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Author Topic: First gun- Fichthorn  (Read 6700 times)

Offline James

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First gun- Fichthorn
« on: October 28, 2016, 01:38:24 AM »
This is my first gun.   I based it on the work of Andrew Fichthorn.  Started as a parts kit with pre-carve stock.  There was not wood where I needed it to get the front of the comb as I wanted it.  It no longer resembles the stock that was sent.  I forged the trigger to resemble what Fichthorn used.  I made the front and rear  sights.  The front sight is from a Franklin half-dollar my boys found metal detecting here on the farm roughly 45 minutes after I told them I needed one.   I'm not quite done fiddling with the rear sight, so it's still bare.   I forged the patchbox release to resemble Fichthorn's type.  The patchbox catch is held to the lid with a double rivet.  The hunter's star I made from coin silver also.  The ramrod is from a split out of a hickory cut in our woods.  The side-plate that came with the parts was not right for a Womelsdorf-Reading gun so it was replaced with a more correct then modified cast plate.  The lock is a Chamber's Golden Age if memory is correct.  The gun has a 15" trigger pull.  The barrel is a Green Mountain straight 7/8" .50 cal 42" long.  The pipes are modified cast John Armstrong type.  I 'signed' the barrel in the style and location Fichthorn used.  The gun was stained using ferric nitrate crystals in alcohol and tannic acid.  Covered with 4 coats of Chamber's oil so far. The barrel is rust blued using LMF barrel browning and degreaser.   Some of my mistakes I fixed.  Some may get fixed.  Some will stay as they are.   Many thanks to those on this forum for your help.  A special thanks to Henry B.,  Mark W., and Art D.,  I appreciate your generosity.  Your criticism is welcome.





















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"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun." P.Henry

Offline rich pierce

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2016, 02:17:57 AM »
I am very impressed.  That's a great undertaking and really well executed. Lots to like there.
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Offline Joe S.

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2016, 02:23:28 AM »
I'm with Rich on this one,while I'm no expert on Fichthorn this rifle looks great and is one heck of a first,nicely done sir
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greybeard

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2016, 02:48:00 AM »
You captured the Berks style very nicely.  Well done  Bob
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Offline smart dog

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2016, 02:54:54 AM »
Hi James,
Nicely done and very impressive for a first gun!!

dave
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pushboater

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2016, 03:08:24 AM »
Ditto on the other comments. The only thing I'd do would be to add a little engraving to the side plate, but that's just me. Very impressive first attempt at an American Longrifle!

Capt. David
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Offline PPatch

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2016, 03:27:27 AM »
Impressive first longrifle James! You've done a great job. I can't remark on the style as I am not too familiar with Master Fichthorn and his Reading style guns. Have you spent some powder and ball time with her?

dave
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Offline Pennsylvania Dutchman

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2016, 03:33:56 AM »
Very nicely done!
Mark
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Mark Poley

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2016, 03:39:33 AM »
One of the things I like best about this gun is its personality. It has eye appeal; it has folk; it is warm; the work also shows the man who made it. All these things are very hard to convey, and you did it. Congrats!

I'm sure there are mistakes, but I don't give a hoot about them or care what they are. We all make them whether we will admit it or not.
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Offline Bill of the 45th

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2016, 03:59:21 AM »
What Acer said 250%, and then some.

Bill
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Offline oldtravler61

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2016, 04:24:04 AM »
James you did well. Compliments from Acer should be cherished as all that have commented. These people know there stuff. Now on to number two.......Mike
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Offline wattlebuster

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2016, 11:59:43 AM »
A great first. Cant wait to see your 10th
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Offline BOB HILL

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #12 on: October 28, 2016, 01:06:01 PM »
Great first rifle. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing more of it. Thanks for sharing. .......Bob
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2016, 02:29:20 PM »
My first gun was that good.....NOT! Stunning  first gun.
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Offline moleeyes36

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2016, 03:44:51 PM »
Beautiful gun and I especially like the rich, warm color you obtained with the tannic acid and ferric nitrate.  I've only seen first hand, not a photo, one gun where the builder tried that combo.  His turned out looking like a chunk of charcoal.  I imagine he did something wrong, but you certainly had the process down pat.  Great looking rifle.

Mole Eyes 
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Hemo

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2016, 05:39:07 PM »
James,

That's a really impressive piece of work, especially for your first rifle! My first certainly did not come close. Having made a Berks county gun myself last year, and researching the Berks details pretty thoroughly during the build, I'd say you hit most of them on the head...double rivets on the patchbox catch, double pins through the pipes, nice regular diaper-work carving around the tang, long twisty patchbox latch spring passing through the buttplate very  similar to mine. I posted my story and pics last year here http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=36170.0 if you're interested.

Looking forward to your next pieces!

Gregg
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Offline James

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #16 on: October 28, 2016, 08:46:01 PM »
Thanks for the kind words.  I shot it some today, I now need to take the barrel out and file a little off the end of the tang and glue down a chip in the tang carving.
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"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun." P.Henry

Offline Dennis Glazener

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #17 on: October 28, 2016, 11:54:58 PM »
Quote
Thanks for the kind words.  I shot it some today, I now need to take the barrel out and file a little off the end of the tang and glue down a chip in the tang carving.
Opps been there, done that you hate to leave an unsightly gap between tang and stock wood, but I how found no matter how tight I fit the tang bolster it will move back a tad! I fill the gap with beeswax.
Dennis
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Offline Daryl

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #18 on: October 29, 2016, 02:12:47 AM »
Quote from: James on October 28, 2016, 08:46:01 PM
Thanks for the kind words.  I shot it some today, I now need to take the barrel out and file a little off the end of the tang and glue down a chip in the tang carving.

Well done, James. Too bad about the tang chip.
 I like to use glass bedding on my modern junk to secure the tang area to stop this possibility before it happens.
« Last Edit: October 29, 2016, 02:13:42 AM by Daryl »
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Offline Curtis

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #19 on: October 29, 2016, 08:29:56 AM »
James, you did a lot of good things here with this gun.  Very nice first effort, and lot of potential for future endeavors!  Thanks for posting your work here!  Sorry for the late posting but I am trying to get caught up on things here.

Curtis
« Last Edit: October 29, 2016, 08:31:35 AM by Curtis »
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Offline Jerry V Lape

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #20 on: October 29, 2016, 10:10:22 PM »
James,
We are now officially Bonewitz apprentice cousins!  Mark, HB and Art have me working on a Reedy and a Bonewitz as well.  Great guys.  Your Fitchthorn came out very nice.  Hopefully I do as well. 
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Offline SingleMalt

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #21 on: October 30, 2016, 03:54:10 AM »
I like it!  Your first was far better than mine was.
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Offline steve1122

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #22 on: October 30, 2016, 05:58:41 AM »
That's a very nice rifle.  You did one heck of a job.
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IROCZ

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Re: First gun- Fichthorn
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2016, 08:45:04 PM »
Very nice work.
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