Mahogany Issac Haines (Update with pictures of the original rifle)

[bama]

Here is a sneak preview of my latest project. It is a loose copy of the Mahogany Issac Haines rifle that is shown in the book "The Lancaster Long Rifle" by Patrick Hornberger and John Kolar. I am going to have Ric Lambert photograph it next week and will post better pictures when I get them from Ric.

Here are the particulars for the rifle. Stock I got from Freddy Harrison before he passed away. It is a quarter sawn stump cut curly walnut that was absolutely fantastic to shape and carve. The barrel is a Getz 50 cal 44" Bi-Cent. that I got from Frank Bartlett. The lock is a Chambers Colonial Virginia. I am not sure who cast the butt plate and trigger guard as I picked them up from Gerald Neaves. I would love to know who cast them, I don't think that they are Reeve's castings but they may be, they are good brass like Reeve's old castings. The trigger, trigger plate, side plate, thimbles, nose cap and sights were all made by me. All of the inlays and wire are sterling silver.

Stock is finished with a home made finish that is a combination of BLO an natural earth amber pigment an a little painter's varnish. The barrel is rust blued and the lock was left in the white with a little cold blue to give it a little hi-lite. No stain was used on the stock.

The carving on the original rifle is very intimidating but it is a rifle that I have wanted to try to carve for a long time. I have been thinking about this project for several years and finally got the nerve to give it a try. While I don't think that I did quite as good a job on the carving as the master I do think that I did an acceptable job. I added a few design changes to make it my own rifle but tried to keep the flavor of the original rifle.

Thanks for looking.

The original rifle is attributed to Issac Haines because of the quality of the carving on the rifle. I had a chance to see this rifle when the Kindig Collection was on display at the Reading Museum an it is indeed a fabulous rifle. As you can see by the pictures the finish is quite subdued and not a shiny finish, I tried to replicate this on my rifle. You will also notice that the carving on the original looks quite bold when viewed straight on but in fact is only maybe a 1/32" tall. I also tried to get this effect with my carving and tried to take a picture from the same angle to show that my carving is not that tall.

As to the availability of the wood I can not say but will take the info that the other members have provided as good info. I know I would love to be able to build a rifle with a good piece of Mahogany. As to why we do not see more originals built from it if it was very available is a good question, probably because maple was more popular and probably cheaper. Just my guess.









Added a couple of detail pictures of the vent pick inlay

[Greg Pennell]

Stunning!  This one has the total package...wonderful architecture, masterful carving, and the engraving and silver work is just the icing. I think I have a new favorite rifle!
 
Hope you bring it to Lexington so I can see it in person!

Greg

[BOB HILL]

Great work, Jim. I also look forward to seeing it if you have it at Lexington.
Bob

[n stephenson]

Jim, WOW!!!  You did a GREAT JOB!! as always. I like the architecture, and all your silver work, as well as the rest of it as well. But,  I must admit your carving on that Walnut , is a MAJOR FEAT!! by its self. VERY NICE JOB!!! Like everyone else , I too would love to "lay hands" on this one. SUPER!!!!     Nate

[t.caster]

Real sweet rifle, Jim! Your carving is BIG and BOLD, but very elegant, especially with the well done silver accents!
Everything else is great too!

[Joe S.]

A fine job indeed,really like carvings,lots to like

[rich pierce]

Wow.  Very impressive.

[stubshaft]

The carving with the silver accents are spectacular!

[smart dog]

Hi Jim,
What a beautiful and stunning gun!  Was the original finish on the mahogany Haines so low luster?

dave 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Nice work Jim.  I really like that heavy rococo carving...layers upon layers - looks so deep.

[Iktomi]

Just beautiful.

  Along with your superb carving and silver work, that piece of walnut just brings it to life. The texture and finish on that wood makes it look almost like live flesh. Extraordinary 

[oldtravler61]

   So how do you make a comment on perfection? Well done Jim !
   Oldtravler

[QuanLoi]

Beautiful rifle.  The contrast between the brass, silver and the nicely carved dark stock is stunning!

