My Lehigh Build

[rennikselum]

This is my attempt at a Lehigh. Having never held one, and using a number of references(mainly from this site and the KRA CD) I was hoping to catch most of the details...

It is built around a 46" 13/16ths straight Charlie Burton barrel in .40. Reaves Goehring trigger guard and Buttplate. M&G lock-(nice thick bolster to file a taper.)

Let me know anything I could do different or adjust as I plan on re-visiting with another Lehigh build or two in the future.

Thanks
Jeff



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[hortonstn]

I don't know anything about a Lehigh but the rifle is beautiful well done
Great color
Paul

[Cuboodle]

I like the lock area a lot. What did you use for stain and finish??? It looks good

[Whaleman]

Beautiful job!! Dan

[davebozell]

I'm not a Lehigh expert either, but I do know what I like, and I like this very much!  It appears that you have captured all of the Lehigh architectural elements.  Your carving looks very good as well.  I also like your very small lock panels.  Great job!

[Hemo]

Having built a Lehigh in the past year, relying heavily on the KRA Lehigh CD (the John Rupp gun with the side-opening patchbox), I've pored over lots of pics of Lehigh rifles and at least one original. I'd say you nailed it! All the Lehigh features are there and nicely and harmoniously combined. But where is the Lehigh Smurf in front of the trigger guard?
Beautiful red Lehigh color and nice finish, BTW. Great job!

Gregg

[Mikeh]

That is one beautiful gun. Your incised carving is excellent! Can you show me how to do that? Lol    Mikeh

[Majorjoel]

I think you did a very nice job in making a very difficult type of longrifle considering you have never handled an original.

My only criticism would be that your "arrow" tailed side plate may be a bit over exaggerated.

But then again, there were no two rifles ever made that were alike in all of their features.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

You must have moved or deleted a lot of the pictures...they shows up on my monitor as a po's cat!  So put the pictures back  please.

[flehto]

I too was disappointed that the pics were deleted and would appreciate seeing them.....Fred

[axelp]

I saw the pics before they were removed and can add, in my unprofessional opinion,  its a darn good impression of a classic Lehigh. I particularly like the carving. For simple incise carving, the thick and thins in the right places, make for a refined and more sculpted feel. Not as crude as some folk art can be.

I too noticed the exaggerated arrow on the side plate. perhaps too heavy handed.

The geometry of this gun as a whole seems quite nice to my untrained eye.

[Dennis Glazener]

The photos are still there for me, not sure why you can't see them and I can.
Dennis

Opps, I did a refresh and most of the photos disappeared. Still have 3 of them showing the rest appear to have been removed from Photobucket.
Dennis

[PPatch]

Yep, most of them are gone for me. Nice looking rifle anyway.

dave

[smylee grouch]

The pics were there an hour ago for me but not now. I got a good look at them then and could see there is a lot to like in your rifle. Nice job.

[Joe S.]

from what I can see it's a nice rifle and your kitten looks cute as well.

[rennikselum]

OK believe I have the pictures back up...

Yes agree on the side plate. Its one of those things where i thought it looked good before I inlet, then not sure I liked it.

I used aqua fortis followed with Permalyn sealer and a number of coats of Chambers finish. One of the coats I mixed a little cherry stain and then rubbed back.

[pushboater]

Great looking Lehigh for a first attempt. I like the "Lehigh Smurf" you hid under the Patchbox lid, brass shoulders and all! Very whimsical and a nice detail that almost went unnoticed! Good job.

Capt. David

[BillingsDave]

Just outstanding! For some reason this rifle appeals to me as much as any modern reproduction I have ever seen. This rifle screams "American Long Rifle". I really like the side plate. Yes, the arrowhead is larger than we are used to seeing, but who is to say that there were not some originals that were the same size. There probably were 1000's of Lehigh rifles made, and how many still exist?? Only a very, very small sample.

[oldtravler61]

Well done. Everything about your rifle I like. Good job on the pictures as well. Thanks for sharing.

[draken]

I have never had the opportunity to handle one, but I've always admired the slim, graceful lines of a Lehigh rifle.
 
I think you did a great job on your rifle.  Nice narrow lock moldings and especially like the color.

[KC]

I agree with everyone's comments, great looking rifle. Well done.