My amateur attempt at a Lehigh

[tlallijr]

This is my second build so I tried to keep it simple due to my lack of experience. I had fun and learned a lot along the way. My goal wasn't to try after any particular builder but just build a general Lehigh style rifle. Overall I'm happy with my final product though there is plenty of thing's I would love to do over. I left the barrel in the white because at just 6 pounds and 9 ounces the rifle kicks like a mule and is a bit of a cheek slapper so it has me considering having the barrel relined to a .40 caliber. I'd like to shoot it a little more before I decide. I started with a stock profiled by Knob Mountain Muzzleloading, a .50 caliber Rice southern classic barrel, Siler lock from Jim Chambers and brass furniture from Knob Mountain Muzzleloading. I'm open to critique and hoping to improve on the next build. Thanks for looking. Tony

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

It's a Lehigh alright, and nicely done too.  but the reason it slaps your cheek is not the calibre, but the straight wrist.  I'm guessing the drop at the comb is only an inch or a bit more.  You'll have to shoot that rifle with your head as far back on the stock as you can manage...a real heads-up shooting style.  If you crawl that stock at all, it'll whack you.  So stand perfectly straight, and bring the rifle to your eye, rather than dropping your head to the rifle to find the sights.  That'll make a big difference.

But the rifle is nicely built.

[thimble rig]

You did a excellent job.You should be proud of yourself.That style of rifle is kinda hard to do.What did you use for youre stain?Beautiful piece of wood.

[wattlebuster]

I think ya did a good job. I like the stain an finish real well

[Mike Brooks]

Yup, nice job. I like the color. I'm not  surprised it kicks with so little drop. Which pattern did he use?

[Stophel]

You'll have to shoot that rifle with your head as far back on the stock as you can manage...a real heads-up shooting style.

That's the way you're supposed to shoot anyway!  

If it hits your cheek, it's because there's a bit too much hump in the center of the comb and there may not be enough cast off.  The cheek should lay against the side of the stock, rather than hunkered down over top of it.  It can be hard to get right, but once you do, it's a very comfortable and natural stock.  That's why I like to test shoot sometimes before I finish the stock.  I did a Berks gun some time ago, thought it was great, then shot it and found it had just a tad too much hump in the middle of the comb.   I knocked it down just a little, and it was just right.

I'm glad to see you don't have 17 inches of drop in the butt, like everybody wants to do these days.  Also your wrist is nice and level with very little drop, the way it should be.  THAT is what I found most odd when I first did one.  You feel like your thumb is going to be right in the line of sight, but it's not, and you get used to it.

And if that's your second rifle, I'm impressed.  You did good, you obviously studied and paid attention to Lehigh forms.  A much better attempt than the "Lehigh" rifles I usually see.   

[Daryl]

Higher sights can make a world of difference to the amount of cheek-bone crack as well. Not being able to shoot it due to pain or wanting to stay PC  with low sights, is worse than slightly higher sights & being able to shoot it.
As others noted,  coming up to the sights rather than impressing the cheek bone in the comb by coming down on the sights from above will lessen the pain and improve shooting experience with rifles with little drop at the comb. Adding steamed in cast-off can also help.

[tlallijr]

Thanks for the comments guys !
Taylor I'll give that a try. I think shooting off a bench is what did me in.
Mike, I used Dave's Stophil Long profile
Thimble rig, I dyed the stock with black transtint then gently sanded it back with 320 grit followed by two coats of aqua fortis then finished with BLO.

[pushboater]

You did a great job Tony. Real nice looking rifle. Understated elegance comes to mind. But then again, I'm partial to Lehigh and Bucks co. Rifles. 🤗  Keep em coming!

David

[ddoyle]

That's the way you're supposed to shoot anyway!   Wink

Yep some misguided penchant for low scope mounting on N/A sporting arms has really made folks forget that once you cock your head the wonders of both your inner ear and your binocular are lost. Two things that made homo-sapien a great hunter extinguished by an excess of tech.

Shooting that beauty of a Lehigh with a heads up attitude would make it not only comfy but positively deadly on running game.

[conquerordie]

That's a fine rifle. I gotta build up the guts to try a Lehigh. I think the lines  on that rifle are great!
Greg

[oldtravler61]

You did very well. Simple elegance. My only comment is the barrel. If it's going to be a hunting gun. Dim dare critters r going to catch that shine right fast. IMHO

[Boompa]

Looks good from here. It has a cleaner, less cluttered look without the patch box.

[Frank]

I have one just like this from Dave Keck waiting in the wings, but in 45 caliber. Bought the stock and barrel at Dixon's
Gunmaker's Fair. Got an Early English Trade gun and one of Jim Kibler's Tennessee kits to do first.

[Curtis]

That's a dandy!  Nice lines and color.

Curtis

[Long John]

That's a nice looking rifle gun!  Be very proud of it.

I echo what the other have said.  Lehighs are "off-hand" shooters - not designed for bench shooting.  When you shoot off-hand lift your right elbow up real high - it should be horizontal or higher.  That brings the rifle up to your eye rather that scrunching your neck down to get your eye aligned with the sights.  At 50 caliber, I would use a lighter load, 50 to 60 grains, of FFFg rather than a heavy load of FFg.  I would also try to use a lighter ball, perhaps a .480 with an 020 patch, rather than the heavier ball.   The rifle will tell you what load it likes.

Best Regards,

John Cholin