[Ed Wenger]

Very nice!  I like the silver boarder on the tang, and really like the engraving on the lock.  Thanks for posting!


           Ed

[Justin Urbantas]

was the original actually made of Mahogany? Where would the wood come from?

[smart dog]

Hi Justin,
The wood for the original version of the beautiful rifle Jim made probably came from the west indies, perhaps Cuba.  The original was stocked in mahogany.  It is important to remember to the British, French, and Dutch who colonized North America, the islands of the West Indies were far more important economically than the colonies on the mainland because of the sugar plantations.  Moreover, there was extensive trade between the new US and the Caribbean for that same sugar.

dave

[Nordnecker]

^ Absolutely. Found this tidbit of info recently. Paraphrased -"In 1732, Broomhead and Blythe listed Mahogany items in their inventory. By 1753 in Charleston SC the wood had become so common that it was listed in the newspaper along with such commodities as rice, indigo, and naval stores." In fact, it was more commonly used than walnut. Another quote by someone referred to as Elliot- "Were it not for the facility with which Mahogany is obtained, it (walnut) would form a great portion of the furniture of our houses."

[BOB HILL]

Most people don’t realize that that it was more economic to have mahogany shipped from the islands than cherry or walnut hauled overland from the piedmont area. Mahogany was available early on in the port cities. Charleston even had a sawmill for the sole purpose of sawing mahogany into veneerimg, & c. (The only one in the Southern States at this time, 1820). They advertised in 
newspapers from Savannah to Petersburg, Va. I have thought for a long time about stocking a fowling piece to look like it was restocked on our coast with mahogany. I have a piece that was shipped here to Georgetown years ago.

[tallbear]

Very cool Jim...hope to see it in August !!!!!!!

Mitch

[bama]

I updated this post with pictures of the original rifle.

[n stephenson]

The patchbox on this rifle , reminds me very much of the J Hoak rifle in Kindig`s book  pages 153 , 154 . The patchbox as well as the carvings are VERY similar. It was stated that Jacob Hoak lived near I Haines. After I got my book out and compared the images of the original , I believe the original  that Jim based this rifle on , is by  J  Hoak. I could be wrong , but even the engraving on the P box is VERY close. While the carving on this rifle is more elaborate , the basic design is VERY similar to the Hoak rifle featured by Kindig . Even the tang carvings are  very close. If others will look at Kindigs book , and compare I think there is a possibility of this. Check out the detail at the bottom of the carving behind the cheekpiece! Just like the original in Jim`s pics.  The Hoak rifle in Kindig`s book even has carving under the cheekpiece in a pattern very similar to this. Some folks with a better eye , might prove me wrong , but I think the original , was by Hoak or an associate?? The Hoak in Kindig`s book is also stocked in Walnut , instead of Maple showing that Hoak did use other wood also.   This is just my theory . Whoever made it did a great job and Jim has done GREAT with this one. Nate

[bama]

Nate I think there is some controversy over the maker of this rifle and I really do not want this post to turn into brawl about who was the original maker. 

It is a very nice rifle regardless of who made it and my hope is that everyone will enjoy the quality of builds of the original and my rifle as well.

Jim

[heinz]

Jim, I think the quality of your build is extraordinary. I like the small engraving accents

[n stephenson]

Nate I think there is some controversy over the maker of this rifle and I really do not want this post to turn into brawl about who was the original maker. 

It is a very nice rifle regardless of who made it and my hope is that everyone will enjoy the quality of builds of the original and my rifle as well.

Jim

Jim, I had no idea of a controversy. When I first saw your rifle , I immediately thought of the Hoak rifle , based on the PB alone . This morning I got out Kindig`s book, and started comparing the two. I just thought I would point these out. Just as a study comparison between them. Like I said , had no idea of controversy, and not wanting to get any here. Your rifle is a beauty as stated, and so are the originals as well regardless of who made them. Thanks Nate

[Arcturus]

I always look forward to seeing your latest projects, Jim.  This one is way cool!  Thanks for posting.