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Author Topic: Finished Little Fella's Rifle  (Read 2813 times)

Offline smart dog

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Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« on: December 27, 2018, 11:03:21 PM »
Hi,
I just finished this little rifle.  It is for an older target shooter who cannot hold a heavy gun anymore.  He is of small stature so this little rifle should work out. I installed a Lyman front globe sight and I modified a Johnson peep sight to give him some elevation adjustment. While I prefer original looking sights, I have to admit the sight picture is awesome. The gun is 50 cal and the stock is fairly plain maple. I tweaked the shape of the stock to be a bit more "early Reading" and carved the simple designs found on those guns.  The stock was stained with ferric nitrate and finished with Sutherland-Welles polymerized tung oil. I modified the Siler lock plate and made a replacement side plate more consistent with Reading guns. This is the first kit gun I've built from the start. It was fun but I much prefer working from a blank so the gun is really my own work, good and bad.  Enjoy.

dave















 
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Offline msellers

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2018, 11:08:24 PM »
Dave,

That is one impressive piece. I like the subtle changes you amde. Should be a sweet shooter, and make for an impressive conversation piece. Would make a fine hunting rifle as well if one was in practice and put slightly larger apertures in the sights.
Mike
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Offline hanshi

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2018, 11:17:04 PM »
I really like how you built that rifle.  Can I call it "cute"?
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Offline Top Jaw

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2018, 11:25:14 PM »
I’d say you did make that your own work in the end!  Nice touches throughout.
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Offline Lucky R A

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2018, 11:34:28 PM »
Hi Dave,
      Was the kit supplied with the tombstone hardware, did you modify it or supply your own?   The reason I ask is that I have very seldom seen any Berks Co. guns with tombstone hardware.   I worked on one original  piece that had such, it was from southern Berks Co. not that far west of Bucks Co.  I always thought that it was a "crossover gun."
      I like the idea of the sights for the more senior members to continue enjoying making smoke..   Well done.

Ron
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2018, 12:11:10 AM »
Hi
Thanks folks.  Ron, the guard came with the kit.  I don't care for the butt plate or guard. I really would have liked the Berks guard designed by David Dodds but then the set triggers would not fit.   I did manage to get rid of the English fowler side plate and make a better Berks Co one.  Thanks for looking and commenting.

dave
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Offline davebozell

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2018, 03:53:18 AM »
I'm impressed with how close you were able to get the ramrod to the bottom of the barrel.  Usually, precarved kits have a lot of room between them.  Very nice job.  If you hadn't told us it was built from a kit, I would have thought you built it from a blank.
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2018, 08:36:21 AM »
Beautiful work Dave!  The carving is just right, and I am impressed (but not surprised) how well the peep sight turned out.  Another fine gun, glad you posted it.

Curtis
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline thecapgunkid

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2018, 12:48:04 PM »
beautiful
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Offline flehto

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2018, 03:27:43 PM »
The carving behind the cheek piece is simple but it fills that space so elegantly. Your workmanship is beyond reproach......Fred
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Offline SingleMalt

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2018, 04:38:34 PM »
I think you've done a fine job, Dave.  The carving is just enough, and earlier Berks rifles weren't heavily carved anyway.  The problem with early Berks rifles is the lack of guards and buttplates.  They're more interesting than other schools and have beautiful lines.
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2018, 05:10:16 PM »
Thanks everybody,
Dave, the ramrod fit was by design.  It did have a substantial gap between the rod and muzzle.  My solution was to realize the rod flexes and the channel and hole for the ramrod can curve a little. Therefore, I chiseled out the ramrod groove so the web of wood thinned toward the muzzle.

dave
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Offline James Rogers

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2018, 05:25:48 PM »
Very nice transformation!
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Offline tlallijr

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2018, 05:46:50 PM »
Looks great Dave,  I enjoyed following your updates of this build.  Tony
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Offline P.W.Berkuta

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2018, 07:10:46 PM »
Man - O - Man -- that is one FINE rifle in all respects ;) 8) 8)!!! I love it and when I get done with my 1/2 dozen or so other rifles I WILL be building one similar to this - absolutely love the sights ;D ;) :).
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Offline TommyG

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Re: Finished Little Fella's Rifle
« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2018, 12:02:31 AM »
Dave, Very well done!!!  That's a little fella's rifle that any big fella wouldn't mind having..   Great job! 
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