Scored

[sz]

A customer of mine made meat this morning and sent me this picture.
I made the rifle and he made the meat.

[GANGGREEN]

Nice enough deer I guess, but that rifle looks sweet.  I'm still new to this whole muzzy building thing, but an English style game gun is on my list for the future.

[Bob Roller]

A customer of mine made meat this morning and sent me this picture.
I made the rifle and he made the meat.

He did it with my favorite style of muzzle loader.

Bob Roller

[smylee grouch]

Yes it is a nice deer and a handsome rifle. I'm kinda fond of those English guns for hunting too. I love the grip angle on that rifle.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Steve, the architecture on that rifle looks way nicer than the one you posted recently with the tipped up lock.  the English sporting rifle and the jaeger are my two favourite hunting arms.

[sz]

Thanks guys.
The lock on this one is tipped too, just not as much.
I like to make the lock plate follow the center line of the grip, but some men have more drop in their stocks and that causes me to have to tip a factory lock more. Some like this one don't have a lot of drop so I can get by with a lot less "tip".

I do offer hand made locks but that often puts the price over the budget of many customers, so I am then left with only the Davis lock to work with or in some cases (like left handed customers) the L&R.

Now that Bob Roller has offered to help me out a bit I think I may be using some of his locks in the future so I can get the lines I want without so much filing.

Another ay to get the right architecture is to hand make a breach plug and bar, so the lock can sit flush on the bottom of the bar and also fit nicely to the bolster, but again, it is costly because the only "machines" I have is a lathe and my set of files and chisels.

 It makes me miss a mill, but as a full time gunsmith I just don't make enough money to buy all the goodies I'd like.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I've done some rough shaping (milling) using the cutter in the headstock of my lathe, and the material solidly clamped in the cross feed.  Dressing down a breech plug casting to the barrel is one such application.  Saves a bunch of filing.

[hanshi]

That is possibly the nicest English game rifle I've ever see; and I've seen a few.  It is elegant in it's simplicity and artistry.  The jaeger and English game rifle are the two that interest me a lot; second only to the longrifle.  I have neither but would sell my first born for a German style jaeger.  But gosh!  That is a beaut.

I find that deer a true trophy.  The rack is gorgeous.

[Joe S.]

A fine advertisement there,a fine rifle and a fine buck taken with it.

[Robin Henderson]

That's a fine lookin rifle and nice deer you got there.

[hudson]

Really nice buck and love the rifle. I have been planning a similar rifle for years and have most of the parts. One of these days. On the lack of a mill there are milling attachments for lathes available. Used one for years with good results before a mil graced my shop. King of got a kink in my neck at times. They do have limitations do to lathe design.

[sz]

Yeah a mill would be nice, but I have only files and chisels.  So that's what I use.  But what the heck.....they been working for hundreds of years and they still do.

[Squirrel pizza]

Steve that is a fine looking rifle, but I think that deer if faking his demise. Not a scratch on him. Maybe it was a miocardio infarction! Deer get those, right?

[sz]

Hummmm.
You're right.  I see no wound.
Maybe the sight of the 62 cal muzzle frightened him to death?

[Squirrel pizza]

I bet your right! I need you to make me a shotgun that has the same effect on dove and quail. Every time I go hunting them their wearing tiny Kevlar bird suits.

[Daryl]

NICE, Steve - as usual. Good buck!  January 17th & still had his antlers.