Matching up the wood grain and stripe on a sliding wood patch box.

[David Price]

We all try to match up the stripe in the  stock to the sliding wood patch box as close as we can,  and sometime we can get it close.  I have attached a picture of a rifle that was built by William Slussher from PA.  He has a table next to me at Dixon's and I consider him one of the best .  I thought about this rifle when I read the post from 577SSX.  Bill Slusser told me that he actually used the piece of wood that was directly above where the patch box would be.

When I'm at Dixon's I am fortunate to have Bill Slusser's table next to me on my right and Keith Casteel on my left. Talent every where you look !!!

[Ed Wenger]

That’s amazing, David!  Bill is a very talented guy, no doubt.  Wire work is phenomenal.  Best,


           Ed

[smallpatch]

Wow, Bill makes great detail knives as well.

[577SXS]

Beautiful work and you can open that one!

[t.caster]

Wow, what a piece of wood!!!! It's mezzmerising! I is rare to have enough wood thickness in the butt area to slice off a piece for a patchbox. It is usually cut from the muzzle end of the stock and the growth rings are usually running in a different direction up there. I look at the direction of the growth rings and get the box oriented in a similar direction so it stains the same way. If you can't match the stripes closely, use a piece with less figure than the stock, not more, I was taught.

Here is one I made from some of Ron Scott's Circ. Walnut that worked out well.

[Craig Wilcox]

Tom, you ain't a slouch when it comes to matching wood yourself. And did you plan for the aft-end carving to resemble a "happy bird"?

Great looking work, for sure.

[t.caster]

Tom, you ain't a slouch when it comes to matching wood yourself. And did you plan for the aft-end carving to resemble a "happy bird"?

Great looking work, for sure.

Thanks Craig, was trying for a wise old OWL, but it may have ended up more like Daffy Duck! That's OK, I always like old Daffy. Haha

[Marcruger]

Those matched wood boxes are amazing.  Wow. 

Ed Wenger, you might know a thing or two about wire inlay yourself!

God Bless,  Marc

[David Price]

Tom,
You are exactly right.  If you can't get the  stripe to match or at least angle in the same direction you are better off to use a plain piece of wood for the box lid.

Nothing looks worse, If the stripes are gong in a different angle,  that is all you will see when looking at the rifle.

David Price

[Craig Wilcox]

Since I have just ordered one of Ron Scott's walnut stocks, I am glad I really have a nice piece of walnut to look forward to.

And it DOES look like a "happy" old owl, for sure!  Job well done.

[bama]

If I am building a wood patch box gun I like to have an extra wide stock, in the 2 3/4" to 3" range in thickness. You can usually get the lid grain to match up if you cut the lid from the side of the butt stock if you lay everything out well. It is easier said than done but doable.
 Those are some beautiful guns you posted Dave. It is great to see all the talented people's work that is being built today.

[smallpatch]

That is truly an amazing piece of wood, the match is phenomenal!

[Stophel]

I can usually, but not always, cut the patchbox lid from the area of the stock blank that it cut away from underneath the wrist of the stock, kinda where the triggerguard would be.  That way, the grain is running the right direction and facing the right direction.  Not much room there, and it might take some pretty careful sawing to get a big enough piece.

[David Price]

bama,
That rifle was not one that I built. It was built by Bill Slusser.

I have attached one that I just finished for a friend up in VT.  A swivel breach, of course.  I thought the stripe matched pretty good on that one but it is no where near Slusser's gun.


Tom,
You are correct that is an amazing piece of wood. Several years ago Fred Miller gave me a piece of wood that he called black maple.  I never heard of it but it sure looks like the same wood Bill Slusser used.  I don't have any more of that same wood so I am thinking about putting an Ebony patch box door on it.  I believe John Bivins built one that way.  I hate to cover up that beautiful grain.  Another option is to not have any patch box at all.  I am interested two hear what you and others on there forum think.

David Price

[smallpatch]

David,
I wouldn't cover it up.  I just finished a Lehigh that turned into somewhat of a schimmel because I didn't want to hide the figure.

[RVAH-7]

Other than a couple of my own guns, I'm not a builder, just hunt with flinters.  But I enjoy this forum almost daily to gaze at the beautiful work or art that you folks create from scratch. I've learned SO much just following along. Thank you for sharing Mr. Slusser's incredible firearm and also the super stock Mr. Price is working on.  To view these pictures after supper is like dessert to me.

[flatsguide]

Is ebony too hard or brittle to silver inlay? If not, maybe a discreet minimum of wire inlay may look nice in the ebony.
Cheers R

[acorn20]

David, that stock is gorgeous!  I like looking at figured wood and that piece is simply unbelievable.  I'm glad it's you and not me deciding whether to put a patch box on it. 

[Dave Marsh]

David,
I wouldn't cover it up.  I just finished a Lehigh that turned into somewhat of a schimmel because I didn't want to hide the figure.

+1 for me.  That wood is gorgeous.

Dave

[sdilts]

A patchbox would stand out like a sore thumb.

[t.caster]

Wowser, I'd hate to put a pb on that piece, David. That's a tuff choice to make. Why don't you just ship it to me and move on to the next one.

[Kingsburyarms]

David... I would go no patchbox.... so beautiful

[David Price]

sdilts,
I think you are right, a black patch box would stand out like a sore thumb.  Cancel that idea.

flagsquide,
I tried a little silver wire in ebony today.  It could be done but it would be quite a job. The piece of ebony I have is really hard and I don't think the water would swell the wood back in  enough to hold the wire in place.   I may try it out on another project though.

Tom it is a hard choice.  I laid a curley maple patch box boor on it just to see how that would look.  I don't think it looks all that bad.  I am attaching a picture you can tell me what you think.  I am also including a picture of a deer antler patch box that I did on a Jeager several years ago. Just one more option.

kingsuryuryarms,
Jon,
I think I am leaning toward no patch box.  This will be a gun for myself so I can do anything I want.  I'm thinking no patch box with two smooth bore barrels.  I have plenty of time to think about it .  I have orders for three top of the line swivel breach rifles that I must finish before Fall so I have plenty of time to think of it.  One of them is almost done now .  My gun will be next winters project.

David Price

[sdilts]

David, what kind of stain did you put on this gorgeous piece of wood?

Steve

[Marcruger]

David, my opinion would be to leave that piece of wood with no box, unless you have a matching piece for a wood lid.  God Bless,  Marc