Author Topic: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit (Read 54892 times)

Daryl · « **Reply #200 on:** May 04, 2020, 08:48:18 PM »

Curtis - THAT is special - very nice indeed.

Gunnermike · « **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

Craig Wilcox · « **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.

Curtis · « **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

Curtis · « **Reply #204 on:** May 05, 2020, 06:53:08 AM »

Sorry Craig, I was apparently writing the previous post while you were posting!

Curtis

Craig Wilcox · « **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.

Curtis · « **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

Chowmi · « **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.

snapper · « **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

Craig Wilcox · « **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.

Clowdis · « **Reply #210 on:** May 06, 2020, 03:29:45 PM »

The flat top checkering is well done Curtis. Good job!!

Curtis · « **Reply #211 on:** May 07, 2020, 06:52:16 AM »

Thanks guys! Norm, I'll take a shot of that single malt now please....

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!

And thanks for sending the bullets, you are a good man.

Curtis

Curtis · « **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

Daryl · « **Reply #213 on:** May 07, 2020, 06:08:12 PM »

Nicely done, Curtis, very nicely done.

Kingsburyarms · « **Reply #214 on:** May 07, 2020, 06:58:07 PM »

Absolutely Beautiful - Well done - Way above my pay grade....

Richard · « **Reply #215 on:** May 07, 2020, 07:56:08 PM »

Wow! That finish brought it to life. Very nice work.

Curtis · « **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

Curtis · « **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

Curtis · « **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

Bob Roller · « **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

flintlock hunter · « **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.

Daryl · « **Reply #221 on:** May 21, 2020, 04:54:34 AM »

That is REALLY nice work, Curtis.

J. Talbert · « **Reply #222 on:** May 21, 2020, 05:25:56 AM »

Curtis,
Just checking out the progress.
First class all the way!

Jeff

Curtis · « **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

flatsguide · « **Reply #224 on:** May 21, 2020, 07:58:43 AM »

Go to the head of the class!
CheersRichard

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Author Topic: Building an Alexander Henry Target Rifle from a Rod England Kit (Read 54892 times)