Winter Build - George Eister

[Bob McBride]

Thanks to Rase and his FS posting of a Kibler Eister BP and TG today, I called Jim and he had an extra set of his Eister Pipes in a drawer somewhere so I now have something to do with the super curly stock I bought from Al Martin earlier this year. Eister's speedy looking, golden mean-breaking carving appeals to me and Golden Age York architecture has been on my list for sometime so that's next after the Chamber's Lil Feller's for the wifey and the Emig pistol kit on the bench. Hoping for a solid full winter project. That said, does anyone have any thoughts on a proper barrel profile? I'm not sure if I'll need it bespoke or not or if it's something one of the barrel guys keeps in stock that would be right for this build? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm using the original here on the site and Kibler's custom gun #6 on his site as my influence....

[J. Talbert]

Here’s one I finished a couple years ago.














Let me know if I can help

Jeff

[David Rase]

Bob, So happy I could help contribute to your delinquency.  Glad Jim had a pair of pipes to go with the BP & TG as those castings were made up long before Jim started in on making kits.
David 

[Bob McBride]

Bob, So happy I could help contribute to your delinquency.  Glad Jim had a pair of pipes to go with the BP & TG as those castings were made up long before Jim started in on making kits.
David

Me too. They showed out of stock on his site but I thought I’d give a call. He rustled some up. Good stuff.

Thanks Jeff. Beautiful build. Thanks for the great pics. That patch box is my main challenge.

[Greg Pennell]

Jeff, that rifle is an absolute joy to see again...I don’t think I’d ever get tired of that one!

Greg

[Bob McBride]

Here’s the measurements Dale Campbell posted some years ago of the Tioga Eister. Is this about what you built Jeff? Also, any thoughts on an appropriate barrel/profile? I guess I’ll run this past Louie Parker as well.

Here are the measurements I took when Nord and I took the pictures of the Tioga County Eister.

Gunsmith   Eister         
           
              Inches
Barrel   Width breech      1  1/40
   Width waist      7/8
   Width muzzle      15/16
   Length           43  5/16
   Breech to waist       35
   Tang length       2  1/16
   Approx caliber      0.51
             
             
Lock   Width         15/16
   Length         5 1/8
           
           
Stock   LOP              14
   Drop at heel           4 1/4
   Drop at comb           1 1/2
   Breech to comb           5 1/4
   Wrist width         1  7/16
   Wrist height         1  9/16
   Butt height         4 3/4
   Butt width         1 3/4
   Forearm (trigger to hole)   14 1/2
   Width at Lock Panel (rear)   1 5/8
   Width at Lock Panel (front)   1  7/16
               
   Stock thicknes side of barrel    1/8
           
           
Furniture   Patchbox Lid (l x w)           1 3/8 x 4 9/16
   Width patchbox, at butt              3
   Butt to end PB finial              7 7/8
   TG length                 9 1/8
   TG width                 7/8
   BP heel length                 2 15/16

[J. Talbert]

Bob,
Not trying to be a wiseguy, but I honestly don’t know most of the measurements from the gun that I built.
I can tell you this. It’s a .45 cal, 44 inch, B weight barrel, either a Getz or Rice, I don’t recall which.  Chambers gunmakers lock.  LOP is approximately 13.5 to 13.75 inches.  I used Jim Kibler’s butt plate casting, but I used another modified larger guard so that I could accommodate double set triggers which Eister did sometimes use.
The stock profile started out as my standard generic stock profile with a little cosmetic tweaking.  (Probably could have used a little more tweaking to truly get a more Eister-like profile)
Everything else is eyeballed around those features.

Jeff

[Tony N]

Beautiful rifle, Jeff!

Tony

[Bob McBride]

Bob,
Not trying to be a wiseguy, but I honestly don’t know most of the measurements from the gun that I built.
I can tell you this. It’s a .45 cal, 44 inch, B weight barrel, either a Getz or Rice, I don’t recall which.  Chambers gunmakers lock.  LOP is approximately 13.5 to 13.75 inches.  I used Jim Kibler’s butt plate casting, but I used another modified larger guard so that I could accommodate double set triggers which Eister did sometimes use.
The stock profile started out as my standard generic stock profile with a little cosmetic tweaking.  (Probably could have used a little more tweaking to truly get a more Eister-like profile)
Everything else is eyeballed around those features.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff! I appreciate the info. It’s a super rifle! A beaut!

[TommyG]

Jeff, I'm not familiar with Eister's work, but that is one very well executed rifle you built.  Very clean & crisp work.
Bob -  I was looking over some of the dimensions you listed.  Maybe I'm wrong or just unfamiliar with this style, but is the 4.25" drop at heel correct?  Seems like a lot of drop to me.

[Bob McBride]

Jeff, I'm not familiar with Eister's work, but that is one very well executed rifle you built.  Very clean & crisp work.
Bob -  I was looking over some of the dimensions you listed.  Maybe I'm wrong or just unfamiliar with this style, but is the 4.25" drop at heel correct?  Seems like a lot of drop to me.

It is. It seems like Kibler’s version is maybe 3.5” and another builder here who built one and shared pics with me seems like he did about the same. The Tioga is in the museum here. I haven’t had to to really study it but that 4.5” seems right based on the pics.

[TommyG]

Thanks Bob, like I said, I am not real familiar with Eister's work.  Looks to be a fun build.  God luck with it and keep us posted.

[J. Talbert]

Tony, Greg, and Tommy thanks for the kind comments.

Jeff

[Dale Campbell]

Been away for a while. If you wish I can go back and check measurements on the Tioga County Museum Eister. Since Nord and I were there it has had a change in administration. The director is a friend of many years who I have camped with when we were Scout leaders. I have to say I'm a little fuzzy on the breach measurement.... However, if there are specific pictures or measurements you would like, I'm pretty sure I can have it brought out. I offered this to J. Talbert when he was working on his, but I think I fell down on the job. I have since also headed into "partial" retirement, so I have more time (OK, two part time jobs, but both in my field).