Isaac Haines build

[577SXS]

  Just finished my latest project. Its an Isaac Haines that I built from a blank I got from Allen Martin. Allen sent the blank to a friend to have barrel channel, ramrod hole and butt rough shaped. I bought the parts from Chambers. This gun has a 58 caliber Colerain barrel on it. I've bought 2 Colerain barrels and don't plan on ever buying another. Roughest finish I've ever seen on outside of barrel. Bores look good but that exterior was a lot of work to smooth out. The finish looked like the cutter was chipped and dull. Beside that the flats looked like a wash board road. Anyway the wood turned out beautiful. It was really soft wood and I was worried when I started carving it but I was able to get it done without any major tear outs. I used the Double Gun Journal CCL traditional English oil finish on it. This is the best finish I've ever used and highly recommend it. It does take a while but the end result is worth it. There is almost zero build up of finish, its all in the wood.
  Now I know its not an exact Isaac Haines but I did copy most of the carving from my favorite Isaac Haines original. The Eagles are from a Nathaniel Vogler gun and can't remember where I saw the toe plate but I liked it.  I started playing with engraving the metal parts and my engraving is like a woman, "The further away you are the better it looks". The side plate I had to make from scratch twice. The first one turned out to be some kind of copper plate instead of brass. I had engraved it before I knew metal wasn't brass, I did think something didn't quite look right. I had already inletted it too! I was a bear to shape the second one for a close fit. I've never been a fan of patch boxes so I just shaped the wood to kinda look like a patch box and carved the engraving pattern off a Haines gun.

Sam

[rich pierce]

Very nicely done! By the quality of the carving one would think you worked some rock hard wood.

[Craig Wilcox]

I'd be proud to carry it in the woods or at the range - good work, Sam.

[Bob McBride]

Nicely done Sam. Pretty piece of wood too.

[David Price]

Some one that doesn't know is going to wonder how you got the stripe in the curly maple to line up so perfectly on the patch box.    Then they are going to go crazy trying to open it.

If this is your first build you did an amazing job.

David Price

[577SXS]

Thanks for the compliments! This is my 5th longrifle build. its the 4th that I've carved. Getting a little better each time.

[577SXS]

The scary part was inletting that eagle. Those little pieces of wood out there all by their self every time I wiggled it out. The little chip came after I had finished the stock and was wiping it down with a rag! Dummy!!! When I bought the blank from Allen I never read the part about it being soft! I sure found out when I started carving. Called it my styrofoam stock. I'm so glad I got this flawed blank because the figure is incredible.

[Kingsburyarms]

Looks Great - I like the Faux Box/Patch box.... Like David Price said - there would be no way possible to get a piece of wood to match so closely - the description says why - Nice looking gun.

Thank you for posting -

Jon

[TommyG]

Very nicely done.  Your carving looks great for any piece of wood, soft or otherwise.  Beautiful finish.  I like the faceted comb, different for sure.

[577SXS]

  The one reason I never liked patch boxes is that they covered up beautiful wood. Maybe I'll try a patch box sometime. I've seen a couple that I like. The faceted comb idea I got from a rifle in one of the longrifle books I have. That gun had three flats running the length of the comb. When I was shaping the comb I started following the lines of the top of the butt plate and liked the look so I kept going with it.
  My biggest problem is still getting the carvings smoothed and sanded in all the details. I've tried everything I can think of. I see the flaws after the finish is almost done. I tried different angles of lighting that show a lot but still once finish is on those rough areas jump out. I've glue lots of sand paper to dowels, stir sticks and many other things to try and get the details sanded. I understand metal but wood has always given me fits!

[Mike Brooks]

I file Colerain barrels crosswise before I draw file them. Saves alot of time.

[577SXS]

Mike I had to length wise file the Colerain barrels to get the wash board out. I then filed the worst places at a 45 degree angle to barrel then draw filed it.

[TommyG]

yes, the task of detailing and leveling carving seems to have no shortcuts, at least for me.  I try and use small scrapers that I make from broken needle files, spring stock, etc. as much as I can, then from there to the folded sandpaper, glued dowels, etc..  I'm carving a Haines right now, it's my third week into carving - I guess I work slow.

[Ed Wenger]

Something that might help with exposing rough areas is to give the stock a wash of greatly diluted yellow food coloring.  Dilute with alcohol.  It’ll expose scratches / rough areas well, and won’t interfere with staining.  Best,


         Ed

[577SXS]

Thanks Ed, I'll give that a try. Not sure I've ever heard of doing that before.

Sam

[Daryl]

Some one that doesn't know is going to wonder how you got the stripe in the curly maple to line up so perfectly on the patch box.    Then they are going to go crazy trying to open it.

If this is your first build you did an amazing job.

David Price

LOL - that was my first thought - WOW - perfectly matched grain, how the *&%#$ did he do that? Then, wait a second, that's a VERY narrow lid. COOL! well done.