TN rifle pics

[Meteorman]

Just finished this 50-caliber.  Was supposed it have it done, out the door, and under someone’s Christmas tree this Wednesday night; looks like I’m not gonna make that last deadline.  Good thing I don’t do this for a living.   

Anyway…. not sure which I’m worse at, building guns or photography.   Certainly room for improvement in both. 

This was my first over-the comb tang job…. I thank Mark Wheland (again) for tips on tackling that initially intimidating procedure, but of course the mistakes are all mine. 

Any and all critiques welcome – feel like I’ve kinda’ settled into a rut on these TN guns.
/mike millard

[Topknot]

Way to go Mike. Real fine looking rifle. Whats the caliber? Cool patchbox!

[alyce-james]

Good day Sir; Great looking job. Best I can tell the tang looks great to me. I like the color and the over all appearance of the rifle. This style is growing on me. Thanks for sharing with the ALF. AJ.

[Mike Brooks]

I like it. I wish I had one of those in .32!

[Mark Elliott]

Did you make the trigger guard?   If so,  I am very jealous of your welds.

[Mark Elliott]

I want to see what you did with the rear thimble;  that is a real bugger to get right.

[Algae]

Very nice work, congratulations!

Al J.

[JB2]

Very nice.  Can hardly tell you 'rushed it' at all;)  I'm sure who ever is waiting on it won't mind a couple more days!  Pretty sure it's not coming to me tho, cuz its wrong-handed...hint hint

[mark esterly]

handsrifleome looking

[horseman]

 Mike, a darn good looking rifle!  Like how you did the long tang from the breech.  That color is very pretty as well.

[Kermit]

You must really suck at photography, cuz it's not good enough to reveal those mistakes you alluded to. Maybe you're thinking of another gun? Nice work from where I stand.

[Glenn]

AWESOME ... 

[A.Merrill]

   Very nice wood, good work and I love the patchbox.......Al

[Ben Quearry]

Very nice! I love those Tennessee guns. whose lock did you use, if I may ask?

[Dave Marsh]

Mike,

Fantastic rifle.  Can I ask how you finished the metal?  I am having one built in .32 and was debating between browning everything or this look you have here and this rifle made up my mind for me.   

Thanks. 

Dave

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I like it!! Nice Work!!

[ken]

Real nice rifle!!! would love to know more details about it. ken

[Robby]

Beautiful gun Meteor Man!!!!
Robby

[Oldbow]

Very nice, love those southern ladies with iron dresses.

Just started my own in .40, hope she looks 1/2 as puurty.

[Meteorman]

Thanks for the kind words, friends.
Rice barrel, Chambers Late Ketland lock.
made the patchbox, thimbles, side plate, toeplate.

Mark - I didn't make the trigger guard - it's a stock cast piece.  I beat it and tweaked it quite a bit, to the point where I actually had to weld it back together - this is the 2nd one for me where the rail broke under the slightest duress.  Hate that.  I really want to start making my own.  Buttplates too.  Bored with the stock stuff.  Rear thimble picture below  - after going through Jerry Noble's books on southern guns, I didnt know there was a "right"...  :-)  Ignorance is bliss in my case.

I was trying to emulate, weakly I admit, the tang in this Mark Wheland gun: http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2011/07/mark-wheland.html
Included another less crappy picture of it below.

/mike

[WadePatton]

All
RITE
EE

then.

I'm liking that a lot. That's about what i'm going after on the next entry.  Good job on the tang.

Yeah beat up those stock fittings and make 'em YOURS.     (Show 'em who is boss.)

oh and the muzzle decoration, is that decorative only?  Appears much deeper than I'm used to seeing it.

[frogwalking]

Absolutely great rifle.  I love the tang.  What size are your tang bolts?   

[tlallijr]

Beautiful rifle !!!

[Meteorman]

What size are your tang bolts?   

The forward tang bolt is a 10-32 i believe.
The rear two fasteners are salvaged, re-purposed wood screws.

[PPatch]

That's a sweet looking southern rifle Mike. What triggers did you use?

dp