Author Topic: Basic, lefty Lehigh (Read 5708 times)

smallpatch · « **on:** September 17, 2017, 08:05:43 PM »

Just finished yesterday. FCI 50cal x 46" barrel, pretty but nasty sugar maple blank, Left hand Siler, hand made side plate. Simple gun, no carving, wood box.
Your comments welcome.

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wattlebuster · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2017, 08:17:43 PM »

Wow. I like it. Simple, basic, an a tad of age thrown on it. Great work

WKevinD · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2017, 08:29:50 PM »

Great look! Nice color on wood brass and steel.
Kevin

KC · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2017, 08:43:00 PM »

That's a beautiful rifle. I also really like the horn and the bag in the photos as well. It's a great set.

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2017, 09:13:54 PM »

Diffianatly second what KC said.
Really nice...! Oldtravler

Joe S. · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2017, 09:47:56 PM »

Even better,left handed,splendid

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2017, 11:05:06 PM »

Nice. What's the drop at the nose of the comb and the heal? You can send all the "nasty" wood like that to me if you need to get rid of it.

smallpatch · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2017, 11:36:06 PM »

Mike,
Drop at comb is only 1 ½", at butt right at 4".
What I meant by nasty was all the grain/figure run out, where you get that unruly wood that just won't cut or scrape cleanly. Wants to get fuzzy, and/or chip out.
I used tannic acid, then ferric nitrate for stain, then rubbed out the wear areas.
4 coats of Chambers oil, a little black and burnt sienna oil paint in spar varnish for aged areas. Couple more coats of spar sprayed on, then another coat of Chambers oil to bring out a bit of sheen.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2017, 11:43:35 PM »

A good woo-woo stick used just right would take care of those wood problems for you.
4" of drop is a whole bunch, but it's the only way you can pull the architecture off on these. This is one of the few I could probably shoot with out getting chopped in the cheek bone real bad. I'd probably have to hunt for the sights though.... There are some gun schools and architecture I can shoot, this ain't one of them. Unfortunate for me as I really like the looks of them. One of my favorites for just lookin at.

smallpatch · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2017, 11:47:59 PM »

Mike,
Yeah, the Lehigh can be a bear to shoot. This one sits really nice though. You still got to put your nose on your thumb to get down to the sights. Keeping the comb narrow, and rounding it over keeps the cheek slap under control.

Dave Patterson · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2017, 12:55:06 AM »

smallpatch, that's just plain lovely.

I do love the lines of the Lehigh/Bucks Co rifles, and do have to agree: they can sure make a guys eyes get misty if not held "just right".

Excellent points about the narrow comb, rolled over: makes a world of difference.

I still have to lay my thumb straight up the topline of the wrist with these, or end up slappin' myself in the beak with my middle knuckle; sure was and eye-opener about the practical side of that lovely egg-shaped wrist.

That's one of most fascinating aspects of messing with various schools of design: finding the function that drove the original lovely forms.

n stephenson · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2017, 01:19:41 AM »

SP , Very nicely done! I too, am guilty of being a Lehigh lover . Good Job!! Nate

BOB HILL · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2017, 02:45:45 AM »

Fine looking outfit there, Smallpatch. I sure do like it. Bob

David Rase · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2017, 03:06:23 AM »

Dane,
That's a nice rifle. I need to build a plain rifle. I want to build a Deep River gun similar to the stock with the big bark inclusion that Mike Brooks has shown on line several times. I want to do it out of persimmon.
David

smylee grouch · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2017, 03:53:39 AM »

Nice looking gun, I like it. Bring it out to Ben Avery range in feb-march and show it off if you still have it then.

smallpatch · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2017, 04:30:50 AM »

Smylee,
Sorry, I'm delivering it tomorrow.

smallpatch · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2017, 04:31:43 AM »

David,
Where do you find persimmon?

Ed Wenger · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2017, 05:00:45 AM »

That's a really nicely done rifle, Dane! Beautiful wood and metal finish. Great example of not needing embellishments to pull off a nice looking rifle. Thanks for sharing!

Ed

SingleMalt · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2017, 05:16:26 AM »

I call that an "every man's rifle." That's what is sorely lacking today, a rifle any common man could've owned.

David Rase · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2017, 05:41:28 AM »

Quote from: smallpatch on September 18, 2017, 04:31:43 AM

David,
Where do you find persimmon?

I got mine from a member of the forum. Nathan, from Harrison Gunstocks said he had some.
David

elkhorne · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2017, 07:03:00 AM »

smallpatch,
Really like how you have combined beautiful architecture with fantastic wood and nicely aged metal to make a great rifle anyone would be proud of. I love your metal treatment on your lock and barrel. What procedure and product did you use on them? Also I like your buttplate and trigger guard. Where did purchase the hardware. I have one I am about to start with a Rice squirrel barrel and looking forward to it once I get my hardware. Thanks and congratulations on a fine rifle.
elkhorne

smart dog · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2017, 01:23:39 PM »

Nice Dane!!! That is a lovely, elegant gun.

dave

t.caster · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2017, 05:36:34 PM »

This is more proof that a rifle doesn't have to be "fancy" to be BEAUTIFUL!
Of course, I have yet to see any of your guns I didn't love. Nice job again!

smallpatch · « **Reply #23 on:** September 18, 2017, 05:49:18 PM »

Thanks guys for the comments, Dave, David, Ed, Mike......your input is greatly appreciated.

Elkhorne, TG, and BP were purchased from Allen Martin, sandcast, and required MUCH filing.

Metal finish per Allen also.
Brown in a sweat box without carding till way past where you'd normally stop, reapplying reagent as necessary.
Then the hard part..... sand it all off. All the way to bare metal, leaving the pitting.
Blue it with your favorite cold blue. Oxpho makes a little darker finish.
Cut it back with skotchbrite pad and CLP to your desired look.

Nordnecker · « **Reply #24 on:** September 19, 2017, 02:30:07 PM »

Very nice set-up and photos. Agree with all above.

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Author Topic: Basic, lefty Lehigh (Read 5708 times)

Dave Patterson

n stephenson