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Author Topic: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit  (Read 54874 times)

Offline Daryl

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #200 on: May 04, 2020, 08:48:18 PM »
Curtis - THAT is special - very nice indeed. ;D
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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Gunnermike

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #201 on: May 04, 2020, 09:34:29 PM »
Quote from: Craig Wilcox on May 04, 2020, 04:13:17 PM
Can you show us your mullering tool - or did I miss it in the plethora of remarks?  Never came upon the term before.
Craig, Curtis shows how he makes the mullering tool in Reply #196.

Mike
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Offline Craig Wilcox

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #202 on: May 05, 2020, 06:50:12 AM »
Thanks, Mike - sure appreciate that.

Curtis is getting to make a lot of nifty tools.  And I am probably going to run out of O-1 drill rod and W-1 rectangular!

Got my metal checkering file today, so I can practice before checkering those hammers.
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Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #203 on: May 05, 2020, 06:51:05 AM »
Quote from: Gunnermike on May 04, 2020, 09:34:29 PM
Quote from: Craig Wilcox on May 04, 2020, 04:13:17 PM
Can you show us your mullering tool - or did I miss it in the plethora of remarks?  Never came upon the term before.
Craig, Curtis shows how he makes the mullering tool in Reply #196.

Mike

Craig, Mike is correct, and here is a direct link to post #196: https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=55149.msg597328#msg597328

Basically I just made an ovoid, bi-directional cutting float. My first and only previous checkering job I did the mullered border using a gouge, a file and sandpaper wrapped around a dowel.  So far the tool is much easier and faster to work with, though I will probably have to use something else to finish out the ends and angled intersections of border.

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #204 on: May 05, 2020, 06:53:08 AM »
Sorry Craig, I was apparently writing the previous post while you were posting!  ::)

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Craig Wilcox

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #205 on: May 05, 2020, 10:39:03 PM »
Not a problem, Curtis.  I was chuckling about you and those "mitered" corners!  I think that is where the little gouges come into play.

Truly enjoying your project.  Day-dreaming about how it is going to shoot with those PP bullets.  You are probably going to revert a bit, and wrap a canvas patch around them.
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Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #206 on: May 06, 2020, 07:38:54 AM »
Craig, I am certainly looking forward to shooting it!  Hope I can hit the barn....

I worked some more on the borders today, here is what I came up with so far:











Westbj2 had sent me some images of original period checkering, below is a particularly good example:



Upon close examination it appeared to me that there was a tiny flat line in the valleys between the rows of checks.  Jim agreed, and thought perhaps resulted from using a burnishing tool.  It could also be caused by the shape of the checkering tool used.  I decided to use a flat bottom checkering tool, made .015 wide - I think it helped make the checkering look more like the original in the photo.













Thanks for looking,
Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Chowmi

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #207 on: May 06, 2020, 07:43:43 AM »
Curtis,
That’s wonderful work! 
I can’t carve 2 parallel lines, not to mention 10 curving parallel lines! 

This site humbles me to no end.

Back to the single malt whiskey it is! 

Norm.
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Cheers,
Chowmi

NMLRA
CLA

Offline snapper

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #208 on: May 06, 2020, 02:31:27 PM »
Curtis

How many lines per inch did you go with?

Also, your bullets are in the mail.

Fleener
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Offline Craig Wilcox

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #209 on: May 06, 2020, 03:28:42 PM »
Whooooo- Hoooooo, Curtis!  I believe that you've nailed it.  Both the checkering and the border look excellent, and I know all the pains-taking work that went into it.  Brush in some finishing oil and you're done!

So, now you are an expert, and we are looking forward to skip-line checkering, and a basket-weave design.  Wouldn't wish the latter on any man, woman, or child, but there are work-a-holics out there who indulge themselves.
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Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline Clowdis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #210 on: May 06, 2020, 03:29:45 PM »
The flat top checkering is well done Curtis. Good job!!
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #211 on: May 07, 2020, 06:52:16 AM »
Thanks guys!  Norm, I'll take a shot of that single malt now please....  8)

Quote from: snapper on May 06, 2020, 02:31:27 PM
Curtis

How many lines per inch did you go with?

