Appropriate details for an iron-mounted early VA rifle

[Dwshotwell]

Hello, I'm hard at work on my first build, an early Virginia from TVM with steel furniture. I may try a bit of carving - I'm trying to work up the courage and I've got a chunk of extra wood that the supplier was kind enough to supply for practice. However, I was considering doing an inlay of some sort.

My question is this: would an inlay, say a hunter star or moon etc. on the cheek piece, be appropriate on an otherwise unadorned rifle, and would the inlays be steel as well, to match the butt plate etc? Or would brass, nickel, etc. be appropriate? I've tried to find examples, but most of what I'm seeing is way more ornate than my goal for this rifle.

Thank you.

[rich pierce]

Hi and welcome to the ranks of builders!  Most original early (Revolutionary War period) Virginia rifles were brass mounted. There were a few iron mounted early rifles and one surviving example is the old Holston rifle.  Wallace Gusler wrote some good articles on the early iron mounted Virginia rifles for Muzzle Blasts magazine some 10-15 years ago.

Unlike the early Virginia kits offered by several companies, early iron mounted Virginia rifles did not have iron furniture that was essentially identical to cast brass guards and buttplates.

The forged iron buttplates and guards on early iron mounted rifles with at least one notable exception tended to be somewhat simpler and it's easy to see they were made of multiple pieces of forged iron, riveted and brazed or forged welded together.

The few iron mounted early Virginia rifles tend to be plain.  I don't recall inlays sync some had no carving.

Ian Pratt did a fine rifle based on, but more elegant than, the Old Holston rifle. You can find it here:http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/02/ian-pratt-rifle.html

http://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2010/02/ian-pratt-rifle.html

But you should build the rifle to suit your sense of style, and enjoy it.

Also look for Marc Tornichio's work on the contemporary maker's blogspot. He's an excellent smith and builder of iron mounted rifles. 

[Ed Wenger]

I see you're a newer member to the forum, so welcome!

To answer your question, yes, a cheek inlay would be appropriate for an unadorned rifle.  I would encourage you to do some more research on "VA rifles", as that term is pretty generic.  Here's a good link to start with: www.flintriflesmith.  Also, this forum has a nice "library" which might be of help.  You'll find there are various schools of rifles, which might help you decide as to what type of inlay might be more appropriate.  If you're not all that concerned with historical accuracy, then go with what sparks your flint, lol...

As to material, I think you'll find that, overwhelmingly, silver was used for cheek inlays.  Brass was sometimes used, but not nearly as prevalent as silver.  And..., that would be real silver, not "German", or nickel silver.  Again, if the historical part isn't a concern, then do with what appeals...

This is a typical inlay of the Winchester school, and was also found in other parts of the Valley.  If you didn't want "fancy", the engraving & wire can be omitted.  Hope that helps,

Ed

[Mike Brooks]

Brass or silver for the inlay, I'd probably go coin silver. I doubt the wood they gave you with the kit is suitable for carving, probably too soft, but if you're set on doing it go for it.

[Joe Schell]

This is a fairly plain Virginia gun i built back a while, i think a silver star or moon would look fine on there. Ive seen really plain guns with cheek inlays

[rich pierce]

That's a beauty, Joe!

[Dwshotwell]

Thank you all for the input. Very helpful.

[flehto]

The above early Virginia LR is iron mounted  and although it has some carving, hasn't any inlays. I try to keep inlays to a minimum but perhaps a star would have been appropriate......Fred