Author Topic: MAGA Make Ambrose Great Again updated 1/1/21 (Read 3961 times)

David Rase · « **on:** December 30, 2020, 01:13:28 AM »

With all the interest in 3/4 stock Tennessee rifles a while back I decided to try my hand at one. I have been working on this little gal for about 3 weeks now. Stocked in a hard piece of slab sawn maple, this little .36 caliber weighs in at a whooping 5 lbs. 15 oz. All the mounts were hand made/forged. Lock is a reshaped Siler Mountain lock and the triggers are an old set of P.A. Spence from Ohio. Next up is adding the details, final shaping of the stock and finish filing of the metal. I was ask today to post some in progress photos and will post more photos when complete. Never built a TN rifle and as always, there are many minute details that make them what they are. Many thanks to Dana for his patience as I picked his ear over this project.
David

Bob McBride · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2020, 01:18:39 AM »

That's an exciting rifle Dave. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see how you finish it up.

scottmc · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:03:41 AM »

Looks like you've made a dozen of them before after seeing this one. How hard was it to make and affix the wood rib? It looks like a real original in shape, that's for sure!

Scott

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:04:39 AM »

That is really slender/slick looking. Did you make that BP, looks Great on it. Also like that entry pipe, very clean.

Tim

David Rase · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:10:39 AM »

Quote from: Tim Crosby on December 30, 2020, 02:04:39 AM

That is really slender/slick looking. Did you make that BP, looks Great on it. Also like that entry pipe, very clean.

Tim

Buttplate, triggerguard and patchbox (with all 7 knuckles) were all made in my shop.
Thanks, David

David Rase · « **Reply #5 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:18:29 AM »

Quote from: scottmc on December 30, 2020, 02:03:41 AM

Looks like you've made a dozen of them before after seeing this one. How hard was it to make and affix the wood rib? It looks like a real original in shape, that's for sure!

Scott

My first TN rifle. As for the wooden rib, it was a good 4 hours of work. It is made of hickory with the grain oriented up and down for strength. I put some spacer rails on a block plane using double sided tape and attached the rib blank to a flat piece of Baltic birch plywood then planed it to thickness. After that is was a matter of patiently inletting the tennons and pipes to the rib. The trick is to find a happy medium between having the rib solidly mounted to the barrel but loose enough to not bind as it swells and shrinks due to humidity. Hopefully I found that sweet spot, time will tell.David

Not English · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:47:38 AM »

David, What a great rifle! The first and so far only Ambrose Lawing I started was based on an idea of what somebody connected with Ambrose would build. I fabbed/forged all the furniture my self as well. I never finished the rifle and gave it to a friend who had a son who was the right age. It had a 36" 36cal geeen mtn barrel. The trigger was a kit I modified and the lock is a caplock that I don't remember who made it. It's really nice to see something that is not about Soddy Daisies.

Dave

J. Talbert · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2020, 07:49:33 AM »

That’s a little gem.

Jeff

Daryl · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2020, 10:45:54 AM »

VERY nicely done, David. Even though appearing quite plane, there is some curl visible in the butt section & in the forend.

Nordnecker · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2020, 02:56:13 PM »

Ooh, Ahh, That thing is CRISP. And what a curve to that butt plate! Help me understand what you mean about "the grain oriented up and down for strength".

JamesT · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2020, 03:08:47 PM »

Thats a real nice looking rifle. Very tastefully done.
James

Dennis Glazener · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2020, 03:27:13 PM »

David you must have southern gene's, very nicely done. Old Ambrose would be proud of you.
Dennis

shifty · « **Reply #12 on:** December 30, 2020, 03:57:49 PM »

Nice ! Look at that Buttplate would ye!

P.Bigham · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2020, 05:00:48 PM »

Nice clean work and study detail. Like that work bench also.

oldtravler61 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2020, 05:26:53 PM »

David one thing I have learned about you. When you take on a challenge. You do it right everytime...Excellent ...!!
Ole Ambrose. is looking down with a Tremendous smile on his face...!! Thanks. for sharing....Oldtravler

Percy · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2020, 05:30:55 PM »

Really nice work. Looking forward to the finished pictures.
Percy

David Rase · « **Reply #16 on:** December 30, 2020, 05:39:25 PM »

Quote from: Nordnecker on December 30, 2020, 02:56:13 PM

Ooh, Ahh, That thing is CRISP. And what a curve to that butt plate! Help me understand what you mean about "the grain oriented up and down for strength".

The grain for the under rib is oriented the same as a slab sawn stock. My thinking was that there would be more up and down directional force from removing and inserting he ramrod than sideways force. This grain orientation does align all the slots for the tennons and ramrod pipes with the grain so the pins that hold it all together are drilled cross grain.
David

bama · « **Reply #17 on:** December 30, 2020, 05:43:12 PM »

Great rifle David, typical top notch work that you do. That would be a great rifle to display at my show. If you are still coming, I know it would be hard for you to bring but it sure would feel at home down in Bama.

Cades Cove Fiddler · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2020, 06:42:38 PM »

.... Old Dana has a tremendous Tennessee smile too, Mike,... !!! ... great job, Dave,... like Dennis in thought, if re-incarnation is so, you surely were a Tennessee gunsmith in a former life,... well done,... CCF...

ScottH · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2020, 08:49:35 PM »

Forend cap poured pewter or sheet metal?

What a fine rifle!

DBoone · « **Reply #20 on:** December 30, 2020, 08:54:53 PM »

Great job, David! Ambrose is smiling, no doubt.

Daryl · « **Reply #21 on:** December 30, 2020, 09:10:05 PM »

We (Taylor and I) have put wooden ribs on a few rifles, now. There has not been any trouble with any of them.
They were, however on straight octagonal barrels. 2 of the ribs were maple, one in red oak.

David Rase · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2020, 09:12:06 PM »

Quote from: ScottH on December 30, 2020, 08:49:35 PM

Forend cap poured pewter or sheet metal?

What a fine rifle!

Sheet metal.

David Rase · « **Reply #23 on:** January 01, 2021, 11:22:39 PM »

Spent New Years morning adding some details to the Lawing project. Used a jewelers saw and decorated the pipes and buttplate comb. Did a bit of wriggle work on the patchbox. Also used a nail set and engraver to decorate the muzzle and top barrel flat in front of and behind the rear sight.

Bob Roller · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2022, 01:57:12 PM »

The P.I.Spence triggers are about 65 years old.I met him in 1957 and he gave me a big sheet of 1075 spring steel that barely went in the trunk of the car. He was among the first to offer new locks (percussion) and double and single set triggers to the VERY FEW makers of
any kind of muzzle loaders and sold them thru E.M.Farris's Gun Shop in Portsmouth,Ohio.Mr.Spence called me and said he'd like to meet me
and I agreed to drive to Marietta,Ohio where he lived.I got stuck for a while on the old 6th street bridge going into Ohio and while waiting,a young man in a U.S.Navy uniform came over to the car and asked me which way I was going and I told him where and he said he was on emergency leave from a Navy base in Virginia and had leave papers sign by a Lt.Commander.I told him to get in and he said the emergency was because his father has had a heart attack and may not survive the night.Little conversation afterward because he slept almost all the way.That "young sailor"is now about my age and I hope he is doing as well as we are at 79 and 86.
Bob Roller
Bob Roller

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Author Topic: MAGA Make Ambrose Great Again updated 1/1/21 (Read 3961 times)