
Mark
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Offline TPH

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Re: 15 years in the Hudson Valley
« Reply #24 on: September 12, 2014, 04:38:13 PM »
As always, Mike.... NICE! :)
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