Looking for some advice, pistol build

[Ant]

Okies guys:) how ya all doing? newish member here, been lurking for a bit soaking up info, now its time to start gearing up to take the plunge fir my first full build.
Bit of background info, locksmith by trade, taught highscool manual arts (wood and metal shop) for 6 years, now I run my own firearms refinishing business in Ipswich, Queensland. I've been working on rifles for many years and have fixed up quite a few old kit guns that I've picked up (unfinished project guns that were never finished or not done properly) now I want a bit of a challenge.
So, thinking along the lines of Rice 12" swamped octagon in .54 cal rifled barrel, either a Jim chambers  small Queen Anne or small Siler flintlock.
Full stock in Curly Maple or possibly Tasmanian Blackwood in the style of a French Dragoon (I know not PC but more this is the idea in my head, hopefully it looks ok and not like I tiped some parts into a bucket, gave it a shake and this is what came out )

So any input or advice?

Cheers

[alyce-james]

Good day Ant; Sir, Welcome to the ALF. I'm sure you will enjoy this form a great deal. Many outstanding craftsmen and talented people to help one in need. Your project sounds interesting. Just a few ideas to keep in mind. A) French Dragoon, dark wood stock (walnut), B) barrel, octagon to round, C)Siler lock (German style) will require some file work -rounded pan - and D) I think the small size locks would be to small for that style pistol. Queen Ann lock would also require modification. Bananna shaped lock. Enjoy this project. Share work progress with us. AJ.

[Mike Brooks]

Pistols are just like building rifles, only they're harder to hold on to. In fact, the only real hard part is the trigger guard.

[n stephenson]

Mike, pretty much summed up pistol building in a sentence . True . Sorry two  sentences .   Nate

[Ray Settanta]

Welcome to the forum. If you want a challenge in making a stock, some of my woodworking friends on an Australian forum say to use Jarrah or Sheoak.

[L. Akers]

Pistols are just like building rifles, only they're harder to hold on to. In fact, the only real hard part is the trigger guard.

You will find that the trigger plate is problematic also.  The grip is in the way when inletting and must be worked around--very difficult with straight chisles.  I made a pair of off-set chisles using W-1 (O-1 works too) by forging the end of a 1/8" square rod flat, cranking the shaft and twisting it about 10 degrees.  I twisted one right and one left.  Sharpen (bevel on top), polish, harden and temper and you have tools with which can work around the grip.

[Rolf]

Pistols are fun!! I'm soon finished With a pair dragoon inspired pistols. Pictures here http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43830.msg428614#msg428614
I'd use:
a round or octagon to round barrel.
the Queen ann Lock.
Walnut Stock

As for triggerguard and buttcap I'd buy here http://firelockpistols.com/catalog/bc.html Good quality castings.

Best regards
Rolf

[Ant]

Thanks for the welcome guys
Rolf, that's pretty much exactly what i wanted, thanks for the link to yours; it loo looks fantastic!

L, funny you should mention those chisels, over the years I've made a few very similar, different scenarios -same tools.

Mike, I think I'll pass on the Jarrah and Sheoak, beautiful timber but holy cow is it rough on your tools 😁 that's the problem with a lot of Aussie timbers, they're super abrasive

[David Rase]

Pistols are just like building rifles, only they're harder to hold on to.

After the barrel is inlet and pinned use an oversized wooden rod driven into the barrel or a tight fitting or expandable brass rod placed in the barrel that sticks out of the barrel 6 or 8" to mount into your vise to hold the pistol.  That technique used with an auxiliary stand to rest the butt on makes for a great support that is very versatile for positioning while working on a pistol.
David

[bob in the woods]

I find pistols much more difficult because the transitions in the architecture are over a much smaller stock vs a rifle of fowling gun.
It's the nuances that really can make the pistol. I end of making many small changes over a few days , and try to use different variations in lighting when viewing the work. Then, there's the aspect of fitting everything to your hand, so that the pistol "aims itself"  Some folks tend to think that a pistol shouldn't take as long to build as a rifle, but I haven't found that to be the case for me.

[David Rase]

You need to make sure you get the right length of pull when building a pistol.  I have seen both extremes, a trigger so far away from the grip that you can't reach it and a trigger so close you can't wrap your fingers around the grip.
David

[Ant]

This is kinda what I had in mind, so not exactly a dragoon styled pistol

[Ant]

Length of pull for me is going to be fun, tiny little rat claw hands and freakishly long fingers

[Eric Smith]

Pistols are just like building rifles, only they're harder to hold on to.

After the barrel is inlet and pinned use an oversized wooden rod driven into the barrel or a tight fitting or expandable brass rod placed in the barrel that sticks out of the barrel 6 or 8" to mount into your vise to hold the pistol.  That technique used with an auxiliary stand to rest the butt on makes for a great support that is very versatile for positioning while working on a pistol.
David

Excellent idea.

[alyce-james]

Good day Ant; Sir, the picture of the pistol you shared with us, is what you had in mind of building, looks like a fun project. I like the pistol. The small Queen Ann lock would be the right choice for your build. Share your progress with the forum. Have a great week end. AJ.

[Mike Brooks]

Good day Ant; Sir, the picture of the pistol you shared with us, is what you had in mind of building, looks like a fun project. I like the pistol. The small Queen Ann lock would be the right choice for your build. Share your progress with the forum. Have a great week end. AJ.

I might consider L&R's "Bailes" lock, or what ever they call it. It's the little English one ca. 1800 or so. Glad somebody else besides me is doing that buttcap with the stirrups......

[Ant]

I love stirrup buttcaps, particularly with a grotesque face type keeper. Thinking nickel silver for the furniture, i like brass but wanted something different for this.

[Rolf]

I think Your going to have a problem finding nickel silver spurred butt caps. Only one I've seen offerd are brass, steel or sterling silver.  I've made butt caps and trigger guards from scratch from brass, sterling silver and steel.  I'd never try to do it With nickel silver. To hard to shape, even With anealing.

Best regards
Rolf

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=32410.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=27793.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=22536.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6615.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=704.0

[Ant]

Was eyeing these off:
http://www.muzzleloaderbuilderssupply.com/mbs3cart/agora.cgi?cart_id=4214020.8944&product=ButtCaps

[Mike Brooks]

I love stirrup buttcaps, particularly with a grotesque face type keeper. Thinking nickel silver for the furniture, i like brass but wanted something different for this.

The love affair will be short lived once you start putting it on....

[Ant]

Lol, no doubts 😁

[Goo]

I think you should use the local Tasmanian black wood!  Just because all the the rest of the northern hemisphere used maple and walnut does not mean this is only beautiful and great wood on the planet. Make it uniquely your own where you are from.   Keep the form and profile slender make it so the balance isn't muzzle heavy.    I am looking forward to seeing it!

[dbraw]

Pistols are not any harder to build than rifles. Just shorter barrels. I have built 33 of each and had lots of fun. I have one for sale on the CLA website if you want to view my work. Just sharing, not trying to sale.
Dan B.

[Ant]

Heya Goo,

I am kind of leaning towards Blackwood as i'm familiar with it, and I know exactly where I can lay my hands on a chuck of fiddlebacked timber.
What I probably will do is bite the bullet and get something preinlet and get it up and shootable asap once my license and import permits come through, because as soon as it's in my hands I have a required number of comps to shoot in per year in order to maintain my license. Then, I can stuff around making a nice stock at my leasure  (I can always loan a pistol from someone else, but it ties up the range and I don't like to be THAT guy always mooching gear)