Southern rifle no butt plate update.

[okawbow]

Have got back to work on the 40 cal. Tennessee plain rifle. Made double set triggers and forged a trigger guard. The stock is roughed out and ready for fine tuning and scrapeing.

The weight is just over 9#. The balance is perfect for offhand.

Suggestions for final shaping and finish welcome.

Chuck

[JNG3]

That looks fantastic. I think that it's a great general interpretation of a southern rifle.

[Stoner creek]

You may want to consider dishing out the comb transition area and on into the buttstock. That will really give that walnut stock a lot more character. It will skinny it up a bunch too!

[okawbow]

Thanks! I'll look at that.

[Chowmi]

I like it! 
Nicely done on the trigger guard and triggers.

Cheers,
Norm.

[bob in the woods]

Congratulations. !  Nice job.   Is it the photo , or is the for end heavy ?  It looks as though there is more wood between the barrel channel and the ramrod channel [ web] than normal. 

[okawbow]

I left a little extra wood at the last 2 inches of the muzzle to make it look like the muzzle was flared more. Actually, the web between the barrel channel and ramrod channel is almost too thin for the barrel lugs. Less than 1/8".

I may take aome wood off to expose a little more barrel flat. I could also take a little off the ramrod channel to slim things down some.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... Great job.... I'm liking it...only other things I would do is give the cheek piece a nice dishing and add an oval tallow hole about 3/4 inch from edge of butt.....scrape smooth, burnish, and use plenty of bone or lamp black in whatever you finish with....age the wood & metal for a good look ....gun has the appearance of an early HH plain rifle.....BTW... would you be interested in someday doing the same in .50 cal.  .... ..... Cheers... CC Fiddler ...

[BOB HILL]

Looking good. Looks like nice forge work.    Bob

[Nordnecker]

I like it! 
Nicely done on the trigger guard and triggers.

Cheers,
Norm.

I agree

[David R. Pennington]

Looking good. Similar to what I have planned for next build in .32. It might just be the angle of the photos, but looks just a little thick or heavy in the fore end. Trigger guard looks good. Did you pin and braze the joint? Did you say you made the triggers? Are they scratch built? Some closeups of triggers and guard so we can admire your work please!

[n stephenson]

Chuck, Looking good!! I agree with others as to the dishing  and, forearm slimming. No big deal just a little more going over it. Like was stated I would like to see your triggers and guard.  Nice Job!!! Keep us posted .    Nate

[Algae]

Clean lines, like that a lot!!

Al J.

[Bob Roller]

Clean lines, like that a lot!!

Al J.

My kind of rifle.Looks good to me. These rifles and the other extreme which is the British style long range
muzzle loaders are my two favorites.

Bob Roller

[okawbow]

Thanks, all. Still looking at the lines and sliming down the wood. I took your advice and dished the comb and cheek piece. I also slimed down the nose and took a little off the top and bottom of the fore arm, exposing a little more than 1/2 of the barrel flats and ramrod.
I made the double set, double acting triggers from scratch with a hacksaw and files. Made the springs from 1090 steel. Don't know how anyone can sell triggers for less than 200.00!
The trigger guard still needs a little filing around the braze joints.
I'll keep at it until it looks right.
Chuck

[n stephenson]

Chuck, This gonna be one cool little rifle!!   Nice work!!!    Nate

[okawbow]

Made and installed the ramrod pipes. shaved the forearm as thin as I dare to.

I'll stop now and look at whether I want to make any more changes before final finish. Will probably use an aged finish to match the old barrel and tang.

by okawbow, on Flickr

Untitled by okawbow, on Flickr

[mossyhorn]

Once you slimmed the fore end down made the whole rifle look slimmer in the pics.
Good looking rilfle and will only look better when finished -good work! You can do a lot with a .40.

[PPatch]

Beautiful shoot'n iron, slimming it made a real difference. Love that trigger guard, nice work.

dave

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

...  ... Better looking in every photo... !!! ..... how about barrel length and size...is swamped..?? ...do think about a tallow hole...would be appropriate on this gun.... to see if you might like, cut an oval out of black paper, stick it to stock, hang gun on wall, back off a few steps , and study the look ..! ...  you might like it..!!! .... this is the most interesting gun I have seen on here in a while.... keep posting progress.... Thanx... !!! ... Regards,  ...CCFiddler.........

[B.Barker]

You probably need to shorten the end of the stock a bit. The end of the stock looks even or almost even with the muzzle. If you live where there is a wide range of humidity you may see the wood "grow" past the barrel. Don't ask how I know. Nice rifle overall though.

[okawbow]

CCFiddler...the barrel is an original, 43 1/2" long. It is just over 15/16" at the breech and just over 7/8" at the muzzle. I had Bobby Holt Rebore to .40 cal, 1-48" twist, .012 deep grooves.

Fiddler, I've made more fiddles than rifles. I also made violas, cellos and Spanish guitars.

B. Barker, I did shorten the stock a little. Thanks.

Chuck

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I really like the look of the triggers, and the trigger guard.  You have done well.  How is that lock working out for you?

Cory Joe Stewart

[okawbow]

That is a Hawken shop assembled lock. I bought one 4 years ago for a half stock 12 guage I use for turkeys. Seems very fast and dependable. A little touchy about flint length, but sparks really well with the correct flint.

[greybeard]

I like it.  Bob