New to forum, would like to begin building

[Iktomi]

 Hello gents (and ladies, as the case may be)

  New to your forum, and I'd like to embark on building myself a fine rifle. I've shot BP on and off since the early 80's. I started with a store boughten CVA Mountain flinter, and currently shoot a GPR .54 caplock that I "built" from the kit. I say "built", but it was basically assembling parts and really no challe4nge. I'd did take the time to finish it well though, and it's a great shooter. I'd like to build myself a genuine longrifle flintlock, and I want a greater challenge than the GPR. I'm particularly drawn to southern mountain rifles and/or "poor boy" types, as the plain styling suits my personal tastes. Seems like there are lots of options and varying degrees of difficulty and time commitment. I'm pretty handy around the shop and with wood. I'm an experience bowyer and bowhunter who has made all my own tackle for 30+ years. Anyhow, looking forward to browsing and reading more here to help me find my way.

[smylee grouch]

Well welcome and good luck with your first longrifle. I say first as most n ever stop with just one. Enjoy the ride.  Smylee   

[pjmcdonald]

Welcome. As a rank amateur myself, I'd suggest as a start a good kit (Kibler, Chambers, Track, Tennessee Valley Manufacturing (TVM Corinth), Tennessee Valley Muzzleloaders (TVM Natchez), etc.) and finding a mentor or taking a class.

If you have the time, patience, and mentorship, building from a blank is much more satisfying. I built a TVM kit last year in Jim Parker's class. Managed a nice, complete rifle in 5 very long days. Still had another 50 hours or so of finish work to do when I got home.

Starting from a blank, have about 90 hours in my current John Bull replica build during Jim's latest class and would guess that much more again to go. I'd have way more to go if I didn't have that hands on instruction.

Browse through, look at some of the build and class threads, then determine what you want to build. Make a plan then double the time you think it will take. Go slow and enjoy!

Paul

[Turtle]

 A Jim Kibler southern rifle would be a good next step for you. really nice guns, and while more challenging than the kit you built, it's also not a giant step into a total stick build. Lots of great advice available on this in gun building board.

[Iktomi]

Well welcome and good luck with your first longrifle. I say first as most n ever stop with just one. Enjoy the ride.  Smylee   

 
I reckon that is likely to be the case. I started crafting bows in the early 80's because being just out of the Army I was too poor to afford fancy newfangled archery gear. Some 300-odd bows later I'm still at it, LOL

Welcome. As a rank amateur myself, I'd suggest as a start a good kit (Kibler, Chambers, Track, Tennessee Valley Manufacturing (TVM Corinth), Tennessee Valley Muzzleloaders (TVM Natchez), etc.) and finding a mentor or taking a class.



If you have the time, patience, and mentorship, building from a blank is much more satisfying. I built a TVM kit last year in Jim Parker's class. Managed a nice, complete rifle in 5 very long days. Still had another 50 hours or so of finish work to do when I got home.

Starting from a blank, have about 90 hours in my current John Bull replica build during Jim's latest class and would guess that much more again to go. I'd have way more to go if I didn't have that hands on instruction.

Browse through, look at some of the build and class threads, then determine what you want to build. Make a plan then double the time you think it will take. Go slow and enjoy!

Paul

Heard some good words about Kibler, and the photos I have seen of completed rifles are very nice indeed. Sadly, where I live is not a hotbed of traditional muzzleloading. I live in coastal N. California, Sonoma county, and there isn't a whole lot happening here. I don't know of any professional smiths or skilled hobbiest builders for that matter, in my area.  It seems that *most* of the real good activity is east of the Mississippi. If anyone could point me in the right direction in my general area I would be most appreciative.

[bama]

David Race and Ron Scot are both fabulous builders and they are on the west coast. Probably not next door to you but they are great guys and very knowledgeable and I am sure would take time to talk to you if you gave them a call. Both are members of this forum. There is also a great deal of info here and many great guys that are always willing to help.

Welcome to the forum and best of luck.

Jim

[WadePatton]

Get a plank if you are comfy working wood. Focus on architecture, the rest is just the marriage of metal and wood and finishing in way.  Specifically-get a "plank", but really a rough cut, stock blank, from a professional longrifle stockwood supplier, to reduce issues with grain, density, and hidden flaws.  Wood sourced otherwise may complicate things.

Architecture--all those large and small features of structure and execution that make the gun appear and function as one did from back in the day.  Pull and drop and length are just linear measurement found in the architecture.  Full-sized prints and mocking up a gun shaped object with scrap wood can help immensely here.  Because I had no 3D reference in house, I glued a pair of 2x4's together and used a hoof rasp to make a long-rifle(ish) shape, then added (band clamped) metal along this "stock" to get feel/balance right. Used a nail for a trigger, the glue line becomes your centerline.  This was the test-bed for pull, cast, etc.  I didn't try to make lock panels or refined wrist, etc in this crude cobblage, but gained confidence that I wasn't messing up my first hunk of real stockwood.

Seeing and handling original guns is the ultimate teacher.

Also, most kits (you can usually delete their pre-carved stock (they can bring their own set of issues)) for anything "Southern" include a Germanic lock which offends my notions of historically correct Southern arms.  I much prefer to use English style locks and see them most often in original builds.  Why that condition exists I'm not sure, but often the kit sellers will let you substitute parts.  I never bought a kit-and it has been years since I looked at them but I doubt they've changed. Maybe it's a test. 

