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Author Topic: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"  (Read 14165 times)

Offline smallpatch

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Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« on: May 25, 2009, 01:51:25 AM »
Just finished this kit by Mr Brooks.

Nice piece of English Walnut, 48" 20ga barrel, Chamber's Oil Finish, slightly antiqued.

I really had to rethink the process.  All hardware (buttplate, triggerguard, sideplate), were flat sheet metal, not preformed, ready to inlet.  No screws in the buttplate.... had to make the nails.  Very, very cool.  Just different than what I'm used to.

This thing weighs just barely 6lbs, and skinny, skinny, skinny.  Kind of interested to see just how bad it kicks.

your critique is quite welcome, and desired.

Dane.







« Last Edit: May 25, 2009, 01:57:04 AM by smallpatch »
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Offline Bill of the 45th

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2009, 02:04:20 AM »
As usual, Dane, a beauty.  Did you do the engraving on the butt plate, and serpent.  I also like the French trade knife, and Hawk.  Looks way better than the stuff they dug out of the latrines up here at Fort Michilamackinaw. ::)  Bet Hamilton would have liked that as an example of what they're supposed to look like in his book.

Bill
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2009, 02:16:41 AM »
Bill,
  Thanks so much. 

  Yes, I did the engraving, such as it is.  One area where I feel totally inadequate.  A real struggle.  I wish I had someone to tutor me on engraving.
  That knife is supposed to be a copy of an original English Birdhead knife, thought it would go well with the gun.  The hawk was made by Dennis Miles (Double Edge Forge).

Again, thanks for the compliments.  Much appreciated.
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Offline James Rogers

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2009, 02:33:39 AM »
Nice job. I will be takling one in beech if I can ever get a couple of fowling guns finished.
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Offline Brian Jordan

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2009, 03:57:21 PM »
Beautiful work!!!
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Offline Tommy Bruce

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2009, 04:39:26 PM »
Neat!!!  I'd really like to do one of these after I finish the other 4 projects I have planned.  The engraving really sets it off.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2009, 05:00:36 PM »
Looks Great! I find these fun to build, nails and all. These were  probably the most common guns on the frontier.
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2009, 06:09:01 PM »
Mr Brooks,

  I had a bit of a mental block when I first started this one.  Like I said, making nails, flat sheet metal furniture.  I don't know that it scared me,  but I just wasn't sure how to proceed. 
  Once I got the nails made, which turned out to be quite easy, the next challenge was shaping the trigger guard.  The profile was fairly easy.  The piece of paper you suggested really helped.  The hard part was "cupping" the bow and rails for strength.  I ended up cutting some pieces of conduit in half, clamping them in a vise, laying the triggerguard in the pipe, then tapping with a ball pein hammer to shape.  Did the same thing with a smaller diameter conduit for the thumbpiece.
By the way, nice piece of wood.  Figure is even more prominent in person.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2009, 07:15:33 PM »
I have a swage block, so forming is pretty easy for me, but your method appears to have worked quite well.
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longrifle

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2009, 07:46:02 PM »
That is a very nice looking gun you did a great job on it. The engraving looks really good. By the way I like the look's of that knife also.
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Offline Dr. Tim-Boone

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2009, 08:15:07 PM »
Dane, its a beauty!  I have just been reading about the American Colonies from 1600 to 1800. Man the English really pouted these guns into the south through Charles Town. They Armed the Natives to hunt and defend them from the french while France was pouring trade guns into New Orleans to arm the Natives against the English.  I bet the French Fusils and English Trade Guns like this Carolina gun were all over the place. A great piece of American History and nice work!!
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Offline LynnC

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2009, 12:18:00 AM »
Man, It turned out great.

I really like those long slim lines and to be so light!  That barrel must be really slim from the wedding bands out to the muzzle.

One question - Is the top of the comb where your cheek rests squared off as it looks like in the photos?

A good looking gun it is and I look forward to a shooting report..........................Lynn
« Last Edit: May 26, 2009, 12:22:20 AM by Lynn Cook »
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Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2009, 12:28:15 AM »
 That is really nice looking. I'm going to put one of those on my to do list.

