Wickham & Matthews Rifle

[Niall Sadler]

I just recently completed a rifle not commonly replicated. I did it from pictures of the Wickham and Matthews rifles I have downloaded over the years plus a little bit of my own interpretation. The rifle has a .54 Rice barrel and a Chambers Classic Ketland Lock. The stock is from a piece of stump wood supplied by Harrison Gunstocks.  I hope you enjoy the pictures. Cheers Niall

[Mikecooper]

What is stump wood ?   

[rollingb]

Beautiful rifle. 

[n stephenson]

Nice work sir!

[t.caster]

Very nice! Not many know of Wickham & Mathews rifles.
I built one of those W & M rifles back around 1990 based on pics in "The Kentucky Rifle" book by KRA (pg. 89). They must have been very closely associated with the John Armstrong style. Did mine in german silver with a .45 cal x 44" Getz barrel and a modified L&R Bedford flintlock & dbl. set triggers.

[Lucky R A]

     I have an 1816 flintlock military musket which was built by M.T. Wickham, any relationship to the Wickham that worked with Matthews?   

[Ky-Flinter]

What is stump wood ?

A stock cut from the base of the tree where it widens out, and even underground a bit.  Usually has pleasing grain flow and figure.

-Ron

[brokenflint]

And tuff as he.. on chainsaw chains and chisels etx if there is a bunch of grit in them

[smart dog]

Hi Ron,
Marine T. Wickham (1781-1833) was a master armorer at Harpers Ferry and Schuykill Arsenal in Philadelphia. He was trained by John Armstrong and built a few highly carved long rifles with a gunsmith named Matthews.  He worked at HF during 1808-1811 and then moved to the Schuykill Arsenal as a chief inspector.  He designed the US model 1814 contract rifle that was eventually modified to become the 1817 Common rifle.

dave

[t.caster]

This is the one I built in the late 90s. Sorry for the picture quality....it is a pic of a photo. I might have more pics but they are locked up on Photobucket. It is a long, slender rifle.

[Niall Sadler]

Very nice rifle Tom. I am wondering where you got the pattern for the toe plate. I made mine up. Thanks for the comments as well. Cheers Niall

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Niall:  great to see you still turning out lovely rifles.

I know you like to leave the cut feel of engraving, but I have a suggestion I'd like to see you try.  Take a practice piece of brass, and engrave a design.  Now soak a cloth pad with Birchwood Casey's Super Blue and wipe down the brass, making it all black.  Now polish off the brass again with 400 grit wet/dry and see if you like the effect.  Your engraving will pop, and although it now won't have the cut feel, I think you might like the way your engraving is more alive.  I used to do as you are doing now, but have changed over completely to the darkened cuts, and I personally think it has a better effect.

[t.caster]

Niall,  I referred to pics of Armstrong's rifles for clues to the hidden details.

[Osprey]

Nice!  Love to see Maryland rifles!