RCA #118

[conquerordie]

I'm looking to build my first longrifle.  Not my first gun, built several of them, mostly from planks, as this one will be.  But this will be my first American longrifle, and right now I cant get this rifle out of my head!  RCA 118!  From what I read on the internet, it is in RCA Vol. 2.  I however do not have this book, so could anyone here please give me the general dimensions if they are mentioned in your copy?  I fell out of building guns a few years ago, but I have a feeling I'm gonna be cooped up inside this winter because of the covid 19 stuff, and I'm looking for a long project to whittle away the hours on.  My process on building a firearm always started with what speaks to me.  Lots of times that was a oddball gun, as in this case.  The measurments that I have supposedly from a 1969 article by Shumway in Muzzle Blasts says it barrel length is 42 5/8 " and the overall length is 50 inches.  That makes no sense, and the  article says the buttplate is 7/8" wide? Thant makes no sense either. This to me is one of the neatest rifles I've seen, and one Id love to chase deer with it next year. Thank yo for anyone that can help me with the dimensions.
Greg

[Kevin]

Greg,

RCA 118 measurements (

Overall length = 57 and 3/4 inches
Octagonal rifled barrel = 42 and 5/8 inches, 55 caliber with 8 grooves
Lock plate length  = 6 and 3/16 inches
Trigger pull = 13 and 3/16 inches
Barrel dia. across flats at breech = 1 and 3/16 inches
Butt width excluding protruding patchbox lid = 1 and 29/32
Butt Height, from toe to line of comb extended =  5 and 3/8 inches
Cheekpiece width, excluding protruding patchbox =  2 inches
Wrist width = 1 and 7/16 inches
Wrist height = 1 and 1/2 inches
Width at lock tail =  1 and 3/4 inches

Have fun with your project & be sure to share some photos of the results.

Take Care,
Kevin

[conquerordie]

Kevin,
Cant thank you enough!  Yeah the article that I read was way off.  Your measurements make sense, and a awesome project I hope.  It wont be until January that I even start, but I will post pics when complete.  So far I have a Rice EDL barrel on order.  Lock will probably be a Chambers, RE Davis, or Kibler maybe.  Furniture I"ll make.  Just got to find a nice walnut stock! Thanks again,
Greg

[smallpatch]

Basic shape is very similar to the Fabre rifle. 
The carving is very unusual though, almost appears Middle Eastern. Very unique.  I like it.
I kinda like unusual. I was turned on to RCA 26, a few years ago, and had to build it.
Check that one out.

[conquerordie]

Smallpatch,
I'm afraid I don't own either Volume of RCA, but I'll take your word for it.  I'm also afraid that if I purchase said volumes, it will lead me back down the rabbit hole and I'll  have to build even more.  I hate to ask another favor, but does volume 2 have a better picture of the triggerguard on RCA 118?  The website I see only has a side view so I'm mostly guess as to its design on the finial.  I'm not going to try to copy it exactly, but loosely based on the original.  For instance, I'm not sure that's the original patchbox, so Ill probably make a more traditionally shaped wood cover.  AGain, I appreciate everyones help,
Greg

[Dave Marsh]

Hope these help.  Good luck.     Dave

[conquerordie]

Thank You Dave.  Leaves some speculation on my part, but Ill come close I think.

Greg

[rich pierce]

It’s a really strange and compelling gun. I’m wondering if the sideplate is a replacement. Not sure how the carving would have looked when new.

[vanu]

This is an interesting longrifle. Considered by Shumway and others to be from the mid-Valley of Virginia; Gordon Barlow who owned it until recently placed it in Augusta County. Also, this is one of a group of rifles that were in Shumway's home fire in the 60's and there is some pretty sever charring, but he overall stock shape didn't change much. The comb had been scrapped down during the period of use, but otherwise a great survivor from an early period. I seem to remember that the current owner placed current color photos on the CLA Facebook page  last year. might be worth a look.

Bruce

[conquerordie]

There is going to be a lot speculation on my part.  The carving behind the cheekpiece gives me a good outline, but the details within it are tough.  The tang carving I can see a general outline as well. Modeling the carving will be pretty much up to my taste I guess. The carving around the comb and wrist should be pretty straight forward.  There doesn't seem to be anything along the forearm that I can see in any of the pictures.  I'm not sure if the comb was scrapped down during its life or not.  Could be original, but I plan on copying it as it is.  At some point in this rifles long use, it was in its current shape and usable to whomever carried it in the field.  Its got a lot of character!  Same thing with the sideplate, I will make it as it is.  The only items I'm going to change is a more typical box lid with a spring catch, and the butt plate will be attached with screws.  I dont believe the current lid is the original one, but old none the less. Wish I could start this project now, but wont receive the barrel until November, the rest of the parts are ordered, but this is my Christmas present from my wife, and she says I can not have it until then!
Greg

[rich pierce]

Greg, be bold and nail that buttplate on!

[Jim Kibler]

I've handled this rifle and what struck me most is how big it is.  A big barrel and buttplate for sure.  It's even more striking in person.  The cheek side was burned in Shumway's fire, I believe.

Jim

[conquerordie]

Im using a Rice Early Lancaster barrel for the project.  Its two inches shorter than the original but has a big breech and muzzle thats close to the original.  I would nail the butt plate on, but Im not sure which of the various size holes in the butt plate held the nails, or if they were places there later in life.  My first thought was to nail it.  In the pics that I have there are three nails in the tang of the plate, and like 8 on the end some are there and some just the holes remain.  There is no lateral pin to hold the tang in the stock, so its possible that those nails were the original attachment.  Maybe I'll nail it, to far out to tell, but I do have nice forged nails that I could use! 
Greg

[Elnathan]

More pictures here, if you haven't seen them already: https://scavengeology.com/early-american-flintlock-longrifles-part-ii-of-our-american-longrifle-series/

Scroll down towards the end.

[vanu]

Greg,

Definitely on the right track with your proposed project, nails and all! One thought though is to look for a better replacement guard, the one illustrated doesn't fit the original mortice, which may in turn have had a slightly larger bow, just a thought. Mike Brooks might be able to set you up with an appropriate example. Regarding the comb, I don't have any closeup photos, but as I recall there are faint remnants of scraping that survived the charring, might be an interesting interpretation, similar to what Kettenburg, Gahagan, Pratt and others accomplish on their heavily aged works.

Best of luck on the project!

Bruce Larson

[conquerordie]

More pictures here, if you haven't seen them already: https://scavengeology.com/early-american-flintlock-longrifles-part-ii-of-our-american-longrifle-series/

Scroll down towards the end.

Yes this is the site I've been using for the pictures.
Greg

[homerifle]

More pictures here, if you haven't seen them already: https://scavengeology.com/early-american-flintlock-longrifles-part-ii-of-our-american-longrifle-series/

Scroll down towards the end.

Yes this is the site I've been using for the pictures.
Greg

I just saw your post and was going to suggest the same site for you to see that gun. I've always liked that rifle myself. There's a couple other pieces on that site that are nice too!