Author Topic: William Antes pistol build (Read 2987 times)

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **on:** November 18, 2018, 02:27:10 AM »

I posted a photo last fall of a barrel that I had profiled for this pistol build. My intention was to build it over the winter for my son, but back issues and life got in the way, so I didn't get to start on it until about 2 weeks ago. I chose to loosely copy a William Antes pistol because he is my 4th or 5th great Uncle. The buttcap and pipes are from Brad Emig and I copied the barrel profile from a W. Antes pistol that he made. I still have some shaping and refining to do. He are some photos of what I have done so far.

I also have some refining the do on the triggerguard to make it more Antes like.
Thanks, Mark

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2018, 02:52:19 AM »

This is my first pistol build and I knew from a number of comments here that pistols are hard to hold on to. My barrel is .62 caliber smoothbore, so I made a mandrel to grip the barrel from the bore. I also made a couple of support stands to mount next to my vise. Here are a couple of photos.

I used a large tapered pin and a piece of all thread for a drawbolt.

Thanks Mark

J. Talbert · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2018, 03:21:36 AM »

Looking pretty attractive so far.

I like it,
Jeff

bama · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2018, 04:25:04 AM »

Mark, I like the pistol and the support design. I do something similar but I have never thought to make a support to stick in the bore. That is a great idea, thanks for sharing this.

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2018, 04:52:57 PM »

You are doing a great job on that pistol, and the bore piece to hold it is pure genius!

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2018, 04:53:39 PM »

Thank you Jeff and Jim for the kind words.
Mark

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2018, 04:54:38 PM »

Thank you, Craig.
Mark

P.W.Berkuta · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2018, 06:47:52 PM »

It's refreshing to see a pistol being built

. We see all kinds of rifles & smoothbores here but not many pistoles and your's is a fine one indeed

.

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2018, 01:05:35 AM »

Thank you P.W. Berkuta for the kind words. It would be nice to see more pistols here. I am really enjoying this build.
Mark

smallpatch · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2018, 04:31:40 AM »

Aw come on, NO ONE likes building a pistol.
I love em when they're done, but I hate building em.

Daryl · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2018, 06:33:36 AM »

This one was fun - Taylor put it together - all I had to do was to sand and finish it.

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2018, 07:19:59 AM »

Some really nice looking pistols, Dane and Daryl. Thank you for the replies.
Mark

elk killer · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2018, 03:38:58 PM »

The long and short of it...

Mike Lyons · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2018, 04:44:53 PM »

All of those are very nice. I wasn't interested in the pistols at all and now they are starting to grow on me. When does it end?

jerrywh · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2018, 06:04:31 PM »

For many years I built long guns but then found that pistols sold a lot faster than long guns and they were easier to transport. Now all I do is pistols. And I hold them the same as Penn. Duchman does. By the bore with a mandrel. The only thing I can see wrong with his setup is he can't walk all the way around the vise. I sit on a stool in the middle of the floor and can roll all the way around the pistol in the setup. Highly engraved pistols with wire work will sell for $25,000 fast as you can make them.

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #15 on:** November 19, 2018, 06:13:04 PM »

I built two pistols last year. The first was from a kit that my customer supplied. Very easy build, the walnut took the high-gloss finish well, and he was happy with the result.

The second was not from a kit. Had a good piece of Oregon walnut, fixed up a 16+" barrel. My son was delighted with it, shows it off to everyone. I put square checkering on the butt, with silver buttons in the middle of each square. You do have to use two hands, one on the butt, and one on the forestock, but it shoots very well.

The problem with both is that they were percussion. So, for a flinter, I am building an MBS "Herman Rupp" kit. Health probs makes the work very slow, but I am sure enjoying the heck out of the build.

And yes, I would like to build a few more pistols. The skills that I have been learning will stand me in good stead.

smallpatch · « **Reply #16 on:** November 19, 2018, 06:16:23 PM »

Afghan,
This addiction, like so many others, only ends when you do.