This does not apply to the offerings of Jim Kibler (Happy B-day Jim), but then his kits are in a class of their own and a great option for those who don't have/need/want a shop full of tools and hands scarred with the gaining of knowledge.

Welcome to the forum, the knowledge is here and most of it is searchable (but that a huge amount of pictorial info was killed by that photo-hosting site going commercial).  Now we have on-site hosting and not have that issue going forward.

edited.

[Jeff Durnell]

Hi Iktomi. Seems like there's a bowyer migration of sorts coming this way  I saw Eric Krewson wandering around here somewhere too.

I ordered my first gun kit from Chambers a week ago. Never too late to learn another craft.

Tons of knowledge and skill here.

All the best in your journey.

[PPatch]

Welcome to ALR Iktomi.

Sounds to me like you are ready for a build from scratch, a plank. An SMR style should be a good beginning, they are slim and graceful rifles and you can choose among several calibers. Architecture is everything on a gun build, that means having, creating, a good plan before any cutting tool use. Make a full scale drawing on a long piece of paper, butcher paper perhaps, start by drawing your barrel profile, then draw the gun around it. Pay close attention to the profile, and where and how each bit of furniture fits and goes on the gun. This way you will have confidence going forward with the build because in essence you've built it in your head before touching the actual project.

Note that those cuts and steps taken at the very beginning will define the gun from then on, so it is important to get them right. An SMR can be quite plain with minimal furniture and still be a beautiful thing to not only behold but to shoot. They are long and lean, and all business.

dave

[Tim Crosby]

 Not out the back door but closer than Dixons, somebody here can probably help you get in touch with this group: Washington Historical Gunmakers Guild. Welcome to the Forum and enjoy your journey.

  Tim

[Iktomi]

 Some good information and food for thought. Thanks gentlemen. Before I do a full on plank build, I have about 50 bazillion questions I need to research, and I want to make sure I'm properly tooled up.

  Jeff, I saw a post from Eric earlier, and also encountered him over on another ML forum. There is a fair amount of crossover between our respective crafts, guys that are dedicated traditional/primitive archers and bowhunters seem to also be drawn to old skool traditional guns, and vice versa.

[BOB HILL]

Welcome to the site. It sounds like you are way ahead of the game. I have helped a few folks over the years with builds. The ones that had past woodworking experience had the least problems. One advantage to using one of the higher quality kits for your first build is that when you get it finished you will have an excellent example to study for your next build. This will help you understand the architecture. This is a great benefit if you are in an area with few originals to study or no knowledgeble mentor mentor nearby. A copy of Recreating The American Longrifles will be a great help also. There are many great books out there but, this is what many of us started with. You will find this site to be one of your greatest aids though. You have many years of experience here to call on. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.   
Bob

[Ron Scott]

The Oregon GunMakers Fair is April 21&21 in Corvallis Oregon. We routinely orient our event for new builders . Should you want information about the event, give me a call at 541-941-0395

[Iktomi]

The Oregon GunMakers Fair is April 21&21 in Corvallis Oregon. We routinely orient our event for new builders . Should you want information about the event, give me a call at 541-941-0395

 Ron, thanks. I wish I could make it, it's just a little far for a short weekend trip from the Bay Area. It's a good 9-hour drive, and I'd have to leave after work on Friday and be back to work on Monday morning. Unfortunately, all my vacation time is spoken for this year. Maybe in the future though.

[WadePatton]

Some good information and food for thought...There is a fair amount of crossover between our respective crafts, guys that are dedicated traditional/primitive archers and bowhunters seem to also be drawn to old skool traditional guns, and vice versa.

Yeah, I just split out my first staves recently...   

[Iktomi]

Some good information and food for thought...There is a fair amount of crossover between our respective crafts, guys that are dedicated traditional/primitive archers and bowhunters seem to also be drawn to old skool traditional guns, and vice versa.

Yeah, I just split out my first staves recently...   

 Excellent. What sort of wood? I'd like to see your progress when you get going!

[Uncle Alvah]

I am ion my first build also, and not too far along at that. I can only offer some random observations on mistakes I have made.
- I should have read more before starting on the rifle.
- I should not have been so eager to "get going". Make them wood chips fly, if you will.
-Although I thought I was going slowly and carefully, the fact is I was not going slowly or carefully enough.
-I should have invested more time in perfecting chisel sharpening before starting in.
-I should invest more time in chisel sharpening now. I am much improved, but I still suck at it.
- I have learned that if you are within two feet of an open jar of inletting black, you will get some on you.

[Iktomi]

I am ion my first build also, and not too far along at that. I can only offer some random observations on mistakes I have made.
- I should have read more before starting on the rifle.
- I should not have been so eager to "get going". Make them wood chips fly, if you will.
-Although I thought I was going slowly and carefully, the fact is I was not going slowly or carefully enough.
-I should have invested more time in perfecting chisel sharpening before starting in.
-I should invest more time in chisel sharpening now. I am much improved, but I still suck at it.
- I have learned that if you are within two feet of an open jar of inletting black, you will get some on you.

 Well, that's one thing in my favor. I've always been pretty anal about maintaining my tools, and I'm pretty handy at sharpening LOL.