Chambers' 'Mark Silver' Virginia Rifle

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I built this rifle from Chambers' parts set many years ago now and have shot it extensively.  It is my 'go - to' offhand target rifle, weighing a conservative 10 pounds, in .50 calibre.  Chambers Flintlocks  doesn't offer this set in .50 cal. - only .58 and .62 cal. and now I know why.  It's a beast - a very voluptuous and beautiful rifle.  At 72 years of age, I now know what Barbie meant when she said "that'll make a heavy rifle".  At some point, like when I get old, I'll add a .58 cal barrel to this rifle...think I'll be able to shoot it better that way.
So for Pukka Bundook's sake, here's this rifle in it's first format, ie:  stained with LMF's alcohol based dyes.  Recently, I scraped it down, stained it properly with tannic acid and FN, and it darkened up nicely and I like it a lot better, if that's possible.  I'll take some full length photos outside in a few minutes and post them here for comparison.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Here's some outdoor shots.  I see I didn't clean off the mud splatters on the butt from yesterday's outing.  What a guy!

[Jim Spray]

You do build beautiful rifles Taylor! Great lines on this one.

[hanshi]

That's a really gorgeous rifle you built.  I'd like in .60, a bit lighter.

[bob in the woods]

I wonder how that rifle would compare with Jim Kibler's Colonial rifle re weight , both being .58 cal  ?

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Just from seeing the images of the rifle, and never having handled one, I'd still say Jim's effort will be lighter, simply because of the finer stock design.  That's assuming similar wood density.  I've been shooting my rifle all summer and now into the winter, and I've noticed that I shoot it better now than in the spring.  So I'm getting stronger and better able to handle the weight.   It's much like shooting a hunting weight longbow.  You lose what you don't use.
But I'm corrupted by having too many rifles that are all screaming for attention, and I still want more.  Oh, what a curse!  Unused rifles get very pouty and will tell you so when you do finally take them out to play.

[Justin Urbantas]

Well Taylor, I wouldn't want that Joseph Lang rifle to get pouty. You just send it up here, and I'll gun sit it for you, and make sure it goes out for walks.

[smylee grouch]

I liked the earlier version but I like this darker one better. Very nice but about a pound heavy for a carry weight hunting rifle for me. But it could sure sit with me on stand if it wanted to. 

[oldtravler61]

  Taylor as always. Another remarkable firearm from your very
 gifted hands...Oldtravler

[Pukka Bundook]

Very nice rifle, Taylor.
I too used LMF dye and wished I'd used aquafortis on mine!    I did re-do it, darker, but one day I'll strip it and do it again.
I don't have any photos of mine.  Well, I Do, but they're in a shoe box!   Pre-digital.

Grand work you did.
Mine has wooden patchbox, and no nosecap.   Those locks are some of the very best available.
If we get stopped with weather, I'll take some photos  for a 'compare'.
My poor work agin your good work!  LOL!

[577SXS]

Very nice, I love the final color. I built one of these a while back in 60 caliber. It is nicely balanced but is on the heavy side.

[Craig Wilcox]

Tres elegante', mon ami!

Since Pukka Bundook lives right down the road, you should have just taken it over so he could eyeball it.  At least you both live in the same province...

You know, Taylor, just wrap up a half-dozen of those rifles and send them to me. I have some room left in my rifle rack.  And been itching to make a new, horizontal rack.  That "family room" is turning into a great workshop, but needs some more wall decorations.  AND I just got several pounds of fresh black powder delivered, and that would give me a new excuse to leave the shop for a while.

[bama]

Very nice Taylor, a beautifully built rifle. Weight does start to get more important as I become more of an antique myself 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Craig:  Richard lives in Southern Alberta and I live in North Central British Columbia...it would be a good 18 hour drive non-stop for a quick visit.  But I hope some day to be able to converse with him in person, face to face.
I used Jim Chamber's domed lid brass patchbox for my rifle because it resembles a wooden butt trap.  I kept it simple too with no side pieces.  The release spring I made from a leaf rake tyne.
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Justin the Lang will remain in my care, but when it comes time to consider a new curator for it, I'll call you first.  That was the arrangement that Don Robinson and I had.  It was worth the wait too...it's a wonderful rifle.

[Daryl]

All of his rifles, are. seems to me, I have dibs on the Lang, Justin, just as Taylor has dibs on my 14 bore & it's 1/2 pound lighter than his Virginia rifle.

[BillF/TRF]

Great work Taylor!  makes me wonder what mine would look like if I would re-do it!

 Bill

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I had to refinish it, though it took a couple of years.  The TruOil varnish wore off in the usual wear areas, the LMF stains leached out onto wet hands in the rain and snow, and it looked aweful - not full of awe.  I have a couple more muzzleloaders from that 'era' of my building that are too in desperate need.  You cannot beat the permanance of Ferric NItrate.

[BarryE]

Outstanding looking rifle.

[Marcruger]

That's a beauty Taylor.  Just the right amount of detail along with the great lines. 

[rich pierce]

Stylish!

[JLSawyer]

Beautiful rifle. Now I’m thinking I may need to get one of these kits in .58. Did Chambers provide the patch box and thumb piece?

[Top Jaw]

When the time comes to lighten up the barrel, Bobby Hoyt can re-drill and re-rifle it for you to a 54 or 58 caliber or whatever you like.  He recently quoted me $125 to do that to a 50 C Wt I have.  When you figure your time in reinstalling barrel lugs and sites, finishing a new barrel the way you want, and signing it, that could be money well spent. Not sure about shipping charges to and from from Canada, but worth a look.  Very nice gun BTW.  Beautiful work. 

[LuVerne Schumann]

I just ordered Chambers' Lancaster and was looking for examples of simply carved rifles and found this.

I am not going to copy it, but I will use it as inspiration for my build. Well done.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Mr. Sawyer:  I bought the patch box kit from Chamber's Flintlocks and cut out the head using a pattern I liked in Rifles of Colonial America.  The thumb piece escutcheon also came from RCA...the Farber rifle pictured there, as the Mark Silver rifle resembles it a lot, and may have been the inspiration for the Chamber's rifle.  Here's some pics of those two items in progress...






I meant to add a few pictures of the wrist escutcheon but got called away for supper.  So here they are now...

[flatsguide]

Very nice work on that rifle Taylor. Noseumlokyet...Lol
Cheers Richard