Wooden under ribs for half stocks

[flehto]

Have built 3 Hawken styled MLers and used solid steel under ribs and thought about using wooden under ribs, but how many Hawkens had this...if any? Because the bbls are kinda heavy on many Hawkens, a wooden rib would be the lightest rib possible. Don't think durability of a hardwood rib would be in question.....to me, a wooden under rib would also look good. Anyone use a wooden under rib?.....Fred

[tallbear]

Fred

I've done a couple for new England guns over the years.I used some old growth hickory that I got from freddie harrison.

Mitch

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Fred,

I'm not aware of any original Hawken guns with wood under-ribs.  I liked the idea for the reasons you mentioned, so I made this one of cherry on a Hawken-inspired half-stock I made.  The cherry has darkened considerably in the past 10 years, as has the ramrod.





-Ron

[delivered]

I have done two on Ohio half stocks out of Q maple but no Hawkens rifle !

[flehto]

Thanks for the info and pics. How were the wooden ribs attached?.....Fred

[Bob Roller]

The best idea is from a George Ferris rifle I saw years ago.
The bottom flat had a concave radius with the thimbles
soldered in place.No rib or unwanted weight.
Bob Roller

[ScottH]

I too have considered a wood rib on a half stock gun. Seems like a reasonable way to reduce weight and should be easy to do.
I was thinking of using a dark colored wood, like ebony or really dark black wally nut.
I don't see why using underlugs on the barrel and pins through the rib would not work. Thoughts?

[Kevin Houlihan]

Wooden ribs were not uncommon on New England half stocks. The ribs and pipes are held in with pins and barrel lugs just like on a full stock. I’ve seen originals that from a distance you couldn’t tell they were wood.
Kevin Houlihan

[Daryl]

Here's a long barreled 1/2 stock with a curly maple under rib.

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks for the info and pics. How were the wooden ribs attached?.....Fred

I fastened mine to the barrel with flat-head screws and pinned the ramrod pipes.

-Ron

[diamante]

If I’m not mistaken some of the 3/4 stock mountain rifles sported wooden ribs.

[T*O*F]

Here's an original wood rib gun.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

When I added the wooden rib to the rifle Daryl has presented, I simply cut dovetails for vertical tenons that were subsequently inlet into the wooden rib, and then pinned.  The rod pipes were attached the same way, just as if it were a fullstocked rifle.

[Ray Nelson]

Doc Carlson described a wood ribbed 1/2 stock Hawken like rifle (no name on barrel) in the New Mexico State Museum in an article he wrote for Muzzleloader Magazine I believe in a late 1970's issue. Had typical snail breech, iron triggers, trigger guard and late buttplate. Cheek rest was Tennessee style and had 1 barrel key with pewter nose cap. Not a classic but Hawken did make this type as well.

I did make a Hawken rifle a few years back using the information as a possible unique original example to justify putting an oak rib on my build. I may do this again if I decide to do another Hawken as it does reduce total weight if you are counted the final ounces toward the muzzle end.

Regards,

Ray

[Ray Nelson]

If anyone is interested in reading Doc Carlson's article having the wood rib rifle descriptions look in your old Muzzleloader Magazine stockpile for the 1979 May/June issue page's 22-24.

Ray

[Eric Laird]

I'm in the process of building one right now - in essence, a "social distancing" project using pieces/parts/scraps on hand, in some cases going on 50 years (the halfstock blank was from Dixie back in the mid '70s). The under rib is from a scrap of mahogany. I figured with all the furniture making in New England that would not be an uncommon wood. I've pinned the rib and the ramrod pipes to the same tennons - basically securing the pipes to the barrel as opposed to just a skinny piece of wood and also the pipes help secure the rib to the barrel. I also cut a dovetail/tennon shape into the rear end of the rib and then cast the forend tip around that so that when the barrel is in the stock the back end of the rib is further secured in place. I may put a screw in the very muzzle end of the rib - or maybe not. I'll wait and see how secure everything is when it is done. The project is currently on hold for a bit - I had shoulder surgery this past Monday. It's basically done except for the refinements - barrel pin escutcheons, capbox, etc - and I still have to make the sights. This build is outside my norm - it's halfstock and percussion - but it's been an opportunity to innovate and try new things. I'll try and post pics when I'm done.

Stay healthy!

Eric