The latest from my bench

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Hello all,

I made this rifle for a good buddy of mine named Ralph.  I have been making rifles for friends mostly to practice as much as I can.  The deal on this one was he paid for the barrel, stock blank and lock and I took care of the rest.  He has not even seen it yet.  I refused to send him pictures. 

Now that it is done, I am at my favorite part of the process  where I sent back and look at it, question every decision I have made and point out every flaw to myself.  Let me tell you my vision and then you folks can weigh in with comments suggestions, you can even point and laugh. 

I wanted to build a southern style/ Virginia rifle based on Hershel House's design from his famous DVD.  I also wanted it to have some of what I call "folk art flare"  I am not sure what that means, but I keep saying it.  I wanted the carving to be bold and the patchbox to be bold as well.  This is the most engraving I have ever done.  I am still learning. 

The buttplate is from MBS, the lock is a Chamber's colonial, the Barrel is a Rice C weight in .54.  The trigger guard I found on ebay and I have no idea who made it or how old it is.  I have been hoarding it for a couple of years now.

I placed the Cross in the patchbox because my buddy is a minister/history professor.  Also, the amount I cussed making it, I figured I better do something to make amends.  The one on the rifle is the fourth one I made.   











Coryjoe

[axelp]

nice work

[smart dog]

Hi Cory!
Good job.  It is definitely folk art and well done.  Your carving looks good and the patchbox is a bit over large but funky cool nonetheless.  That's a lot of nick and dot.  I'll bet your brain wandered a bit during that machine-like repetitive effort.  The flair at the muzzle is different and kind of cool as well.

dave

[thimble rig]

Hey Cory that's a fine looking rifle.I really like the poured nose cap and the flair at the nose.Youre engraving is coming along pretty good.I have a hard time trying to learn to engrave.The carving also looks good.The more we do the better we get.

[rich pierce]

Dave's comments nail it for me, also.  Very believable, funky cool.

[Mike Brooks]

 The good:   Pleasing architecture. From a blank? our engraving is good. Carving at the breech is good.

The bad:    The box is to big. The wiggles off of your carving are kind of kinky. How are you carving them?

I'm guessing that piece of wood was pretty soft. Try harder wood next time.

Overall a fine effort.

[oldtravler61]

Coryjoe I like your rifle. It does have that folksy look to it. The nice thing about being new builders is we always learn something on each gun. Don't sweat the engraving. For my tastes it gives it character..  Mine gives me nightmares. The patch box is big but then again it's your gun. Good job now on to the next one. This is habit forming isn't it!

[Dennis Glazener]

Cory,
I like the rifle, agree with the comments from others the only thing I might add is that to me the dip in the side rail is a distraction (nose-cap photo). I first thought it was an optical illusion but I don't believe it is. When looking at the oblique barrel corner at the muzzle end of the cap the end of the cap is much higher than the side-rail is just above the first cross pin.

I like the poured nose cap but question whether it goes with the earlier architecture of this rifle, course it could depict the often used pewter replacement seen on earlier rifles.

Dennis

[BOB HILL]

Coryjoe,
Good job.You've gotten a lot of good advice here. Looking forward to seeing your fifth build.
Bob

[Acer Saccharum]

I like the folksey stuff. This is real pleasing in many ways.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

The good:   Pleasing architecture. From a blank? our engraving is good. Carving at the breech is good.

The bad:    The box is to big. The wiggles off of your carving are kind of kinky. How are you carving them?

I'm guessing that piece of wood was pretty soft. Try harder wood next time.

Overall a fine effort.

It was from a blank.  The wiggles were a little weird.  I wanted them to be prominent and somewhat random, the way I interpret the wiggles on RCA #42.  I used two different method, which did not help the appearance. I tried a parting tool, then I simply cut the with a knife make two passes to cut out the V. 

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Cory,
I like the rifle, agree with the comments from others the only thing I might add is that to me the dip in the side rail is a distraction (nose-cap photo). I first thought it was an optical illusion but I don't believe it is. When looking at the oblique barrel corner at the muzzle end of the cap the end of the cap is much higher than the side-rail is just above the first cross pin.

I like the poured nose cap but question whether it goes with the earlier architecture of this rifle, course it could depict the often used pewter replacement seen on earlier rifles.

Dennis

Those are not optical allusions, you are seeing it correctly.  I debated doing something about the dip and decided not too. 

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions. 

[t.caster]

I think you accomplished exactly what you set out to do! I like it, and your buddy is going to LOVE it. He better!

[Clark Badgett]

I think you did a pretty good job overall. And like all us newbies at this, there are mistakes, but things get better with each one. All Masters start as beginners.

[greybeard]

Your buddy is a very fortunate chap. I like it  a lot
     Bob

[Ed Wenger]

It sounds to me like you have a good handle on what you were trying to achieve, and I also gather you have a pretty good idea as to what you would do differently.  That shows purpose and forethought, both of which are needed to learn and improve.  I'm sure Ralph will be most pleased with his new rifle, and he should be!  I like the "folksy" style, and look forward to seeing more of your work.  Thanks for posting the photos!


          Ed

[Don Steele]

Cory,
"Folksy"....nice way to describe the rifle you built.  I like it real well...warts and all, intended or unintended. My own style has been described as "scruffy". I don't wear pressed Blue Jeans or ironed work shirts. That rifle would suit me right down to the ground.