Tim C.
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2009, 12:45:59 AM »
Lynn,

Yes the top of the comb is dead flat, as were the originals.
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Offline LynnC

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2009, 01:53:39 AM »
Ok - Sharp Corner - I'm not knocking it - just askin ;)

How slim is that 48" barrel - It couldn't weigh 3 1/2 to 4 lbs?

Lynn
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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2009, 02:21:37 AM »
Lynn,

That skinny sucker is 1" @ the octagonal breech, and .75 @ the round muzzle.  I'm not sure what it weighs.  But the whole gun is right @ 6lbs.
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Offline LynnC

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2009, 02:27:25 AM »
Light as Feather  8)..............................Lynn
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Michael

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2009, 02:50:51 PM »
In S. James Goodings book "Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970  on page 63 he states that in1724 the records of the Committee ( the Governors of the Hudson Bay Co.) became concerned about the weight of the barrels. they decided that the weight of a 4 foot barrel was to be 3lbs 4ozs and not to exceed 3lbs 6ozs.  In the next paragraph he states that later the same year the weigh was changed to' 4 foot barrels to weigh from 3lbs 5ozs to 3lbs 8ozs'. It seems that the Indians complained that the English trade guns were to bulky and heavy and as a result the English gunsmiths had to slim down their guns to compete with the French guns. On the copy of the John Bumford gun that I am completing my barrel weighs in at 4lbs 7ozs. however I started with a smoothbore octagon rifle barrel and worked it  oct/rd and had it inletted into the stock before I learned about the weight information. I don't know if the Bumford gun is an actual Carolina Trade Gun or a variation because the buttpiece is very different. At any rate it is a neat gun and it should be fun to shoot.

Michael

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Offline smallpatch

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2009, 03:26:34 PM »
Michael,

According to Hamilton's, "Colonial Frontier Guns",  there were as many variations as there were manufacturers.  The type G, is just one among many.  I don't think anyone knows the actual numbers of each.
This kit seems to be quite authentic.  Mike did a great job in his research, and it seems to be styled after two remnants of the original Yuchi and TR guns????  That's my guess anyway.

Maybe MR Brooks can jump in here??
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #19 on: May 26, 2009, 05:47:58 PM »
Quote
it seems to be styled after two remnants of the original Yuchi and TR guns?
Those and one other. The barrel is a direct copy of the Wilson marked barrel on Reeves Goehring's  "10 shilling" gun. The barrel weighs 3 lbs and a few ounces, I don't have one on hand at the moment to give an exact weight.
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Leatherbelly

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2009, 03:20:23 AM »
What a sweet lookin smoothie/Trade gun! Is it ever light!
Quote: "But the whole gun is right @ 6lbs"
ouch!
 Let us know how she performs.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #21 on: May 27, 2009, 04:01:11 AM »
I believe the lightest one I have built was  5 lbs and 14oz. not bad for a gun with a 4' barrel.
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MikeC

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #22 on: May 27, 2009, 06:43:27 PM »
Quote from: Mike Brooks on May 27, 2009, 04:01:11 AM
I believe the lightest one I have built was  5 lbs and 14oz. not bad for a gun with a 4' barrel.
Mike...That may be the LH one you built for me.  I believe you said it finished at just under 6lbs.
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Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #23 on: May 27, 2009, 09:33:04 PM »
How do these shoot? I'm embarrassed to say I have never had one around long enough to try it out.
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Re: Just finished.."Mike Brooks Type G Kit"
« Reply #24 on: May 27, 2009, 10:02:49 PM »
Quote from: Mike Brooks on May 27, 2009, 09:33:04 PM
How do these shoot? I'm embarrassed to say I have never had one around long enough to try it out.
Great for upland game, barrel is long but it swings and shoulders nicely, nice shot patterns also.  Shooting balls on the other hand scares me a bit.  Kicks pretty hard with hunting loads and the shape of the comb causes the cheek to get abused a little.  Needless to say I load it light for target use only when shooting balls.  I'm one who believes if you have a rifle and hunting large game, use the rifle.  All in all I love it!!!!!!!
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