Making a Triggerguard for an English Sporting Gun - Updated Photos Added

[Cory Joe Stewart]

Well done!

[bama]

Very nice job on the guard and the engraving.

Jim

[Curtis]

Thanks fellers! You are too kind! 

Craig, the guard joined with silver solder.  All I had on hand was brass colored silver solder... it shows a bit in the trigger bow.

Scott, No final pictures have been posted yet, the gun is still a work in progress.  I have yet to checker the stock and I just got my gold for the barrel bands in the mail this afternoon.  The gun will have a .62 caliber rifled octagon barrel and a 12 gauge smooth octagon to round, interchangeable.   So it may be a while yet before I get it all done and a finish applied to the barrels.

I probably shouldn't post these yet as I may still attempt to refine the engraving a bit, but here are a couple teaser photos:





Curtis

[Daryl]

Nice! I've added these pictures to the file. tks

[Rolf]

Thats going to be a beautiful gun!

Best regards
Rolf

[smart dog]

Nice Curtis.  Are you going to checker the wrist?

dave

[Old Ford2]

Seeing this fine work, humbles me a lot.
But it gives great inspiration to keep trying.
Thank you for showing and sharing.
Fred

[Curtis]

Thanks guys! 

'

Nice Curtis.  Are you going to checker the wrist?

dave

Yes Dave, I am getting ready to layout the checkering in the next day or two - it will be my first attempt at checkering.  Got a question for you, do you use a chekering cradle or just a vice and perhaps your lap?

Curtis

[smart dog]

Hi Curtis,
I just use my pattern makers vise.  Masking tape can be really useful for laying out the edges of your design.

dave

[Curtis]

Thanks for the info Dave.  A friend of mine once recommended auto pinstripe for checkering layout because of it's thickness and resistance to lateral bending.  I will be trying it as well as masking tape as you mentioned and report back in a new thread as to how well each works for me.  I purchased some pinstripe in 1/8" and 1/4" widths.

Curtis

[smart dog]

Hi Curtis,
Yes pin striping should be good.  The edge of masking tape is less rigid and can wobble about, however, I use it just to play around with the borders while designing the pattern on the stock not as a guide for my cutter.

dave

[Curtis]

Hi Curtis,
Yes pin striping should be good.  The edge of masking tape is less rigid and can wobble about, however, I use it just to play around with the borders while designing the pattern on the stock not as a guide for my cutter.

dave

Excellent and useful information Dave, thanks for the clarification!

Curtis

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Thanks for bringing this back to my attention Curtis.  Your guard looks splendid, especially in context with the gun itself.  Your engraving certainly befits the era and adds much to the charm of the piece.  Nicely done.

[J. Talbert]

This may be too late to the game. Also, I don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but I found Dymo labeling tape to be Just the ticket for laying out checkering.

Jeff

[smylee grouch]

Curtis, I love everything about your gun. I am a huge fan of English style arms and yours captures that spirit in spades. I am very interested in the lock, would it be possible to get some more info and inside photos of the lock and the sliding safety feature/construction details. Great gun and thanks for sharing. 

[Curtis]

Taylor, thanks for adding you comments, your input is graciously appreciated!  I hope and aspire one day I can do engraving at a level comparable to yours.

Jeff, I have read about using Dymo labeling tape in some of my checkering research, thanks for posting the info here.  I haven't started the checkering yet, after looking online on how to do flat top checkering it appears I have at least one more tool to manufacture to make it look correct.  When I post the checkering I'll include photos of the tool.

Smylee, I appreciate your comments also!  I posted about the lock when I made the sliding safety for it, pictures of the process and the inside of the lock can be seen here: http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=49314.0

Curtis

[Ed Wenger]

Looking great, Curtis!  Your engraving is impressive.  For checkering, I’ve used the pinstripe tape for layout with good results.  Keep us posted!


         Ed

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

For chequering layout, I cut strips of plastic sheeting about 3/8" - 1/2" wide, and secure the ends to the wood out past the pattern area with masking tape.  Often, in setting up those first two lines for your pattern, you will have to left them off and adjust by moving a little, then sticking it down again.  The masking tape is good for that.  The plastic sheet material gives a nice clean stiff line to trace with your scribe.

[Craig Wilcox]

Curtis, your work always impresses me - clean, neat, artistic and workmanlike.
A little late, but:
Next time you are out of SILVER silver solder, holler!  I almost always have some on hand.  Mostly I use the paste version of lowest temp stuff, but I do have a couple pennyweights of medium, and a bit of hard.
Checkering - Did a lot on cartridge-type firearms, pistols and rifles.  But all VEE-type, not flat-topped.  We will have to trade techniques some time.  I have used both thin aluminum and plastic for keeping that first line straight.  Just a thin strip of either, about 1/4" wide.  Generally I cut up plastic dividers as used in 3-ring binders.  Makes great patterns also.  When you are laying out your checkering pattern, the clear lets you see the grain where you will be cutting.  I've made a couple patterns for the Lehigh, tang and forestock.  easy to take small pieces of tape to stick them on and draw around the outline.
At any rate, the firearm that you are working on is simply beautiful!  Hope the checkering goes OK.

[Craig Wilcox]

Forgot - I use a checkering cradle, but had to make an extension when I started working on longrifles - the cradle was built for modern rifles.  For pistol grips, I just use a bit of contact cement to stick them on anything flat.

[Curtis]

Thanks Ed! 

Also thanks to Ed, Taylor and Craig for the checkering info - I hope to get to the checkering shortly after Christmas.  I've been busy with family activities, engraving and some gold inlay work in the form of barrel bands and touch holes.  All the checkering advice will be most helpful when I attempt to tackle that beast!

Craig, If I need some silver solder in the future I'll give you a holler!

Curtis

[Jim Kibler]

Some pretty fine work, Curtis!  Looks real nice!  I like the engraving.

Jim

[Curtis]

Some pretty fine work, Curtis!  Looks real nice!  I like the engraving.

Jim

Thanks Jim!  I wouldn't be engraving much of anything if I handn't taken your engraving class at the NMLRA Seminar a few years back.  You taught us a lot in those few days.  Most importantly how to sharpen a graver!

Curtis