This is a Dickert influenced rifle I recently completed. I used a .50 caliber Rice barrel, Southern Classic profile, primarily because the person I built it for wanted a slim, lighter rifle. The lock is a Chambers. The butt piece is one of Mike Brooks castings, and the trigger guard is one available commercially.
The wood was supplied by the customer. Although the photos don’t do it justice, it’s a pretty spectacular piece of wood. I used a tannic acid wash, then iron nitrate to stain, then finished with teak oil varnish. To be honest, I’m personally not a big fan of highly figured wood. It’s typically harder to work and carve, and the carving tends to get lost in all the figure. I prefer a hard blank, with little curl. Something that can be shaded, toned, and highlighted, and can be used as a canvas to show carving. I kept the carving very simple on this one, all based on Dickert’s work, with just a little engraving on the lock cock.
I’d be happy to answer any questions anyone might have...
Ed
This is the carving behind the cheek, before finishing.
The finished rifle:
