In the style of John Jacob Sheetz

[bama]

Here are a few progress pictures of a rifle that I am building. This rifle is based on the John Jacob Sheetz rifle that Darrin and I built of the CLA Auction in 2013. This is not another copy of the battle of New Orleans rifle but I used the same barrel profile and length of that rifle and used that rifle for the stock profile. I used the same patch box design but changed up the engraving just a little.

I am just about through with the carving and included a few pictures to try to show what low relief that that both John Jacob and Martin Sheetz used on their rifles. I have not yet figured out exactly how the did their incised carving which looks like it was painted on. You can not even feel the cut and the incised line is black. The only thing I can think of is that when new the incised carving was not quite that smooth and that 200+ years of handling had made it feel that way. Mine will not be that smooth but I am trying to do the best that I can.

I included a close up of the engraving I of the boarder that I cut of the pattern that John Jacob Sheetz used on the battle of New Orleans rifle. I think that engraving turned out pretty well.

Thanks for looking

[wattlebuster]

wow. You think you might have this rifle at the show in Jan. If so I want to see it

[Angus]

Great work, that will be gorgeous!

[smylee grouch]

Looks like it will be a great rifle with a very interesting piece of wood.

[Jeff Durnell]

Dang. That's nice.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Turning into a lovely rifle Bama.  That spaulted maple seems to beg a very light stain finish...I like it.

[Ky-Flinter]

Really nice work Jim.  That's gonna be one handsome rifle.  I'm working on a spalted maple stock right now, so I will be interested to see your stain and finish work on this one. 

I'm wondering about the retainers of the patchbox side plates.  They don't appear to be screws.  Are they silver?  Pins of some sort?

...... I have not yet figured out exactly how the did their incised carving which looks like it was painted on. You can not even feel the cut and the incised line is black. The only thing I can think of is that when new the incised carving was not quite that smooth and that 200+ years of handling had made it feel that way. Mine will not be that smooth but I am trying to do the best that I can.

I've seen this on several antique long rifles and have wondered how to get that effect.  Looking forward to seeing her finished up.

-Ron

[David Rase]

Wonderful looking rifle Jim.  You are off to a great start.  Looking forward to seeing it finished.
David

[J. Talbert]

Looking good Jim.  That border looks great.
That's some wild wood.  Interested to see how it stains.

Jeff

[bama]

Thank you guys. The wood is a piece of stump cut Freddy Harrison's supply that I got from his son in law Nathan Cox. I was a little concerned about the spalting but it is very solid and hard and if all goes well I will be putting stain on it by Tuesday. I have tried a couple of different stains on some scrap pieces and so far the winner is aqua fortis but I have some of Jim Kibler's stuff that I will test before I make my mind up.

The side plates on the original were nailed on.  I used screws and filed the screw heads off at the final installation of the side plates. I then peened the screw shafts to round them a little and make them look like they were hammered into place.

Wattlebuster, I am sorry this rifle will be with it's new owner by the end of the month so I will not be able to to have it at the show in January.

I am going to to have Ric Lambert photograph it, so I will have good pictures of it to post. The

[Mike Brooks]

Well that's perty nifty. The spalting makes it look awful busy right now, but it should calm down and just about disappear once you get it stained. I have never built a gun from spalted maple, all the stuff I have come across was too soft, especially for carving. Interesting this one is obviously hard. You're engraving is outstanding. BTW, I believe that old incised carving that is just black lines now was just punched in with a gouge and that's it. I have done some of this in the past and that's the result.

[bama]

Mike if the wood had not been cut by Freddy I would have shyed away from it. Knowing Freddy and knowing how picky he was about his stock wood I was pretty sure it would be Ok and it was.

The incised craving on this rifle is only stamped in with my gouges and chisels. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will turn out like I want. We shall see.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  .... Almost as nice as the Charlie Bean re-creation that you built,..... but you know my preferences,... !!!!,..... Great job, Jim ....!!! ... See you in January,.... CCF ...

[Cory Joe Stewart]

That is fantastic.

[Daryl]

Special!

[B.Barker]

Jim, nice looking rifle. I'm like Mike the spalted maple I've seen has always been soft, except for the resin impregnated stuff.

[Don Adams]

Very nice work and very interesting stock. 

[bama]

B Barker, I have worked with 2 pieces of spalted wood. One peice of European Walnut and this piece of stump cut Maple. In both pieces the spalting was very hard, almost to the point of being brittle. I don't know if I just got lucky with these pieces or what but in both cases I have been happy with the final results.

[Ed Wenger]

Looking good, Jim.  Certainly a unique piece of wood, bet it’ll be a real eye catcher!



              Ed

[smart dog]

That is going to be a beauty, Jim and as others have said, an eye catcher.

dave

[Craig Wilcox]

Bama, I believe that the smooth-to-the-touch incised carving was filled with powdered charcoal.  Not real sure what they mixed in.  The work was sanded or scraped, then finished.

With my propensity for making messes, I am refraining from tackling that type of work.  And someplace in our archives are good details of how it was done.  However it was, it sure looks nice!

[bama]

Craig I have tried mixing and rubbing in a black pigment after staining and before applying finish but I can not get the defined black line that is on the originals. I am not totally convinced that some of this design is not painted on, not all of it but some. In some of it you can definitely tell that there is a gouge mark and that looks different in texture that the very smooth lines. As hard as I have tried to duplicate this technique I can not seem to get it. I am not giving up but I will not obtain it on this rifle unfortunately.  I also tried rubbing the pigment in before staining and still not get the defined black line. I can see more hours being spent on my scrap wood before I figure this process out. If you have some examples of what you tried I would love to see them.

Still searching

[Curtis]

Outstanding rifle there, Jim!

Curtis

[Marcruger]

Weeeee doggie.  That sure is pretty Jim.

Trying to find the right finish to put black in the carving sounds like the same issue with scrimshaw on horns.  Getting something in there that will fill and look good, not come out, and not stain the surrounding surfaces.  Tough situation.  I'll look forward to how you solve it. 

I think I'd be tempted to get the sealing finish into the incised cuts before trying to blacken them. That way if you need to change or modify, the black won't be down in the grain.  But what do I know?  You are the master! 

Best wishes and God Bless,   Marc

[t.caster]

WOW that's going to be a beaut! I can't wait to see it stained. I hope you don't go too dark and loose the spalt lines.