Author Topic: Bear Pistol (Read 3889 times)

David Rase · « **on:** June 08, 2020, 01:34:25 AM »

Finished up this little southern bear pistol this weekend. It is patterned off a southern squirrel pistol I saw a while back on the Scavenogology web page. The original was around a .30 caliber, hence “squirrel pistol”. The 13" long pistol barrel was machined from a piece of 7/8” octagon .50 caliber smooth rifle barrel that I machined tapered round,hence “bear pistol”. The stock is a piece of hard igured sugar maple. The handmade brass lock plate incorporates a set of small Siler internals with a modified “plains rifle” hammer. The hollow brass underrib was hand made in my shop, as was the simple trigger, triggerguard, trigger plate, powder drum and long pointed tang. Checkering was laid out and applied with a 3 sided riffler file. Rear sight was made from a piece of mild steel and the front sight is a piece of brass inlet and soldered into the barrel. This pistol was an experiment in aging techniques. Layers of various finishes were applied, worked back and reapplied only to be worked back. NO BLACK PAINT The steel parts were heavily rusted.
David

Elnathan · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2020, 01:44:53 AM »

Very cool. All you need now is a holster and a pack of hounds.

D. Taylor Sapergia · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2020, 02:26:30 AM »

David: neat pistol...use it for your entry in the June postal match!

David Rase · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2020, 02:37:03 AM »

Quote from: Elnathan on June 08, 2020, 01:44:53 AM

Very cool. All you need now is a holster and a pack of hounds.

Funny you should mention a holster. I will be working on a shoulder holster for this pistol this coming week.
David

Bob McBride · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2020, 05:15:07 AM »

Durn nice Dave. You know where to send it if you get bored with it.....

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2020, 08:07:32 AM »

That is really cool.

Tim

PS: I've been waiting:

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=59090.msg591243#msg591243

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=59090.msg591548#msg591548 TC

alacran · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2020, 02:50:37 PM »

All you need now is a willing bear.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2020, 03:06:47 PM »

Still a nifty pistol even with out black paint. Your aging turned out great. I should probably send you a long package in the mail soon.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2020, 03:37:28 PM »

If you use it in a fast draw and fire situation the hammer spur MUST be checkered.

I DO like it and the woos barrel rib is a nice touch.
Bob Roller

David Rase · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2020, 04:20:50 PM »

Quote from: Bob Roller on June 08, 2020, 03:37:28 PM

If you use it in a fast draw and fire situation the hammer spur MUST be checkered.
I DO like it and the woos barrel rib is a nice touch.
Bob Roller

Bob, The thought did cross my mind to checker the sput. I have a brand new Grobet checkering file that I have never used. Sometimes a guy just has to stop adding googaws to his project and call it complete.

David

ScottH · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2020, 07:16:38 PM »

Beary Nice!

How did you attach the rib to the barrel?

Daniel Coats · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2020, 08:04:18 PM »

I knew a guy once that blew a hole through the floorboard of his truck and shot out the front tire. Oh wait that was me!

Should have checkered the sput...

David Rase · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2020, 09:35:43 PM »

Quote from: ScottH on June 08, 2020, 07:16:38 PM

Beary Nice!

How did you attach the rib to the barrel?

I used stay-brite silver bearing solder. It melts a little under 500 degrees f. I tinned the rib and the barrel and then using spring clamps joined the two pieces.
David

Cory Joe Stewart · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2020, 04:34:43 PM »

That is awesome David, absolutely awesome!

Cory Joe Stewart

Craig Wilcox · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2020, 05:50:24 PM »

Beautiful and useful pistol, David.
The "decoration" on the under-rib - was that done, perhaps, with an engine-turning brush? Can't get a really good picture of it. Overall, it kinda looks like a serpent.

Add: I did get a better look, and saw how it was done - very nifty, and within my capabilities. Again, very lovely pistol.

louieparker · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2020, 06:34:17 PM »

David as so many have said, I like your pistol, Among other things, the way you checkered the grip, the lock bolt washer and color really cap it off .....LP

J. Talbert · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2020, 07:17:43 PM »

That thing is steppin right out of the past.

Nice job!
Jeff

scottmc · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2020, 02:18:39 AM »

Dave, as I said before on another site, I like it! Where or how far does your checkering go up the tang side of the grip before terminating? I'm thinking of doing something similar on one I have to build.

Scott

mountainman70 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2020, 04:34:40 AM »

Very nice,David. Gives me ideas too. Best regards, Dave F

David Rase · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2020, 08:02:56 AM »

Craig, The decoration on the under ib is calld wriggle work. Using a flat engraver you twist and rotate the engraver. It is a simple form o engravng that allows you to cover a lot of territory quickly. It is hard to see with the patina on the rib. There is also a bit of the wriggle work going around the muzzle of the barrel in front of and behind the front sight, around the front and rear of the ramrod pipe plus a circle on the powder drum.
Scott, the checkering terminates on the back of the grip similar to the termination of a short pistol buttcap. I will see if I can gin up a picture o the termination.
David

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 12, 2020, 03:17:50 AM »

David your pistol is very nice indeed...their is nothing more interesting than going up to a bear on the ground with a single shot pistol...bayed by a pack of hounds...with the bear realizing the dogs DON'T mean anything but you...Do..!!!...Oldtravler

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Author Topic: Bear Pistol (Read 3889 times)