Author Topic: Lehigh Schimmel (Read 11957 times)

Nate McKenzie · « **on:** March 13, 2009, 06:05:04 AM »

I am playing with pictures again. Here is a Leigh Schimmel I just finished. It has a Getz Barrel, Chambers Lock, and Stock wood from Knob Mountain Muzzelloading.
Yes I know the back ground is entirely too busy. All comments and criticisms are welcome.

Scott Bumpus · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2009, 06:23:58 AM »

Nice rifle. I like the background, kinda says to all the sticks in the pile "this is what you wish you could be".

longcruise · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:23:46 AM »

Remember to take it off the pile before you light it!!

Nice rifle.

Dale Halterman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2009, 04:44:27 PM »

Nice rifle. Can you tell us how you made and attached the trigger guard? The only reservation I have is the choice of lock. Most Lehighs had Germanic locks, as far as I know.

Dale H

t.caster · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2009, 05:32:24 PM »

I don't know how Nate did it, but the two Shimmels/BarnGuns I built had similar homemade guards. The front went up and bent back inside and was captured by the trigger plate.
You've done a fine job on that one!
I used that same lock on one of mine...Good sparker and very quick!
Now I got the hankering to build another!

Brian Jordan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:18:54 PM »

I think she looks beautiful!! Got a name for her yet?

Dphariss · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2009, 07:24:13 PM »

Nice...
These always make me wonder how many were made vs the higher grade guns....

I would have left the barrel and lock bright and let it brown as it would. The barrel anyway. On second thought I would case harden the lockplate and take what came for color. Grey would be fine in this case.

Dan

Nate McKenzie · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2009, 08:46:30 PM »

I figured this was a fairly late and cheaply made rifle so I used a commercial hardware type lock. Trigger guard is flat brass that is wider in the bow. It curls under and is captured by the trigger plate in front and is screwed on the back. Oh ya, the stock is scraped with Chambers oil finish. I was going to brown the barrel and take most of it off to look a little aged but it took the TOW brown so nice I didn't. I may change my mind on that.

grouchy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2009, 02:00:57 AM »

Really nice Nate! How does she shoot? Could we get a picture of the trigger guard from underneath? Thanks for sharing!

Nate McKenzie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2009, 06:25:10 AM »

I haven't shot it yet. I'll try to get a picture of the TG up in the next day or two. Thanks for the input.

David Rase · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2009, 06:39:21 AM »

Nate, Nice looking architecture. From what I can see from the pictures, you pulled it off well. My only comment is on the triggerguard. It looks to be made from fairly thick material. Might just be the angle of the camera. My two cents worth.
DMR

Ben I. Voss · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:16:11 PM »

Nice job- thanks for sharing!

Knob Mountain · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:40:07 PM »

Nate, Looks really nice. Bring it to the shop next time so I can see it up close.

Dave

gibster · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:53:26 PM »

Thanks for sharing. Great looking rifle. What caliber is it? Let us know how she shoots.
Gibster

Dphariss · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2009, 04:23:48 PM »

Quote from: Nate McKenzie on March 13, 2009, 08:46:30 PM

I figured this was a fairly late and cheaply made rifle so I used a commercial hardware type lock. Trigger guard is flat brass that is wider in the bow. It curls under and is captured by the trigger plate in front and is screwed on the back. Oh ya, the stock is scraped with Chambers oil finish. I was going to brown the barrel and take most of it off to look a little aged but it took the TOW brown so nice I didn't. I may change my mind on that.

My comments were directed and how I thought a "poor boy/barn gun" would have likely come from the smith.
Its a fine rifle and you may finish as you wish.
But if you want it to look "right" its best to leave the barrel white and grease free and let nature take its course OR rub it down with something like grape leaves (difficult in most areas right now) ect to dull it.
If you leave it white and then put it in some out of site part to the back yard after dark to collect dew you will end up with an aged finish that the "brown and remove" cannot match. Just protect the bore and the pan of the lock.

Dan

smshea · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2009, 05:03:10 PM »

I think it looks Great!

Nate McKenzie · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2009, 09:06:39 PM »

Grouchy, Here are the pictures of the trigger guard that you requested to see.

Roger Fisher · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2009, 09:40:00 PM »

Quote from: Dphariss on March 14, 2009, 04:23:48 PM

Quote from: Nate McKenzie on March 13, 2009, 08:46:30 PM
I figured this was a fairly late and cheaply made rifle so I used a commercial hardware type lock. Trigger guard is flat brass that is wider in the bow. It curls under and is captured by the trigger plate in front and is screwed on the back. Oh ya, the stock is scraped with Chambers oil finish. I was going to brown the barrel and take most of it off to look a little aged but it took the TOW brown so nice I didn't. I may change my mind on that.

My comments were directed and how I thought a "poor boy/barn gun" would have likely come from the smith.
Its a fine rifle and you may finish as you wish.
But if you want it to look "right" its best to leave the barrel white and grease free and let nature take its course OR rub it down with something like grape leaves (difficult in most areas right now) ect to dull it.
If you leave it white and then put it in some out of site part to the back yard after dark to collect dew you will end up with an aged finish that the "brown and remove" cannot match. Just protect the bore and the pan of the lock.

Dan

Thanks, 'grape leaves' hmmm nothing new under the sun (or dew) In fact I might dew my smoothy that away!!

grouchy · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2009, 12:09:17 AM »

Thanks for the pictures, Nate. I really like it!

LynnC · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2009, 01:19:08 AM »

Talk about a minimalist trigger guard - No front extension & very little rear! Neat to have the trigger plate to hold the front like that.

BTW - A fine looking gun !

Nate McKenzie · « **Reply #20 on:** March 17, 2009, 06:48:43 AM »

Thanks for all the interest and input. I never expected this many replies.

E.vonAschwege · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2009, 09:06:13 PM »

Hey Nate,
This goes for both this gun and your fancier Lehigh. Great job! You've got nice shaping on both of them, and I like your choice of an English import lock for this. Most earlier Lehighs had Germanic locks, but a good portion of English locks show up on the mid and later ones. All I can say is that you could slim the lock panels down a bit more, but otherwise keep at it! I have a difficult time keeping things simple, so it's fun to see others as bare-bones as this and Don's barn gun. Thanks for sharing,
-Eric

Tommy Bruce · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2009, 03:15:10 AM »

Nate, those are great pics of a great looking rifle. I've been playing with the idea of doing a poor boy with a verner style stock. Thanks for putting my over the edge.

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Author Topic: Lehigh Schimmel (Read 11957 times)

grouchy

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