Author Topic: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle  (Read 7166 times)

Offline tallbear

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4053
  • Mitch Yates
Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« on: July 27, 2017, 10:03:01 PM »
Just finished up this Reading Rifle based on #22 in the RCA book.It's one of my all time favorites and was a lot of fun to build.Also I promised to post the results of my first attempt of using lye to color cherry.The customer requested that I stay true to the original rifle and was finished in a "workman like" fashion.Even though it's a plain gun and pretty much undecorated there's a lot of fine architectural details that I hope I was able to get correct.This rifle will be part of my talk on Gun Finishes this weekend at Dixons 2:00 PM Saturday on the hill at the ALR tent.As always glad to answer any questions you have !!! If you click on the photo's you can get them in full resolution  :)

Mitch

















« Last Edit: July 27, 2017, 10:06:21 PM by tallbear »

Offline Kingsburyarms

  • Jon Rider
  • member 2
  • Hero Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 956
  • Jon Rider
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2017, 10:41:01 PM »
Mitch - Looks fantastic!!!!

Offline smylee grouch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7907
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2017, 10:56:16 PM »
Subdued elegance. Very nice looking rifle .

Offline Tim Crosby

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 18385
  • AKA TimBuckII
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2017, 11:27:55 PM »
  The "workman like" fashion also make it look comfortable, like you want to touch it, hold it and shoot it. Really like the looks of this one.

  Tim

Offline wattlebuster

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2088
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2017, 11:35:59 PM »
I have never been much of a fan of cherry stocked guns cause most are too red for my taste BUT i really like this one. Its got lots of dark that I like an you done a great job on the the whole gun
Nothing beats the feel of a handmade southern iron mounted flintlock on a cold frosty morning

Offline rich pierce

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19526
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2017, 12:50:28 AM »
That's mighty nice carving on a cherry stock.
Andover, Vermont

Offline David Rase

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4320
  • If we need it here, make it here. Charlie Daniels
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2017, 01:15:20 AM »
Neat rifle Mitch.  Wish I could be at Dixon's to see it in person.
David

Ric27

  • Guest
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2017, 01:28:37 AM »
That is beautiful Mitch! did not know Cherry could look like that!! Bold!

Offline Mike Brooks

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13415
    • Mike Brooks Gunmaker
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2017, 01:32:31 AM »
Nice. Everybody is doing such fine work lately. I sit in a chair..... ::)
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Robert Wolfe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1286
  • Great X Grandpa
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2017, 02:18:58 AM »
One of my favorites too - and you certainly did it justice!
Robert Wolfe
Northern Indiana

Offline Ed Wenger

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2457
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2017, 02:39:51 AM »
Beautiful rifle, Mitch.  I LOVE the color and finish!  Can't wait to see it in person.  Really well done!

     Ed
Ed Wenger

Offline bama

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2173
    • Calvary Longrifles
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2017, 03:16:09 AM »
Great Job Mitch, another beautiful rifle that you have turned out.
Jim Parker

"An Honest Man is worth his weight in Gold"

Offline Vicanddogs

  • Starting Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2017, 03:19:55 AM »
Will the cherry continue to darken after using lye to darken it
Vic

n stephenson

  • Guest
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2017, 03:31:51 AM »
Mitch, I really like this rifle !! You did justice to  the details that made the original so nice! I like the whole rifle very much. I really like the trigger as well as entry pipe and forestock molding , all look like an original . You have captured the look and I`m sure , the "feel" of a VERY NICE  rifle that proves that  simple beautiful  lines and architecture are timeless , whether built 200 plus years ago or being done in the here and now. Very Nice Job!!!  Nate

Offline oldtravler61

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4413
  • We all make mistakes.
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2017, 03:41:24 AM »
  Mitch you did a great job. Really like the colour of that cherry stock.
  Also your attention to details.
Great looking gun.  Oldtravler

Offline tallbear

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4053
  • Mitch Yates
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #15 on: July 28, 2017, 04:21:31 AM »
Thanks guys appreciate the kind words. :)See everyone who can make it at Dixons!!

Dave Rase
Wish you were coming east also.Always enjoy talking with you.

Mike Brooks
Hope you have a speedy recovery and are back in the shop soon...

Vicanddogs
This is the first time I have done the lye treatment on cherry so it's kinda a new experiment for me.I expect that it will continue to darken and get a deeper red brown as time goes on.


Mitch

Offline B Shipman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1928
    • W.G. Shipman Gunmaker
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #16 on: July 28, 2017, 05:17:07 AM »
Nothing I don't like about it.

Offline acorn20

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 541
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2017, 05:42:17 AM »
Nice job on the rifle Mitch!  Looking forward to seeing it first hand.
Dan Akers

Offline alex e.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 772
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2017, 02:24:24 PM »
Very nicely done! As always.
Uva uvam videndo varia fit

Offline Ray Settanta

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 193
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #19 on: July 28, 2017, 02:46:16 PM »
Beautiful color on the stock. Very nice looking rifle.

Offline C Wallingford

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 863
  • Northern Kentucky
    • CW Knives
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #20 on: July 28, 2017, 02:55:47 PM »
Wow Mitch. That is beautiful!

Offline rallen

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2017, 02:15:48 AM »
Great job Mitch! All the details look right in keeping with the early Reading quirks. The cherry finish is nice and should darken quite nicely. Very cleanly done. Can't wait to see it this weekend.
Thanks Mitch. - Ryan

Offline SingleMalt

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 613
  • One day I'll be considered a good builder.
Re: Cherry Stocked Reading Rifle
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2017, 02:30:59 AM »
I like it.  It's understated, not flashy, which is why I like early Reading rifles.  And of course, the cherry stock.
Never drink whisky that isn't old enough to vote.

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."- Plato

"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."