My winter project

[David Rase]

Thought I would share a few photographs of my in progress Sheetz inspired rifle I am currently building.  The rifle has a .40 caliber Rice "B" weight Reading barrel inlet into the curly maple blank.  The gun is iron mounted with sterling silver accents.  My client wanted a percussion lock so we agreed to build the rifle as a converted flint.  To properly fit his lanky frame, we fitted him to a length of pull of 14 7/8".  Next up is to forge the triggerguard, remove more wood and final shape the stock in preparation for a patchbox, 17 silver inlays and a few yards of silver wire.  Hope you enjoy.
David
Full length view of the left side.


Full length view of the lock side.


2 piece forged butt plate with silver wedding band.


The silver toe plate.


Modified Davis double set triggers


Nosecap, front ramrod pipe and the silver draw loop head.


Entry pipe with silver bands

[Long Ears]

This is going to be cool! Thanks Dave,

Bob

[wattlebuster]

Looking good

[Bart]

Fantastic stuff!! I love Sheetz rifles.. David you are one talented fella, thanks for posting this.

Bart

[BOB HILL]

Going to be one fine rifle........Bob

[Mike Brooks]

Almost done!

[PPatch]

That is some clean work Dave! Do keep us updated on your progress with this rifle gunne. Love what you've done so far.

dave

[n stephenson]

Dave, Very Nice work !! I may have missed it in a previous post but, if you don`t mind will you tell a little about your modifying of the triggers . They look really neat. Thanks Nathan

[Joe S.]

Going to be a real pretty rifle, your client will be very happy

[Tim Crosby]

 Looks Great, I really like how you did the Pipes with the Silver, really cool. Can't wait for the next installment.

 Tim C.

[pushboater]

Well on its way and looking great! Nice work. Love those RR pipes!

David

[bama]

I love it David and great job so far. I like what you have done to the Davis triggers. It's that little extra that makes a rifle "Above Average" 

[ScottH]

This is going to be a spectacular rifle when finished!
Would it be possible to convert it to flint by changing the lock and putting a touch hole liner in place of the drum?
thanks for sharing the pics! 

[Daryl]

Nice work, David - you should being this fellow along with you & Gail to Hefley next year.

[ghost]

Really nice! But, it's not winter yet

[David Rase]

Thanks guys for all the interest.  I still have a long way to go.  Unfortunately, I must set the gun aside for a couple of weeks and inlet a few barrels and finish up an Isaac Haines project that is ahead of this one.  I am sure I will sneak in a bit of work on this one.  It is hard to put down a project you are really enthusiastic about.
David

[/quote]

Dave, Very Nice work !! I may have missed it in a previous post but, if you don`t mind will you tell a little about your modifying of the triggers . They look really neat. Thanks Nathan

Nathan, The mods to the triggers include cutting off and silver soldering on new wider trigger shoes, cutting a grove across the trigger plate ahead of the front trigger and silver soldering in a piece of mild steel for the new trigger adjustment screw, welding up the old trigger adjustment screw between the front and rear triggers and silver soldering extension plates to both of the trigger knifes and then filing them down until the rattle is removed from the triggers.  I still need to harden and polish the contact points.

This is going to be a spectacular rifle when finished!
Would it be possible to convert it to flint by changing the lock and putting a touch hole liner in place of the drum?
thanks for sharing the pics! 

Scott, I have engaged the client in conversation several times to discuss how much "I" would like the rifle to be a flintlock.  We have also talked about how much more it would add to the rifle.  He agreed that maybe someday we could "reconvert" it to flintlock ignition.  With that said, I took the liberty to manufacture my own powder drum utilizing 5/16-32 threads, (the same as Chambers uses in hi white lightning liners) so if by some stroke of luck I get the go ahead for a flint ignition,  I am all set to go. 

[Dennis Glazener]

We have also talked about how much more it would add to the rifle.  He agreed that maybe someday we could "reconvert" it to flintlock ignition.  With that said, I took the liberty to manufacture my own powder drum utilizing 5/16-32 threads, (the same as Chambers uses in hi white lightning liners) so if by some stroke of luck I get the go ahead for a flint ignition,  I am all set to go

Nice looking rifle sure hope he relents on the flint, dang shame to have to leave it as percussion.
Dennis

[David Rase]

Really nice! But, it's not winter yet

ghost,
Some one else reminded me that winter does not start until Dec. 21.  That's alright, I figure it will probably take me until spring to complete it anyway.
David

[smylee grouch]

Great looking  gun Dave. Love the trigger stop and silver touches.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I really enjoy watching guys like David go to work...lovely stuff!  Where did you come up with the trigger adjustment idea, David?

[Mark Elliott]

Looking good!

[Ed Wenger]

Looking great, David!  Can't wait to see the finished piece...


       Ed

[SingleMalt]

I really like it!  Now, my question is, how much of it came from the article in JHAT and how much came from other sources?

[David Rase]

I really like it!  Now, my question is, how much of it came from the article in JHAT and how much came from other sources?

Wayne,
I have the JHAT book open in my shop and refer to it periodically.  My main source for inspiration is a rifle attributed to John or Henry Sheetz in Whiskers Longrifles of Virginia book.  There are also a couple of small references to that same rifle in JHAT.  Then there is my fantasy factor.
David

[SingleMalt]

Wayne,
I have the JHAT book open in my shop and refer to it periodically.  My main source for inspiration is a rifle attributed to John or Henry Sheetz in Whiskers Longrifles of Virginia book.  There are also a couple of small references to that same rifle in JHAT.  Then there is my fantasy factor.
David

You've captured the essence of a Sheetz rifle.   When I saw the head on the wedge key near the muzzle, I was at once reminded of the Sheetz rifle in JHAT.