Just bought an Al Edge rifle

[Gun_Nut_73]

Auction is closed, so here is a link to the photos:  http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=471498277

I am looking forward to getting my hands on it.  I read in an older post that Mr Edge is still around.  If anyone knows how to contact him, I would appreciate any information he might be able to provide on this rifle.  .36 cal, 42" barrel, flint lock, maple stock, no patchbox or tallow hole.  Iron furniture and double set trigger.  Antler heel plate.  Not sure if there is a buttplate or not.

(does happy dance)

[Dennis Glazener]

Well that's easy. http://aledge.com/

If that's an Al Edge rifle, no reason to doubt it, it was made years ago. Nothing like the type of work he does today.
Dennis

[Gun_Nut_73]

Thank you for the link.  How is my rifle different?  I like the simple lines that it has.  Is Mr Edge's current work more fanciful?

[Dennis Glazener]

Yes, most of the work I have seen Al do has been with carving and engraving.
Dennis

[Nordnecker]

I went to the NRA museum last week. A little flintlock pistol caught my eye in the midst of all those hundreds of guns. It was made by Al Edge of all people. It was pretty fancy, too.

[Dennis Glazener]

I went to the NRA museum last week. A little flintlock pistol caught my eye in the midst of all those hundreds of guns. It was made by Al Edge of all people. It was pretty fancy, too.

Al has done a lot of restoration work for the NRA museum. He has a book showing what some of the pieces looked like when he started and shows the end results, really great. If I remember correctly Al made a longrifle that was presented to Charlton Heston.
Dennis

[Gun_Nut_73]

The rifle arrived.  As mentioned in the auction description it is 57" overall, 42" barrel, appears to be .36 cal.  Maple stock.  Lock, thimbles, triggerguard, and toeplate are iron.  Heelplate is antler, and cheek piece inlay is horn.

I have one problem in that the lock will not cock while mounted in the rifle.  It cocks fine when the lock is removed.  I suspect there is something putting just enough pressure on the sear pin ( I do not know the correct term for the part of the sear that the trigger raises to trip the hammer) to prevent proper engagement.

To add to my dilemma, Al Edge does not have computer access, and I, being deaf, cannot use a voice phone.  I haven't owned a TTY for years, either.

I would like to learn as much as I can about this rifle, if anyone can pass the information on the Al Edge.  I would also like to know what I should do to fix the sear engagement.  I am thinking I should buy a cheap tube of lipstick and put that on the sear pin, and try to see where it rubs in the mortise.

All comments appreciated.

[okawbow]

Did you try to set the triggers when you cock the lock? If they are single lever triggers, you must set them before the lock will work.

[Gun_Nut_73]

The hammer will not engage the full cock sear.  It will engage half-cock, but full cock just slips.  Full cock engages properly when lock is out of the rifle.

Trigger is double set with 2 triggers.

[okawbow]

You might try loosening the tang screw that is threaded into the trigger plate, and tapping it down to back the triggers away from the lock sear. It's possible the trigger bar is touching the sear. Also try loosening the lock bolts to see if the sear is being pulled against the wood in the lock cut out.

[Gun_Nut_73]

Thank you for the suggestion.  The tang screws do not go into the trigger assembly.  The screw that hold the trigger assembly to the stock is inaccessible unless I first remove the three screws holding down the trigger guard, and then pull the trigger guard from its' inletted recess.

[Gun_Nut_73]

Can anyone provide me with a mailing address for Mr Al Edge? 

I have no hearing, so I cannot use voice phones, and I would like to send him photographs of my rifle in the hope of gaining further information about it.

[JDK]

According to the Contemporary Longrifle Assoc. website his contact information is:

Al C. Edge
22370 Horseshoe Bend Rd
Ruther Glen, VA 22546

Enjoy, J.D.

[Gun_Nut_73]

Thank you very much.

[Kopfjaeger]

Good looking squirrel rifle.

[Kermit]

'Twould be a nice addition to the squirrel rifle photo thread, but it appears the photos belong to Gunbroker, so i expect they are protected property. Wouldn't want this site in hot water--or even uncomfortably warm.

Interesting rifle. I like it.

[Don Stith]

Sounds like a little wood swelling causing interference with the sear
  What part of the world are you in?  Most any of us could resolve the problem fairly easy. Al is a great fellow and a very good craftsmen. His work time is limited right now because of health issues with his wife

[Gun_Nut_73]

I am in central CA.  I will try to post some photos.  I just found out it is .32 not .36 caliber, as seller claimed.  Luckily, I have a .31 percussion, so they make a good pair.  

When I looked at the lock, I saw that a small piece of steel tubing had been put over the sear arm.  Likely made for a a smoother trigger.  

I also mailed some photos to Mr Edge, and I hope to get a response eventually, with more information.