Also, your bullets are in the mail.

Fleener

Art, 18 lpi.  I you would read the text and not just look at the pictures you would know that!  8) And thanks for sending the bullets, you are a good man.

Curtis
« Last Edit: May 07, 2020, 07:13:02 AM by Curtis »
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #212 on: May 07, 2020, 07:29:26 AM »
Put a light coat of LMF sealer (with a few drops of LMF maple stain in it) on to seal it, then hit it repeatedly with a toothbrush after it soaked in a bit.  I can see a couple of spots on the borders that need a bit of touch up now that is has a bit of shine to it. Next I will be moving on to the forestock.....











Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Daryl

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #213 on: May 07, 2020, 06:08:12 PM »
Nicely done, Curtis, very nicely done.
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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Kingsburyarms

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #214 on: May 07, 2020, 06:58:07 PM »
Absolutely Beautiful - Well done - Way above my pay grade.... 
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Offline Richard

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #215 on: May 07, 2020, 07:56:08 PM »
Wow! That finish brought it to life. Very nice work.
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #216 on: May 09, 2020, 07:52:05 AM »
Thanks fellers.  Kingsbury - I'm pretty sure its above my pay grade as well!  Takes me a week to do what someone who knows what the are doing can do in an afternoon!

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #217 on: May 09, 2020, 07:56:26 AM »
Layin' down some more lines.....  Getting a little faster at it, but not much.  ::)








Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #218 on: May 20, 2020, 07:24:45 AM »
Had some more shop time this week, made good progress on the forestock.  I still have a little more work to do on the borders, as well as some cleanup. 

Using an 18th century style checkering tool:









After the checkering was finished I ran the flat-bottom tool in all the grooves.  It is a pain to go over all those lines again, but in my opinion it really makes the checkering look more period, and makes the checks look taller.






Made a new mullering tool and modified one previously made to get into the corners of the borders better.







What I have so far:





When I finish up the forestock I will go back and do a little more work on the pistol grip borders.

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 Bob Roller

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #219 on: May 20, 2020, 02:41:29 PM »
Outstanding craftsmanship from an incredibly talented craftsman that
makes me wish I had put more  effort into wood working.

Bob Roller
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Offline flintlock hunter

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #220 on: May 20, 2020, 10:36:27 PM »
I have checkered a lot of guns, and all can say is fantastic work. And making your on tools only makes it so much better.
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Barry

Offline Daryl

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #221 on: May 21, 2020, 04:54:34 AM »
That is REALLY nice work, Curtis.
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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline J. Talbert

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #222 on: May 21, 2020, 05:25:56 AM »
Curtis,
Just checking out the progress.
First class all the way!

Jeff
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #223 on: May 21, 2020, 07:35:21 AM »
Thanks guys for all the good words!  This checkering thing is a lot of tedious work for certain.  Really changes how the rifle looks though!

Quote from: flintlock hunter on May 20, 2020, 10:36:27 PM
I have checkered a lot of guns, and all can say is fantastic work. And making your on tools only makes it so much better.

Thanks again, flintlock hunter.  One thing I can add about making your own tools - I couldn't help but notice that my shop made tools stayed sharp much, much longer than any of the commercial tools I used in the process.  I think it might be worthwhile to experiment with annealing, re-harden and heat treating commercial tools before using them. 

I found I could resharpen the commercial tools (I have a mix of Dembart and Gunline tools) using a diamond sharpener, but had to do it numerous times during layout etc.  I only sharpened my main shop-made checkering tool once while cutting the forearm checks.

Curtis
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Curtis Allinson
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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 flatsguide

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Re: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit
« Reply #224 on: May 21, 2020, 07:58:43 AM »
Go to the head of the class!
CheersRichard
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