Building Ideas!!

[n stephenson]

I have a 38inch .40 caliber B weight swamped barrel , that I`ve had a while, and , a really curly piece of hard Maple. I have used these barrels before , and they make , really nice handling rifles. I normally don`t ask for ideas like this , but I just wanted input from the forum, ideas to bat around and see what peeks my interest. I DO NOT have any of the other parts , just the barrel and stock , so it is still open for whatever. I have used these barrels  to build smaller rifles for people of smaller stature before. Probably not the most HC barrel profile or length , but a nice little barrel . So run some ideas by me , and who knows I might build it. Thanks in advance. Nate

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  .... I have seen a couple original Tennessee percussion rifles. small caliber, that had been cut down to about 40"  (+or-) ...would make a great ladies or kids gun, or even a quick squirrel gun ... and still be an honest Tennessee rifle .... all iron hardware, of course ... !!! .... See you at the Alabama show ...!! .... Regards, C C Fiddler ...

[flinchrocket]

H. Risingson in the southern arms section of the alr library.

[smylee grouch]

An obvious choice in my mind would be a HUNTING RIFLE SCHOOL for small critters. 

[Hungry Horse]

I’ve seen pictures of a South Carolina attributed rifle, that has a barrel only 34” long. It shows none of the usual signs of being shortened. The gun is diminutive overall, which leads one to believe it was built as it is today. It also has a very distinctive patchbox, with a vertical opening brass lid.

  Hungry Horse

[oldtravler61]

  Nate I'm looking for some ideas too for that Chris Evert lock I have. Like you I have a stock but no barrel.  Not trying to steal your thred at all...! But that short barrel idea...defiantly perks my interest....Tennessee style is my thoughts...Also that 40 cal if legal for deer in your area...is a great deer stomper.!...going to glue myself to this thread...

[Robby]

Nate, I had the same quandary with a 38" barrel some time ago. I cut the barrel to 36" and made it into a half stock with a wooden under rib. my thinking was for a rifle made in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, damaged on the Ohio frontier, where a restocking was made using all the hardware, except the patch box which was made 'new', and slightly modifying the hardware to suit Ohio sensibilities, while aping Dauphin county carving and engraving on the new gun. Almost like doing the hardware twice. It turned into a real fun project that whipped up my imagination. Good Luck with yours!!!!
Robby

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

[/quote]

Something along these lines, perhaps?

[bama]

Nate I have 3 38" 40 cal barrels made by Charley Burton. I agree that they make nice well balanced rifles. I am planing to build these into a couple of southern mountain rifles for my grandsons and a PA styled rifle for my daughter. My daughter has her rifle started and it is coming along. I will post pictures when I get them going.

Knowing your skills I think whatever you build will turn out nice. Please post pictures when you decide. 

[Curt Lyles]

  I will have to agree with D.Taylor here on the R.Elhert rifle.I had a close cousin of this rifle by Steve Davis a few years back and they have a nice feel to them and you could carry it all day and never get tired of it.Curt

[Dennis Glazener]

I have a 38inch .40 caliber B weight swamped barrel , that I`ve had a while, and , a really curly piece of hard Maple. I have used these barrels before , and they make , really nice handling rifles. I normally don`t ask for ideas like this , but I just wanted input from the forum, ideas to bat around and see what peeks my interest. I DO NOT have any of the other parts , just the barrel and stock , so it is still open for whatever. I have used these barrels  to build smaller rifles for people of smaller stature before. Probably not the most HC barrel profile or length , but a nice little barrel . So run some ideas by me , and who knows I might build it. Thanks in advance. Nate

When Green Mountain first started making swamped barrels I saw a A profile 40 cal on sale at Dixon's finds it. I loved that slim light weight barrel and bought it, like you not knowing what I would use it on. Later on I dropped by Fred Miller's to drop off some work and saw his neat little Dreppard pattern so I had Fred dupe that pattern using a piece of qtr sawn cherry that I had. Used a L&R baby Manton flint lock. It made a really neat little rifle but plenty big for me at 6 ft 34 inch sleeves. I suspect Dave Keck Knobb Mountain has the pattern today. Also makes a great southern mountain rifle have made several Mathew Gillespie rifles with that barrel but in other calibers.
Dennis

[54ball]

 Nate
 I had a Mathew Gillespie that Dennis built up from a blank. It had a Bwt 38" in .45. Sometimes in life we are privileged to own truly great guns. That one was one of those. It was the sweetest handling rifle I have ever touched. It was the most accurate off hand rifle I have ever touched. If it had been .50 it would have been perfect for my purposes.
 More specs...
 1810 Mathew Gillespie based curly maple stock
 Angled Gillespie Grease hole
 Iron pipes
 Iron Gillespie guard
 Wet moon single bolt side plate
 Pointed tang
 Chambers Ketland
 Davis sets
 Gillespie iron guard
 No butt plate
 It was just a simple Rifle with clean lines....a joy.
 For a small game and very close deer....a .40 Gillespie would make a sweet woodsrunner.

[little joe]

Taylor  Could you share some measurements from that fine rifle?