Daryl · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2018, 01:20:22 AM »

Quote from: jerrywh on November 19, 2018, 06:04:31 PM

For many years I built long guns but then found that pistols sold a lot faster than long guns and they were easier to transport. Now all I do is pistols. And I hold them the same as Penn. Duchman does. By the bore with a mandrel. The only thing I can see wrong with his setup is he can't walk all the way around the vise. I sit on a stool in the middle of the floor and can roll all the way around the pistol in the setup. Highly engraved pistols with wire work will sell for $25,000 fast as you can make them.

Pictures please, Jerry if you would be so kind.

jerrywh · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2018, 04:57:29 AM »

Daryl.
Here is one of them. Some of the pistols I did were in Muzzleblast a few months ago. Nobody seemed to pay much attention to them at the time. They been on the web so long I think they are getting boring. I'm working on two of them now but I can't show one on here because it isn't traditional. It is a Walker colt with a portrait of Walker on the cylinder. It is going to Vegas in January.
I might post a photo of a flat plate portrait on the back fence tomorrow. The other one is not far enough along yet. It is a double French flint with gold framed bolino scenes on the butt-plate and locks and floral bouquets in gold lattices on the barrels -plus wire work. Hope I live to finish it.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2018, 05:11:27 AM »

Quote from: Afghanvet on November 19, 2018, 04:44:53 PM

All of those are very nice. I wasn't interested in the pistols at all and now they are starting to grow on me. When does it end?

IT DONT !!!! told ya it is an addiction,a good one tho,unless the wife complains about the coat closet full of longrifles and stocks/parts. hahahaha.Have a goodun,y'all !! Dave

Rolf · « **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2018, 11:20:36 AM »

I like building pistols, espeally pairs. Made 11 pistols an 2 rifle sofar. Like building pistols betterthan rifles-
Your antes pistol looks great!!

Best regards
Rolf

Pennsylvania Dutchman · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2018, 10:33:16 PM »

Thank you all for the kind words and the beautiful pistol photos. Afghanvet, longrifles have always been more interesting to me also until I started this build. They are addictive. They do have their own challenges. I cut the stock for this pistol from the same board that I cut my smoothrifle stock from. I have the grain running at an angle thru the fore end to give the grip more strength which made the barrel inletting a lot more interesting. I think that I spent almost as much time inletting the 10" barrel in this pistol stock as I did the 42" octagon to round barrel for my smoothrifle. Inletting the trigger guard rear extension was also a challenge because of the grain and the curvature of the grip. I don't have any chisels with a curved shank to work with the grain from the butt toward the trigger. Overall this has been a fun build and I would do it again. I have an 1805 Harpers Ferry pistol to build next for my youngest son.
Thanks again, Mark

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2018, 12:30:04 AM »

.... well you asked for more pistols,... Here is mine that I have owned about 45 years,... not marked but has been attributed by two separate sources (builders who worked with him) to Hacker Martin, with engraving by Lester Smith,... most likely built in early 1950's,.... .45cal rifled 11" bbl, maple, with engraved silver decoration,.... Regards,... Cades Cove Fiddler .......

Terry Reynolds · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2018, 01:47:27 AM »

Quote from: jerrywh on November 20, 2018, 04:57:29 AM

Daryl.
Here is one of them. Some of the pistols I did were in Muzzleblast a few months ago. Nobody seemed to pay much attention to them at the time. They been on the web so long I think they are getting boring. I'm working on two of them now but I can't show one on here because it isn't traditional. It is a Walker colt with a portrait of Walker on the cylinder. It is going to Vegas in January.
I might post a photo of a flat plate portrait on the back fence tomorrow. The other one is not far enough along yet. It is a double French flint with gold framed bolino scenes on the butt-plate and locks and floral bouquets in gold lattices on the barrels -plus wire work. Hope I live to finish it.

jerrywh, I'll be in Vegas Jan. 22-25 for SHOT Show, will the Walker Colt be there?

digger658

jerrywh · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2018, 03:34:39 AM »

digger. Come by my table. The walker colt will be there. I could win a prize or two but it is not my top work because I have been very sick and disabled for about a year and a half.
When you come by I will have a friend there whom I have been coaching. He will be a great engraver pretty soon. Identify yourself because I have no idea what you look like. I'll be the ugliest person there. FAT OLD MAN.

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Author Topic: William Antes pistol build (Read 2987 times)