Update on first rifle build- left hand iron mounted Isaac Haines inspired rifle

[Chrisweiler]

Well I officially broke ground on this project a year ago, after a busy summer perch fishing and a move to Central Michigan, it shoots. I wanted to pour a pewter chevron nosecap but decided to save that for a future project unless I find someone nearby who has done it before. The patchbox I'll be surprised if I can make the edges look decent, I had some help on it an some chipped wood along with it. It weights right at 9.2 pounds, so needless today with a healthy charge of 3f it barely kicks. The first 3 shots at 25 yards to make sight adjustments were basically in the same hole, and the Bill Large barrel loads very easily once the ball is started with the 5/16 ramrod.  All that's left to do is final shaping/scraping, aqua fortis/Danglers dark brown and linseed oil the stock. The steel will be sandblasted then browned (my teachers method).

I was told by my girlfriends Dad (who helped me build it) "if ya have trouble hitting with this rifle to go home and take a look in the mirror, cause it ain't the rifles fault". Needless to say I'm officially hooked and planning more projects. Overall I'm pretty happy how its coming along having no fine woodworking skill's when starting the projects, I've learned a ton and glad I got started in the hobby somewhat early in life. Please critique

One item I do need some help on is the Walter Cain single set, I'm having issues with the sear hitting the main trigger spring and tripping the lock with a tap on the back of the cock. I've shimmed the front of the trigger to give a sear a little more clearance, but it will need more. Maybe need to bend the sear? I can get more pictures if it helps.


I think I made the lock molding too slim, but should be alright.



The sideplate and toeplate were made with some scrap steel we had laying around

















The buttplate needs some more grinding/thinning

[Tom Cooper]

Understand that I am not trying to be snarky, this is just how it entered my mind.

No expert here, with that said....

Your artistic freedom seems to have led you out of Lancaster County PA and headed south.

It looks more platypus inspired than Haines

[Chrisweiler]

You're right, my teacher built Southern  mountain rifles, but not really. Haines style butt/bivins butt plate, He never used entry pipes, preferred southern style trigger guards, no nose caps. The double patch box I liked after I saw one one a Hershel house rifle.

[Tom Cooper]

That being the case,

 I would start by taking more wood off around the lock panels, the beaver tail behind the lock panel looks a lot like something found on a NWG kit, standing proud, typically they taper back into the wrist.

 The lower forearm could also go on a diet as it looks to be a bit slab sided.


Butt plates are tough to get right and take a lot of patience, personally I would never use any bedding compound in an area visible to the casual observer, invest in the time needed to worry it in, you'll be glad you did.

There are times when you need to step back from an area and take a break, last break I took on a pistol project lasted about 9 years.
 

[Eric Krewson]

Not much Hanes looking about your rifle. I have a Track Hanes kit waiting in the wings, the first thing I did upon acquiring the kit from an individual was to buy the full sized Isaac Hanes rifle plans from Track so I had a full sized reference to study before I put chisel to wood.

Lately I have seen several new builders attack a build without a plan and try to free hand their cuts without penciling in things like lock panels beforehand, it always comes out badly for them.

[t.caster]

Welcome to Michigan! Where are you residing now? There are a lot of good builders scattered around in MI, most are pretty helpful if asked.
I live SW of Lansing. Numerous ML clubs to shoot at too...might be one near you if interested.

btw, I don't see anything wrong with using Lancaster architecture as a base for a southern rifle. Since you are using steel furniture on a Haines  you are automatically in the "fantasy build" class anyway, so do it anyway you like it.

Tom C

[Chrisweiler]

Thanks Tom! Fantasy rifle is the word I was looking for, I was basically coping the style of rifle Buck (my teacher/girlfriends Dad) made with a few ideas of my own.

The Platypus rifle's main purpose will be match shooting/hunting, but of course the next project could use some more planning. Eric Krewson you are correct, even as I was halfway thru stenciling/shaping the lock I was like "why didn't I have pictures up to reference?"

To answer your question Tom I moved up to Midland from Toledo, think there's a club on the West side of Midland , also in Beaverton? I did shoot some with Toledo Muzzleloaders and Black Swamp muzzleloaders in Findlay if you know any of those guys. Any good muzzleloader shops around here? 

[Keb]

It almost looks like the rear sight is on backwards. The last I knew the Olde Black Powder Shoppe (Bill Shellhorn) is in Auburn between Bay City and Midland but I've been away from that area a while.

[Chrisweiler]

Believe that place is gone, one of my offices is in auburn so I'll have to check closer. Rear sights on correctly, but yeah from that angle it does look backwards.

[oldtravler61]

   Chris the black powder shop in Auburn has been closed for quite sometime. If your interested the Lapeer show is this Sunday I believe. There's info on the Contemporary forms on this sight.....Oldtravler

[Michigan Flinter]

Chris there is a very good Muzzleloading shop south of lansing in Eaton Rapids  Spring Brook Trading Post  517-663-3115 Bill Hammond is a good person to do business with. I live west and a bit south of Alma near Crystal Lake . Do you do any buckskinning ? Bill Shellhorn in Alburn has been closed for long time . Beaverton would be your closest to ,lansing Muzzleloading club is near Lainsburg east of Sleepyhollow state park ,Lookingglass long rifles shoot first sunday of the month is near Eagle . The gun show is this Sunday in Lapeer at the American Legion very good show . Hope this helps? Keep your nose to the wind and watch your back trail.

[t.caster]

Ditto what MI Flinter said. He's one of my good friends in the Lookingglass River Longrifles Club. I am sure you can get some shoot flyers at the Lapeer Gun Show this Sunday.
There was a Pine River Long Riflemen Club near Midland. I don't know if it is still going, but Jim Leiger from Midland was their contact. The Beaverton contact I have is Deo Freeman, also from Midland. They would be able to tell you where & when to shoot up in your area. I will PM you there numbers.

[Keb]

Bob Meyer use to put on a pretty good camp at the Tittabawassee Park near Freeland. That could be out of service too. Plymouth, MI had Western Wayne County S.C. which was a pretty good bunch of fellas. They did a Labor Day rondyvoo yearly. It use to be the biggest in the lower. Oakland County, Attica Muzzleloaders, Blue Water Sportsman, Detroit Sportsman Congress in southeast MI. White River, Whitehall, Rothbury, Howard City over on the west side. Of course Dorr over by Wayland. There is a lot of shooting places in lower Michigan. I miss some of them and a few of the folks that use to go to those.

[moleeyes36]

Chris,

I don't know much about where cities in Michigan are located, but we have 15 NMLRA chartered clubs in the state.  Here is the link if you are interested in trying to locate one near you http://nmlra.org/business-directory/wpbdm-category/michigan/

Mole Eyes

[t.caster]

That's just NMLRA chartered clubs, there are more.